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SALESMAN'S TRADITION

METHODS OF DETERMINING A "MOOCK"
1) ALL HOUSE TRIM AND MAILBOX PAINTED ONE COLOR, USUALLY BRIGHT
2) NEW CAR OR CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY
3) UNKEMPT LAWN
4) "PECKER TRACKS"( SIGNS OF KIDS)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMAN

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
SPEECH -- Trade & commerce

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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POLISH CUSTOM

WHEN A GYPSY PEDDLER CAME TO A POLISH HOUSEHOLD, THE LADY OF THE
HOUSE WOULD TUCK A CORNER OF HER APRON INTO THE WAISTBAND ABOVE THE
DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE CORNER SO THAT THE GYPSY WOULD NOT CHEAT HER
ON ANY SALES.
MY GRANDMOTHER LEARNED THIS WHILE SHE WAS GIRL IN WARSAW IN
THE EARLY 1900'S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; POLAND ; WARSAW ; COLLECTED IN DETROIT

Keyword(s): GYPSY POLISH SALES

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms

Date learned: 10-05-1967

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SPITTING FOR LUCK

FISH-WOMEN IN SOME COUNTRIES KEEP THE FIRST MONEY THEY COLLECT
AND OFTEN SPIT UPON IT FOR CONTINUED GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SALESPERSON

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-10-1969

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FIRST SALE

IN NEW YORK, THE CHRISTIANS KNEW OF A JEWISH SUPERSTITION--THAT
NO MATTER WHO CAME IN THEIR STORE, THEY HAD TO MAKE THE FIRST SALE OF
THE DAY. IF THEY TURNED THAT PERSON AWAY WITHOUT SELLING THEM
ANYTHING, THEY WOULD HAVE NO BUSINESS THE REST OF THE DAY.
AND CHRISTIANS KNOWING OF THIS, TODAY WILL STILL GO TO THE PLACE
OF BUSINESS EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN HE'S OPENING UP AND OFFER
A RIDICULOUS PRICE - AND GET IT BECAUSE OF THIS SUPERSTITION.

Where learned: TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME ; 19058 SKYLINE

Keyword(s): SALESPERSON

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
Favorites
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 02-23-1970

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RIDDLE

WHAT'S BLUE AND GOES DING-DONG?
A FROZEN AVON LADY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEFINITION

James Callow Keyword(s): DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESWOMAN ; SICK JOKE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-20-1968

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MY MOTHER'S UNCLE TAUGHT HER THIS LITTLE BALLAD ABOUT A FARM
GIRL AND A TRAVELING SALESMAN:
"A FARMER'S DAUGHTER NAMED LOU'ELLER
WAS THE PRETTIEST GIRL FOR MILES AROUND.
BUT THAT POOR GIRL DINT HAVE NO FELLER
UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN SHE WENT TO TOWN.
SHE WENT DOWN TO THE VILLAGE DEPOT
TO WATCH THAT EVENIN' TRAIN COME IN
AND MET A DRUMMER FROM THE CITY WITH
TWO GOLD TEETH AND A WALKIN' CANE.

THEY WENT DOWN TO THE VILLAGE DRUGSTORE
AND AT THE COUNTER THEY DID SAT
HE FILLED HER FULL OF SASPARILLA
TILL SHE DINT KNOW WHERE SHE WAS AT.

ALAS! ALACK! FOR PORE LOUELLER
SHE STARTED SOMETHING SHE COULD NOT STOP
NOW EVER' TIME SHE GETS A NICKEL
SHE BLOWS IT IN ON SODY-POP.

AND IN THE EVENIN'S IN THE SUMMER
AT THE DEPOT DOOR SHE WAITS IN VAIN
AND ROLLS HER EYES AT EVER' DRUMMER
THAT GITS FROM OFF THAT EVENIN' TRAIN."

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI

James Callow Keyword(s): DRUMMER = SALESMAN

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C230

Date learned: 00001950S

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IN ORDER TO GET RID OF A WART HAVE SOMEONE OFFER TO BUY IT
AND GIVE A SMALL AMOUNT TO YOU FOR IT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAS SEEN THIS DONE IN ESCANABA, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ESCANABA

James Callow Keyword(s): SALE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 03-26-1972

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I HAD WARTS ON MY HAND. MY UNCLE HARRY AT THE DINNER TABLE ASKED
ME IF I HAD A PENNY. MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO BELIEVE IN HIM.
I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND I DID. HE SAID, "HOLD MY HAND AND
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER TO YOURSELF." AS
HE HELD MY HAND, WITH HIS OTHER HAND HE RUBBED OVER THE WARTS
ON THE BACK OF MY HAND. THEN HE SAID, "O.K. I'VE BOUGHT
YOUR WARTS FOR A PENNY. WITHIN A SHORT TIME THEY'LL GO AWAY."
THE WARTS DISAPPEARED WITHIN A MONTH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS AFFLICTED WITH THE WARTS FOR FOUR YEARS PRIOR.
HEALER WAS HARRY MEYERS, BROTHER OF SOPHIE BENITAUT, HEALER
OF PINCONNING (MICHIGAN?).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): SALE

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 01-25-1967

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THE INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER WOULD OFFER TO BUY THE
WARTS FROM A PERSON WHO HAD THEM ON THEIR HANDS.
A FEW DAYS AFTER SHE WOULD MAKE THE OFFER THE WARTS
WOULD DISAPPEAR FROM THE PERSON'S HANDS AND WOULD NOT
APPEAR AGAIN.

Where learned: HIS HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): SALE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 01-22-1968

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IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF A WART HAVE SOMEONE BUY IT
FROM YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): SALE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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Belief: Animal

Crosses on Donkeys:

The fur on a donkey's back seems to make a dark cross length-wise. According to the informant, the cross is there because Christ rode the donkey into Jerusalem. When she told me this, another person who was present said she had always heard it was there because Mary rode on the donkey.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P682.4, M247.3] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAKLAND UNIVERSITY ; Schroeder, Mary Jo ;

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ASS ; Christ ; CHRISTIANITY ; Cross ; DONKEY ; DONKEY ; Fur ; HAIR ; Jerusalem ; JESUS ; Mary ; RELIGION ; SYMBOL ; VIRGIN MARY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

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Play on Words

Traveling Salesman:

There was once a traveling salesman whose car broke down in the rain. He ran to the closest farmhouse and quickly knocked at the door. An old farmer answered and the salesman pleaded for a place to spend the night.

"I'll give you board," the farmer said, "but I ain't got no daughter for you to sleep with."

"Oh." said the salesman. "Then how far is the next house?"

Submitter comment:

I remember this from Awrey's Bakery, where I worked this summer.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional - Do Not File Yet.

Keyword(s): Anti-feminist ; CUSTOMS ; DAUGHTER ; FARMER ; HOSPITALITY ; HUMOR ; JOKE ; Rain ; Salesman ; Stranded

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
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Play on Words

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Traveling Salesman:

There once was a salesman who was forced to take the train home one night. While sleeping in his bunk the beautiful young girl in the bunk below him asked him if he would get an extra blanket for her. He leaned over and opened her curtains and with a wise look said, "would you like to play like we are married?"

"O.K." she said, blushing.

"Well then," he quickly answered. "Go get it yourself."

Submitter comment:

I remember it from Awrey Bakery, where I worked last summer.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional - Do Not File Yet.

Keyword(s): Blanket ; Consent ; Favor ; Girl ; HUMOR ; JOKE ; MARRIAGE ; Married ; PUN ; Salesman ; SEX ; Train

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
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Red Hots

Hot Dog vendors often yell this phrase at baseball, football, basketball, etc, any sports activity, when trying to sell their weiner: "get your red-hots right here!"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Anonymous

Keyword(s): BASEBALL ; Basketball ; Football ; Hot ; Hot Dog ; Red ; SALE ; Sell ; SPORTS ; Vendor

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cries of street vendor

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OMENS

IF A GENTLEMAN LETS A LADY WALK ON THE CURB SIDE, IT MEANS
THAT HE HAS HER FOR SALE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Rota, Lydia ; 27415 LITTLE MACK ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; Curb ; Gentleman ; Lady ; Ownership ; SALE ; SIGN ; Signal ; Walk ; WALKING

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 02-17-1970

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showing 15 items

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