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Comic postcard, French guest and hotel porter Date: 20th century
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Comic postcard, French guest and hotel porter Date: 20th century
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 23460082
© The Donald McGill Archive Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Carry Customer Donald Double Entendre Frenchman Gents Guest Hands Helpful Language Mcgill Meaning Misunderstanding Porter Staying Suitcase Toilet Verbal Wash Cloakroom
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A Hilarious Encounter at the French Hotel: A 20th Century Comic Postcard This delightful comic postcard captures the essence of cross-cultural misunderstandings and the importance of clear communication. The scene features a French hotel porter, dressed in a smart uniform, assisting a British guest with his luggage. The guest, wearing a suitcase in each hand and a puzzled expression on his face, appears to be asking for the location of the toilet. The porter, with a friendly and helpful smile, points towards the direction of the 'gents,' using hand gestures for added clarity. However, the humor of the situation lies in the double meaning of the French word 'gents.' In English, 'gents' refers to gentlemen or men's restrooms. But in French, 'gents' means 'gentlemen' or 'messieurs.' So, the porter's intention was to direct the guest to the men's washroom, but the guest, not fluent in French, may have misunderstood the porter's verbal and non-verbal cues and assumed the porter was pointing him to a specific room or suite labeled 'Gents.' The guest, carrying his suitcases, looks perplexed as he follows the porter's gestures, while the porter, seemingly amused by the situation, offers a reassuring nod and a 'Oui, wee, toilet, double' as if confirming the guest's assumption. The postcard's caption, 'Donald McGill's Comic Postcard,' adds to the lighthearted tone of the image, making it a fun and humorous keepsake from the 20th century.
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