Document text
Swenson
701127
April 13, 193g
LIVING FOLKLORE
Subject: Folklore of Communications
Icstel Telegraph Operators
ilace: Workers' lunchroom at 20 Broad St. 7th floor
Informants: Groups of Lidividuals who go in and out of the
lunchroom during their 15 minute relief periods,
The following material has been reconstructed from
the "table talk" of the workers, after "listening
in" at their discussions on several occasions.
Hello Don how's the boy?
So, so. This cake is made of rubber.
You said it. I'm sick of the food around here. with 15 minutes
its not enough to get to your locker and downstairs seven flights
to a cqfeteria before time's up. You have to eat here or not eat
and they know it, so what do they give you? goulash.... Say, where
you going on vacation this year?
I get two weeks in July. I think I'll go Up worth, maybe haine
or else in thedirondacks. Rent a cabin on a lake. Think of it
for two whole weeks, 24 hours a day I wont have to lay my eyes on
one of those 'ink sheets with 'iostel Tel' on a blue border.
machines, no key pounding, no code strips, no nothing-- only me and
the mountain breezes and the sound of the line and floater hitting
he water--,iishing from dawn to dark-- oh boy--
That reminds me-- last summer I went fishing with my old nen
up around Oape Cod. Gee those were two perfect weeks. But, y'know
the second day away, when I'd managed to put lostel Tel in the attic,
guess what? I'get a wire-- a wire, mind you-- from Ernie-- you know
he was on the night shift-- so he sneaks a wire through to me, and
it says in code-- "Don't forget to sign the timesheet-- how's your
message rate? I'm having a swegil.time-- 83 72 plus 444-- Wish
you was here." So I threw him a 4dir-wire back collect --:.and I says,
"To hell with timesheet. I sign in on the bay at 541.. L. ik:y mess rate
today was 4o pounds of bass and bluefish. Ha:ving swell time without
you here." How do you like that? peach, huh?
Yeah-- 1c1 oetter shove along-- I got one minute. hi, girls
have a piece of rubber cake -1 i-c) long
Ruthie, y'should of seen this dress-- the top was all mesh,
sort of cream colored, with.a full skirt and a narrow red velvet
belt-- very high waisted
I'll bet it's a darling on you. Soon'g I get my elle& I'm
going to get my blue coat cleaned, and get a pair cf blue gwued shoes,
you know, with a stray heel and an open toe. Look, here cones
Selma-- she's got a ring-- wait, she'll call your attention to f
She's been flashing it all over, the place
well, girls-- look, at lasts
Oh, Selna, how perfectly stunning. I'm so harpy for you, dear.
When'll it be?
P
la.it, let me get a bite into this---aaah-- corn beef again--
they don't have no choice .round here. Lih, well my: dears, don't
take this little gadget so :seriously-- you know, I haven't really
thought of-- I havent made up ny mind to marry Roy. I only agreed
to be en6E;,ed to him-, .e's a sweet boy-- I've been in love with
him for two years-- I never even see another fellow. You know me.
but marriage-- you know what I mean-- I mean it's alright and all
that-- maybe later, when you want to settle _down, have a couple
kids-- you know. But when I do.that, it probably wont be Roy
he's sweet and all-- nice to run around with-- a divine dancer
but, well, you know what I mean, he's too acquisitive, too possessive,
jelous--- I want freedom. Still, it gives a girl a certain prestige
you know what I mean-- if she can sport a diamond. Other fellows look
at her with respect. it gives one an outlook, so to speak. Other
sort of get interested-- competition, you know---)/
Say, Benny sent me a plant for Easter. Wasn't that sweet? A
little note on it: "Don't forget to water me, and I'll grow up to
be crazy about you like--- your--- Benny Goodstein."
How cute. Benny's a cute boy. I could go for him myself. But
you certainly got him on the leish, Ruthie.
Last time I weighed, I found I lost two pounds. Yiknow, eating
sandwiches and coffee six times a day spoils your appetite for a
real meal.
Say, y know these Partune-telling scales--? Well, I got a slip
saying, "Your love life will be a hectic one. You are psychologically
an impet ous person --(or something like that-- imagine—) You wear
your hea t on your sleeve, you are open to auto -suggestion--, your
legs work in reflex." How do you like that? My legs work in reflex!
What does it mean, my legs work in reflex?
'-Dotty's married. She should know. How about it Dot?
It means when you're running to catch a bus before the green
light goes on-.: why, your legs work in reflex.
Oh, yeali? Well, suppose I ride the subway.
Grace, you're hopeless. You should take lessons from J. T.
Look, who's talking. So he's beeil stepping you too.
just hearing or two. .jid you know Bertha Dixon's
expecting a baby? It's begun to show, and the floorman advised her
to take a leave of three weeks. Know what she said? She says to
him, 'Three weeks? Why three weeks? I'd have to lay off for
six months!" She told him she's going to stay on the job till the
last minute. Imagine! I think its terrible-- the poor kid will
4110111 soon look like a stuffed goose, and everyone will notice her.
They say it's J.T.s.
Oh well, Bertha won't care. I think she's proud of it.
L(
et's get up a naming contest. Whoever suggests the best
name for Bertha'.s brat, is exempt from union dues and assessments
for three months.
Lake it exempt for life, and I'm on.
Listen, I Suggest, we call it 'Fostel Nell', if, it's a girl!
Well, dears, I gotta scram, Want to make my locker before
I go back on the machine. So long.
So long, Sel-- take care of the glassware:
Ruthie, that was a dirty you devil! Listen, the new
floorman stopped at .my machine today, and he says, 'How you doing?"
So I looks up at him, give him the bright eye, and I says, 'I could
dO better without you breathing down my neck every five minutes
The humidity's bad enough', I says, 'without that', says.
MIX Oh, you_414m4t—really.
So help me, I did. Well, anyway, words to that effect. If
you know what I mean.
He's fresh. I don't like his looks, fie has sweaty hands.
Y'know how he puts his casually on your shoulder. Gives me
the shivers.
The other man we had was better. Old Freddy, Baldy Freddy
You could do anything with him-- powder your nose in the middle
of takiAg a rush wire-- fle wouldn't say a word.
I used to keep a crossword puzzle on my lap and fool with
markin
it between times. 4hile I'd be the time on the blank with
one hand, i'd fill in a word with the other. Gee, one day thodgh,
Freddie came up behind me, and he catches on, and he stoops dawn,
whispers in my ear, 'Ai, monkey in three letters ending with e, is
4q)el' He meant it for an insult, but I wasn't phased. I laughed,
at him and wrote it in right in front of his nose. 'Thanx', I said.
'You're a big help. If I Win the contest, I'll split with you.'
So he laughed too; and walked on.
1.--,
Grace, listen to me-- you watch your step. You may think its
4--,
funny-- but I've seen girls get the sack for a lot less than that.
Never trust a super. They kid with you, and then turn in your number.
Next payday, you get a suspension, and then you dOn't know even
who to blame. filimmmil Cimon', let's get going-- it's two minutes
to. Let me have your lipstick, Ruthie.
So long, gals. See you on the floor.
So long, take care of yourself. So long.