I found a 94 year old joke book in my room! I remember when my Grandpa died many years ago he left me some old books that I just threw onto a shelf and neglected until last night. I decided to pull them all down and make reading them my summer project. I picked up “The Sunny Side of Life” first, flipped to the first page and saw these words, “Current Humor Gathered From Many Sources.” The only thing written on the third page is:
Copyright, 1916
by
Shrewesbury Publishing Co.
Followed by a singular quote on the fourth page – “What Should a Man Do But Be Merry?” – Hamlet
There is no explanation as to where these jokes came from, or who gathered them, but it serves as a great insight into how people approached humour 94 years ago. If you hold any faith in the old adage ‘art imitates life’ and you’re willing to play along and call joke writing an art, then this book could also serve as a gauge to what was on the world’s mind at the time.
The following is a list of ‘The Sunny Side of Life’ jokes that tickled me. Enjoy
Doubtful Assurances
“Do you think that they approved of my sermon?” asked the newly-appointed rector, hopeful that he had made a good impression.
“Yes, I think so,” replied his wife; “they were all nodding.”
Definitive
The schoolmaster was trying to explain the meaning of the word “conceited,” which had occurred in the course of the reading lesson. “Now, boys,” he said, “suppose that I was always boasting of my learning-that I knew a good deal o’ Latin, for instance, or that my personal appearances was-that I was very good-looking, y’know-what should you say I was?”
Straightforward Boy-”Sure, sir, I’d say you was a liar, sir!”
Rapid-Fire
A frivolous young English girl, with no love for the Stars and Stripes, once exclaimed at a celebration where the American flag was very much in evidence: “Oh, what a silly-looking thing the American flag is! It suggests nothing but checker-berry candy.”
“Yes,” replied a bystander, “the kind of candy that has made everybody sick who ever tried to lick it.”
(this one just sounds way dirtier than I’m sure it was intended to)
The Greater Calamity
Two or three urchins were running down a long and very steep flight of steps, when the foremost stumbled and fell headlong twenty to thirty feet, and was only stopped near the bottom by doubling backward around the newel-post. It looked as though his back was broken, and that he was a dead small boy, but he gathered himself up, thrust his hand anxiously in his trousers’ pockets, and ejaculated:
“B’gosh, I b’le’ve I lost a cent.”
No Place Like Home
A Bostonian died, and when he arrived at St. Peter’s gate he was asked the usual questions:
“What is your name, and where are you from?”
The answer was, “Mr. So-and-So, from Boston.”
“You may come in,” said St. Peter, “but I know you won’t like it.”
April Fool on Mamma!
Little Willie had a very pretty governess, and on April first he rather startled his mother by rushing in to her and saying:
“Mamma, there’s a strange man upstairs who has just put his arm around Miss Wilson’s waist, and hissed her several times–”
“What?” said the mother, as she jumped up to pull the bell for the butler.
“April fool, Mamma!” said Willie, in great glee. “It wasn’t a strange man at all. It was Papa!”
Why He Wanted To Go
“Would you mind if I went into the smoking-car, dear?” asked the bridegroom in a tender voice.
“What! to smoke, sweetheart?” questioned the bride.
“Oh, dear, no,” replied the young husband; “I want to experience the agony of being away from you, so that the joy of my return will be all the more intensified.”
What Surprised Him
Two Irishmen were crossing the ocean on the way to this country. On the way over Patrick died. Preparations were made for the burial at sea, but the lead weights customarily used in such cases were lost. Chunks of coal were substituted. Everything was finally ready for the last rites, and long and earnestly did Michael look at his friend. Finally he blurted out sorrowfully:
“Well, Pat, I always knew ye were goin’ there, but I’m hanged if I thought they’d make ye bring yer own coal.”
I understand the one about the boy falling down the stairs means he “ejaculated” the phrase and not that he blew his load. But still, what the hell does that punchline mean?! Is it just supposed to be funny because little kids can sustain massive injuries and brush them off?
Apparently in 1916 they had a lot of fun watching poor kids fall down flights of stairs and then promptly stand back up.