Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
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Fun, Facts & Fancies from July 1914

Switchboard operator

Fun, Facts & Fancies was a regular light-hearted column in the Isle of Wight Observer a century ago.

INTERESTING FACTS

Telephone operators in Egypt are required to speak, English, French, Italian Greek, and Arabic.

Horses in their wild state live to the age of 36 normally, being still fresh and hearty at that age in the desert.

Cyclists in Denmark are forbidden by law to ride faster than the ordinary speed of a cab through any town.

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PROOF!

“You naughty, cruel boy!” said the very fashionably dressed young woman, who was taking a stroll in the park, to the urchin whom she found robbing a bird’s nest. “How can you be so heartless as to take the eggs? Think of the poor mother bird when she comes back and …”

“That’s all right, miss,” interrupted the observant boy, “the mother is dead.”

The young woman’s expression reflected disbelief. “How do you know?” she asked sharply.

‘Cos I sees ‘er on your ‘at,” was his reply.
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JUST HOW HE FELT.

“I have always wondered.” philosophised Mrs. Twaddles, “how a horse feels. Now don’t interrupt with some silly remark; I am in earnest. A horse hasn’t any idea what is going to happen to him when he is hitched up. He doesn’t know how far he is going, or what he is going for. To be driven hither and thither, blindly seemingly without purpose, with no idea what it’s all about or when it will be over – how must the poor creature feel – what must he think about it all?” “I suppose,” answered Mr. Twaddles, wearily, “that he must feel as I do when you take me on a shopping trip with you.” But Mrs. Twaddles merely sniffed.

 

 

19662092412_b8a171cbfc_mPUTTING HIS FOOT IN IT.

A local preacher who was in the habit of taking his wife with him to his preaching appointments said, on arrival at the chapel, “My dear, you go in there; you will be all right. I must go round to the vestry”.

In the vestibule the wife was met by a kind hearted steward, who, after giving her a hearty welcome and a hymn book, conducted her to a comfortable seat.

At the close of the service, the same kind hearted steward gave her a hearty shake of the hand adding how pleased he would be to see her again at the service each Sunday. Then whispering he said: “But let me tell you, we don’t get a duffer like this in the pulpit every Sunday”.
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QUERIES AFTER READING A POPULAR NOVEL

Why did the town nestle among the hills?
Why did a mantling blush steal over her cheeks?
How did it happen that a strange sense of unrest swept over him?
What was it she swept out of the room?
Why did she never look more strangely beautiful than upon that evening?
What made him flick the ashes from his cigarette?
How long did her heart stand still?
Who deserted the ballroom, and why?
Why did the cold wind that fanned their cheeks seem so good?
When confronted by the lawyers, why was he visibly affected?
Why was she the life of the whole gathering when her heart told her that all was lost?
Why did the dog look up at that moment and wag his tail as if he, too, understood?
What choked his utterance?
 
Source: Isle of Wight Observer 4 July 1914
Picture sources:
switchboard operator – wikipedia;
woman in hat – www.wbur.org;
shopping – www.thegraphicsfairy.com;
vicar – www.mainridgebowlsclub.com;
novels – videowatchdog.blogspot.com