READERSVOICE.COM aims to collect a few samples from interesting out of print books. This issue features jokes from Boys of Our Empire, Volume 1, 1901, an anthology of an Edwardian periodical for boys. This one-penny magazine featured adventure stories, interesting news items from around the British Empire, wise columns, and jokes. Many of the jokes were sent in by readers for their weekly joke and story competition. Here are a few samples.

Breaking it gently.

SOME years ago a troopship was returning from abroad, and among the passengers was an old lady who had a favourite parrot, which she placed under the special care of one of the sailors.

On going to attend Polly one morning he found the poor bird dead.. Knowing how very much upset the old lady would be, and not feeling able to tell the sad news himself, he employed a brother tar who was famous for his gentleness in matters of that kind.

Going up to the old lady with a very sad face, and touching his cap, the sailor said: “I don’t think that ‘ere parrot of yours will live long, marm.”

“Oh, dear!” said the poor lady much distressed . “Why not?”

“”Cos he’s dead.”

One of a few Newfoundland railway stories. This was a prize-winning contribution from a reader of Boys of Our Empire, published in No. 43, vol 1 Saturday, August 17, 1901:

Some years ago I was spending some time in our oldest colony, Newfoundland, and was told a funny story of what happened to a train soon after the railroad was opened.

It had many steep gradients, and on one of these the engine-driver found it difficult to proceed with the small amount of steam pressure at his command. The conductor was notified, who passed through the train, which was a corridor, and shouted, First class passengers, keep your seats; second class, get out and walk; third class, get out and push.”

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