[He does smile a little, because modern is indeed relative. But the clues are in there too. A man from before this sort of modern technology, one who still thinks jokes about the nineteenth century might be funny. Could be anywhere from 1910 to the late 1930s. He'll take a guess and split the difference down the middle.]
1920s.
[So illiterate might be an option after all, depending what social class he grew up in.]
no subject
1920s.
[So illiterate might be an option after all, depending what social class he grew up in.]