More toasts: Jokes, stories and quotations — Reading Notes

Alphabetical Architecture and Thematic Range

The table of contents is the book's skeleton, listing over 200 headings from "Absent-Mindedness" to "Zoo." This arrangement allows a reader to locate material on a specific topic—such as "Automobiles" or "Bachelors"—without reading sequentially. The headings themselves reflect early 20th-century preoccupations: "Bolshevism," "European War," "Daylight Saving," and "Einstein" appear alongside perennial subjects like "Love" and "Marriage." The breadth suggests the compiler aimed to cover both timeless humor and contemporary concerns, making the volume a snapshot of what was considered amusing or quotable in 1922.

Recurring Voices and Dialect Humor

Several excerpts employ dialect or stereotyped speech patterns. For instance, a joke about influenza uses a character named Sam who says, "Ah done had de Spanish flu" and describes it as "a disease dat makes you sick six months after you gets well." Another anecdote features a "Gordon Highlander" speaking in Scots: "I took a Heine prisoner who was wearin' yon watch." These passages rely on phonetic spelling and regional or ethnic caricature, a common device in period humor. Readers should note that such representations reflect the era's conventions and may strike modern ears as dated or offensive.

Punchlines Built on Wordplay and Situation

Many entries hinge on a pun or a twist of expectation. Under "Insomnia," a character says he lies awake "thinking how I used to suffer from it." Under "Instalment Plan," a boy remarks that the man who sold his father a suit "is sorry he sold it. He's always calling." The fire insurance jokes play on literal interpretations: a widow has her husband cremated because his policy covered fire, not life. These examples show a preference for concise setups and clever reversals, typical of the joke-book genre. The humor often depends on a single line or a brief exchange, making the entries easy to excerpt for speeches or conversation.

The Compiler's Role and the Book's Purpose

Marion Dix Mosher, identified as a librarian at the Rochester Public Library, compiled this collection as a practical resource for public speakers, toastmasters, and writers. The preface and introduction (not excerpted here) likely explain her selection criteria. The book's subtitle—"Jokes, Stories and Quotations"—emphasizes utility over originality. Mosher did not author the material but gathered it from various sources, a common practice for such handbooks. Readers should approach the volume as a curated anthology rather than a single author's work, and they may notice variations in tone and quality across entries.

For a first reading, consider sampling a few adjacent headings to appreciate the range of humor. The alphabetical order invites serendipitous discovery, but the book rewards targeted searches for a specific topic. Because the excerpts are brief, the collection can be read in short sessions. Keep in mind that the humor reflects its time; some jokes may require historical context to land, while others remain surprisingly familiar.

That rainy afternoon, I kept turning to the alphabetical jokes in More Toasts, marveling at how a 1922 punchline could still land softly. Somewhere between “Advice” and “Age,” the book’s gentle cynicism reminded me of another folder on my shelf. Later, I found myself leafing through The humour of Italy — Key Ideas to Explore, where the same wry warmth seemed to linger, quietly translated.