I, Libertine

Title: I, Libertine (BALLANTINE 165)
Author: Frederick R. Ewing (pseudonym of Theodore Sturgeon and Jean Shepherd)
Artist: Kelly Freas
Year: 1956

Originally a joke title mentioned repeatedly on Jean Shepherd’s radio show–listeners were told to request the non-existent I, Libertine at their local bookshop–Shep eventually teamed up with science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon to write this 18th century-set bawdy novel.

Categories: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Tramp Jokes

Title: Tramp Jokes: Monologues and Recitations, No. 1 (Wehman Bros. 126 Park Row, New York City)
Artist: “NCL”
Year: 1907

From my small collection of Hobo lit.

Some sample jokes:

Mrs. Hardcash–Why don’t you work for a living?
Walker–I made a solemn vow, ma’am, fifteen long years ago, dat I never do anoder stroke’er work till women wuz paid de same wages as men.”

A tramp asked “the lady of the house” for something to eat. She gave him a steak. After considerable effort to make a dent in it, he handed it back to her, saying, “Madam, I did not ask for work.”