HOME | DD

Description

A little fun with Frederick B. Opper's Alphonse and Gaston! 120 years ago, these two were one of the hottest things in American comics. As Frenchmen, they are excessively gallant and polite, at least according to the stereotype of the day. The joke is that they can get nothing accomplished because they are too wrapped up in deferring to each other. The phrase, "after you, my dear Alphonse," still persists in some quarters. It is typically used when one holds the door for another, upon which the other then responds "after you, my dear Alphonse."

Wendy rather likes these two; Andrew does not. A cynical observer might accuse Alphonse and Gaston of being disingenuous, but they are quite sincere. Both of them long to ruin their coats for the young lady's sake. And yet neither can bear to take her gratitude away from the other!

Description

A little fun with Frederick B. Opper's Alphonse and Gaston! 120 years ago, these two were one of the hottest things in American comics. As Frenchmen, they are excessively gallant and polite, at least according to the stereotype of the day. The joke is that they can get nothing accomplished because they are too wrapped up in deferring to each other. The phrase, "after you, my dear Alphonse," still persists in some quarters. It is typically used when one holds the door for another, upon which the other then responds "after you, my dear Alphonse."

Wendy rather likes these two; Andrew does not. A cynical observer might accuse Alphonse and Gaston of being disingenuous, but they are quite sincere. Both of them long to ruin their coats for the young lady's sake. And yet neither can bear to take her gratitude away from the other!