Ran across this while reading a book called The Well Springs of Truth published in 1883 by the Nashville publishing Company. Written by W.W. Breese MD.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Otiginal BN [V400, S500] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: BOOK ; The Well Springs of Truth ; Nashville Publishing Company

Keyword(s): Language ; Latch ; Saying ; SIGN ; SLANG ; String ; Welcome

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Formula

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Story

WHEN A SEAMAN DIED ABOARD SHIP AND A BURIAL AT SEA
WAS NECESSARY, A PENNY OR OTHER COIN WAS PLACED IN THE
MOUTH OF THE DEAD MAN BY HIS SHIPMATES BEFORE BEING
SEWN UP IN HIS BURIAL SHROUD. THIS COIN WAS FOR OLD
MAN CHARON, SKIPPER OF THE FERRY THAT WOULD SAFELY
CARRY THE DECEASED ACROSS THE RIVER STYX--IF PAID
IN ADVANCE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated and Motifs added / 02-28-2011 / TRD

Where learned: BOOK

Keyword(s): ; BURIAL ; COIN ; Dead ; DEATH ; Ferry ; Lore ; MONEY ; Ocean ; Payment ; River ; SEA ; Ship ; Shroud ; Story ; Styx ; Tale ; Underworld ; VERSE

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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AN INDIAN INSULT

THIS PERSON REPORTS THAT THE GREATEST INSULT KNOWN IN
THE INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE IS TO "CLOSE THE HAND
TIGHTLY WITH THE NAILS OF THE FINGERS DOWNWARD, THEN
SUDDENLY OPENING THE HAND, USUALLY ACCOMPANIED WITH
A SNEER OF CONTEMPT.
THIS WAS THE GREATEST INSULT THAT AN INDIAN COULD GIVE.

Where learned: BOOK

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.1
SPEECH -- Derision Scorn

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CASINO WORKERS USE GESTURES: FINGERTIPS TOUCHING
TABLE MEANS "THERE'S A CHISLER HERE;" A FINGER BEHIND
THE EAR IS A DISTRESS CALL FOR THE HEAD MAN; CROSSED
INDEX AND THIRD FINGER MEANS "PLEASE TAKE OVER;"
PALM AND FINGERS EXTENDED DOWNWARD MEANS "THEY ARE
CLEANED OUT."

Where learned: BOOK

Keyword(s): SLANG: CLEANED OUT: OUT OF MONEY.

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
SPEECH -- Underworld
SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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Belief: Luck

If a ship has thirteen letters in its name the ship is doomed.

Submitter comment:

Read this in a book of sea lore.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Minor grammatical correction to submission card: changing had to has

Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P686

Where learned: DORM ROOM ; BOOK

Keyword(s): Boat ; Lore ; NAME ; Nautical ; NUMBERS ; NUMEROLOGY ; Ocean ; Sailor ; SEA ; Ship ; Vessel

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Number

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Autograph Rhyme

Autograph Book Rhyme:

Don't steal this book, my honest friend, for fear the gallows be your end. And when you die the Lord shall say, "Where is the book you wtole away?" But if you cannot tell, the Lord shall cast you into hell. Whoever steals this book of knowledge, will sweetly graduate from Sing-Sing College.

Submitter comment:

The autograph book this is taken from is collected from the years 1929-1933.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

BN [C760] is crossed out and the word FlyLeaf is written next to it.

Submission card located in a pile marked [?]

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BOOK ; Glanshaw

Keyword(s): AFTERLIFE ; AUTOGRAPH ; FlyLeaf ; HELL ; Judgment ; PRISON ; RHYME ; VERSE

James Callow Keyword(s): FlyLeaf

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse