"Connect me, please!"
A Russian historical joke in a Drabble
The first phone in St. Petersburg, Russia rang on July 1, 1882. On July 26, the first city telephone station began operating, serving only 128 users. By 1901, it grew to 3,800 subscribers.
The station's female operators were called “young ladies.” They were to be agile, tall and unmarried, to prevent “unrelated thoughts and concerns leading to errors in connections.” Thus, the first truly female profession was created.
Around this time, the first "telephone joke" appeared:
“Young lady! Please, connect me to my wife.”
“What number?”
“Who do you think I am, a khan, with a harem of numbered wives?!”
About the Creator
Lana V Lynx
Avid reader and occasional writer of satire and short fiction. For my own sanity and security, I write under a pen name. My books: Moscow Calling - 2017 and President & Psychiatrist
@lanalynx.bsky.social
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