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THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF RIVERS FLOW INTO THE SEA,
BUT THE SEA IS NEVER FULL -
AND IF MAN COULD TURN STONE INTO GOLD,
STILL WOULD HIS HEART NEVER BE CONTENTED.

Submitter comment: ORIENTAL WISDOM

Keyword(s): WATER GREED MONEY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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FORMULA SPEECH

SAVE SOME FOR THE FISH.

Submitter comment: THIS IS SAID WHEN ONE IS WAITING IN LINE AT A DRINKING FOUNTAIN
BEHIND A PERSON WHO IS TAKING AN ANNOYINGLY LONG DRINK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): WATER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-23-1970

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WHY DID THE MORON PEEL ONIONS ON THE BRIDGE?
HE WANTED TO SEE THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): WATER

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-30-1969

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DICK AND JANE RIDDLE

DICK AND JANE WERE LYING ON THE FLOOR DEAD. ON THE FLOOR THERE
WAS BROKEN GLASS AND WATER. HOW DID THEY DIE?
-- THEY WERE GOLDFISH AND THEIR AQUARIUM BROKE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS RIDDLE FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS AT U OF D.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): FISH WATER AQUARIUM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 02-17-1971

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Goblin Story

A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.

Submitter comment:

For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR ; Palm, David

Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; WATER

Subject headings:

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Goblin Story

A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.

Submitter comment:

For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR ; Palm, David

Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; TRICKSTER ; WATER

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome

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Prank

In LeRoy, N.Y. a common prank would be to call a person on the telephone and tell him you were from teh water department. You would ask him to fill up his bathtub, since the water was to be off for the next day. The pranksters had no connections with the water department, and people would be without use of bathtubs for the night.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): Bathtub ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; PRANKS ; TELEPHONE PRANK ; Water Department

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

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Autograph Rhyme

Autograph Book Rhyme:

I pity the River/I pity the Brook/I pity the one /Who steals this book.

Submitter comment:

Submission is from informant's Junior High Autograph Book, dated 1929-1933

Data entry tech comment:

Motif and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C760] has been crossed out. The word FlyLeaf is written enxt to it.

Submission card located in pile marked [?]

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BOOK ; Golac, Josephine ; GLENSHAW ; 107 PARK LANE DR

Keyword(s): AUTOGRAPH ; BOOK ; FlyLeaf ; poem ; RHYME ; River ; Signature ; VERSE ; WATER

James Callow Keyword(s): FlyLeaf

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse

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Belief: Animal

Omen:

It is believed that if a horse won't drink water, then ot os certain that the water is poisoned.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; Maher, Thomas W

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consumption ; DRINK ; HORSE ; OMEN ; SIGN ; Signal ; Survival ; thirst ; WATER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

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Belief: Animal

IF YOU TAKE A HAIR OUT OF A HORSE'S TAIL AND PUT IT IN A
GLASS OF WATER, IT WILL TURN INTO A WORM.

Submitter comment:

HEARD FROM HER MOTHER.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; HAIR ; HORSE ; MAGIC ; SUPERSTITION ; TRANSFORMATION ; WATER ; Worm

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Animal Life
BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 03-07-1969

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All the water I bathe in doesn't go on my skin.

Submitter comment:

All the benefits I get from being in this world doesn't/don't help me alone. -Interpretation. Told by mother.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The word Proverb is crossed out as a title.

The letter A in All is underlined twice.

Dup. of WPP

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; Massaquoi, Maria

Keyword(s): Bathe ; BODY ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; SKIN ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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Proverb

Blood is thicker than water.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

The B of the word Blood is underlined.

Dup of WPP

Where learned: Henderson, Elmira

Keyword(s): BLOOD ; BODY ; Clan ; FAMILY ; METAPHOR ; Obligation ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

Like water off a duck's back.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V600, V200] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ; Leonard, Sister M

Keyword(s): ADAPTABILITY ; BIRD ; DUCK ; Resilience ; WATER ; Waterproof

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

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Proverb

Still waters run deep

Submitter comment:

From - Uncertain

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; Whittlesey, Ted

Keyword(s): Deep ; Depth ; Insight ; Intelligence ; Knowledge ; METAPHOR ; Quiet ; Run ; SILENCE ; Still ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V500, V300] crossed out. replaced with current classification.

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.

Keyword(s): Control ; HORSE ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

watch pot never boils.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

A?? watch ed??  pot never boils

Original BN [V600] crossed out. replaced with current classifications.

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO ; Sister Leonard

Keyword(s): Boil ; METAPHOR ; PATIENCE ; Pot ; View ; Watch ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

A watched pot never boils.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned this when she was a young girl in Chicago about 1910. She said it to me as I was looking out the window waiting for someone to come.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: PORT LAMBTON ; Menten, Helen

Keyword(s): Boil ; PATIENCE ; Pot ; Watch ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

A watched pot never boils.

Submitter comment:

Learned from her mother

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: INDIANA ; Furr, Mrs O E ; South Bend

Keyword(s): Boil ; PATIENCE ; Pot ; Watch ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverbial Saying

Water seeks its own level

Submitter comment:

Proverbial Saying

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Whyte, Mrs Wilfred ; 524 Rivera Terraces ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): Control ; Level ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

A watched pot never boils

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Keyword(s): BOILS ; PATIENCE ; Pot ; Watch ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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