Document text
re; -e -X 4.4.19
Forms to be Filled out for Each Interview FOLKLORE
FORM A
Circumstances of Interview
STATE
NAME OF WORKER Herman Partnow
ADDRESS
DATE
SUBJECT
557W. 144th St.
May 9, 1939
Unemployed fringe
1. Date and time of interview
April 10, 1939
2. Place of interview
Automat, 14th St. and Fourth Ave.
3. Name and address of informant
Anonymous
4. Name and address of person, if any, who put you in
touch with informant.
5. Name and address of person, if any, accompanying you
6. Description of room, house, surroundings, etc.
NEW YORK
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, for any of the forms,
each bearing the proper headinL and the number to which the material
refers.)
FORM C
Text of Interview (Unedited)
STATE
NAME OF WORKER Herman Partnaw
ADDRESS 567 W. 144th St.
DATE May 9, 1939
SUBJECT Unemployed fringe
YOU CAN'T FIGURE ON A LIFETIME
boss, that nosey thing, he was always sittin
on me with them over -developed mnsoles until I got sick
and tired. Where I got the inoentitive that day I don't
know. Maybe it was because I MUA wearing white. I like
white, I wear everything with a white collar, it makes me
feel good.
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
It VIA springtime, The boss was in the front with
a big customer. I MIA sitting there and typing like my
heart would breakw I was hankering for life. Rose, I said
to myself, in this day and age you can't figure on a lifetime.
Marriage is getting pushed further and further in the baok-
ground, if you're single it's no stigma. I got up from my
desk, I opened the boss's door and I yelled: Look, Mr.
Sternberg, you can wait a hundred years and you'll never get
a typist like me. Look at my hair, my white blouse, my nails.
-3-
I never look unruly, I'm never idle a minute, and I got artistic
ability besides. Next payday 1 want twelve dollars.
It's a Jewish trait. In front of a customer a
goy would think but say something? Never. But he got up
right away and opened up his big mouth and pushed out his
muscles and he yelled: Miss Rosenthal, see me in the baok.
The most terrible thing, you understand, see me in the back.
I don't know, I waan't even scared. I was in the mood of
Eakin money, nothing bothered me. Listen, don't you think
they know if you're worth it to them? They got big mouths
but they know if you're worth it, don't worry. You think he
fired me?
I'm telling you from that day until he lost his
business he was so nice to me like my office boy, he used
to bring me up milk shakes. He was at my book and call.
Before he was sitting on me, in the future every-
tking was in reverse, I was sitting on him.