DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POLISH MAN WHO GOT A JOB PAINTING
WHITE LINES DOWN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD? THE FIRST DAY
ON THE JOB HE PAINTED A MILE AND THE FOREMAN THOUGHT HE
WAS DOING A REAL GREAT JOB. ON THE SECOND DAY HE PAINTED
A HALF MILE. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ONLY PAINTED A QUARTER
MILE. THE FOREMAN DECIDED THEY WOULD HAVE TO LET THE POLISH MAN GO, BECAUSE HE WAS NOT PAINTED FAR ENOUGH.
WHEN THE POLISH MAN REALIZED HE WAS GOING TO LOSE HIS
JOB HE SAID, "OF COURSE I'M PAINTING LESS EACH DAY, LOOK
HOW FAR I HAVE TO WALK TO THE BUCKET!"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

James Callow Keyword(s): ABSURD MISUNDERSTANDING OF WORK PROCESS

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 00-00-1983

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Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

HOW DOES A POLLOCK GET KILLED RAKING LEAVES? HE FALLS
OUT OF THE TREE.

James Callow Keyword(s): ABSURD MISUNDERSTANDING OF WORK PROCESS

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 10-00-1983

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TRUE STORY

AT ONE TIME, MARIA WAS TEACHING A RELIGION CLASS
OF LITTLE CHILDREN AND SHE ASKED A LITTLE BOY,
"WHAT'S ANOTHER NAME FOR GOD?" AND THE LITTLE
CHILD REPLIED "HAROLD." MARIA EXCLAIMED, "HAROLD?
WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT?" THE LITTLE CHILD REPLIED
"IN THE LORD'S PRAYER, BECAUSE WE SAY 'OUR FATHER
WHO ARE IN HEAVEN, HAROLD BE THY NAME."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ABSURD MISUNDERSTANDING ON PART OF A CHILD.

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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UNDERTAKER

THIS MAN OWNED A FUNERAL HOME AND HIS BUSINESS WAS
ALWAYS SLOW. HE GOT MOST OF HIS CUSTOMERS BY WATCHING
FOR ANY MISHAP THAT LOOKED LIKE DEATH WAS NEXT. ONCE
A MAN COLLAPSED ON THE STREET BECAUSE HE WAS TOO DRUNK.
THE UNDERTAKER TOOK HIM FOR DEAD AND PUT HIM IN THE
PARLOR WITH INTENTIONS OF EMBALMING HIM THE NEXT MORNING.
THE NEXT MORNING, HE WENT IN TO PREPARE THE SUPPOSED
CORPSE, HOWEVER, THE DRUNK HAD SLEPT OFF HIS CONDITION
AND AWAKENED SHOCKED TO FIND HIMSELF IN A FUNERAL PARLOR.
HE JUMPED UP AND RAN OUT THE DOOR AS THE UNDERTAKER
WAS COMING IN. THE UNDERTAKER YELLED AT HIM AS HE RAN
PAST--HEY! COME BACK HERE, YOU'RE DEAD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HIS HOME
TOWN, TUSKALOOSA, ALABAMA (1928).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; DETROIT ; TUSCALOOSA

Keyword(s): DRUNKARD, MISTAKE ; J1849. INAPPROPRIATE ACTION FROM MISUNDERSTANDING -- MISC.

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: 09-19-1971 ; 00-00-1928

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