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Victorian Jokes
Victorian jokes or cartoons fall broadly into two categories. Firstly jokes based on a humorous interpretation of current events, new developments, current fashions, human foibles etc. The second category is of a satirical nature, aimed at highlighting usually with a critical stance, national or international political events.
The first joke below is of the second category, showing William Ewart Gladstone, a Liberal (Whig) on the left, and Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative (Tory) on the right. Both were prominent Prime Ministers in the Victorian era. The Prime Minister and leader of the opposition were obviously being unusually polite to each other at that time in 1869. Both men have streets named after them in Darlington, Gladstone St and in the case of Disraeli, Beaconsfield St, as he was later made Lord Beaconsfield.
The rest of the jokes below are of the first category, simple jokes aimed to amuse.
Extraordinary Mildness Of The Political Season
Caption:
Mr Disraeli: "Delightful 'Speech from the Throne' Quite Charming!"&c etc etc &c
Mr Gladstone: " So Glad You Liked It - the Replies to The Address were Admirable &c &c
1869 |  |
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Victorian Road Rage!
 | Might Is Right
Caption: Van driver "I don't know nothun about no right sides, nor wrong sides. You get out of the way, if yer don't want to be made a wafer of"
(Where are the Police?)
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Travel Victorian Style...
 | Zoology
Caption: Railway Porter (to Old Lady travelling with a menagerie of pets). "Station Master say, Mum, as Cats is 'Dogs', and rabbits is 'Dogs', and so's Parrots; but this ere 'Tortis' is a insect, so there aint no charge for it". |
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High Fashion, Victorian Style...
 | Crinoline Ladies
Caption: Polite Rustic. "Oh! Arter yeaou, Mum". |
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Blinding New Technology
 | Happy Thought
Caption: The electric light, so favourable to furniture, wall papers, pictures, screens etc. is not always becoming to the female complexion, light Japanese sunshades will be found invaluable. |
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Tube Trains For Victorians
 | Underground Railway
Caption: Old Lady "Well, I'm sure no woman with the least sense of decency would think of going down THAT way to it". |
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Views of Ireland
 | Irish Architecture
Caption: Angler (in Ireland). "Hullo, Pat, what are you about now!"
Pat. "Shure, I'm raisin' me roof a bit, yer Honour-r!"
1867 |
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