Fools' Errands for Dundee Apprentices
1959; Routledge; Volume: 70; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/0015587x.1959.9717165
ISSN1469-8315
Autores Tópico(s)Historical Studies of British Isles
ResumoIN Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk Literature (21955-8), IV (i957), 205, Motif no. J 2346 Fool's Errand is thus described, 'An apprentice or newcomer, or ignorant person, etc., is sent for absurd or misleading or nonexistent object or on ridiculous quest', and reference is given to E. W. Baughman, A Comparative Study of Folk-Tales of England and North America (Indiana University Dissertation) Ann Arbor, Michigan, Microfilm Service, 1954, with examples from Canada, England and United States. These may be supplemented by following examples from Scotland,' which I quote from George M. Martin, Dundee Worthies, a volume of 'reminiscences, games, amusements' published in Dundee in 1934 and recording material much of which goes back as far as seventies of last century. Martin refers to practices as 'initiating ceremonies', which is not a very apposite description, since apprentice might be sent more than once on a fool's errand and since there does not as a rule appear to be any ritual of acceptance or confirmation after execution of errand; he then continues (pp. 189-92), 'The compiler, who was apprenticed to Messrs Gourlay Bros., engineers, was asked by a leading hand to go to moulding for cubilie; on his way there he suddenly remembered that cubilie was furnace wherein at least ten tons of metal was in a liquid state, ready for casting. Had he gone, no doubt foreman of moulding would have sent him to another big shop and so on. This method of sending innocent round and round was practised in every variety of rite. 'Others were sent for half-round square, the soft-pointed chisel, the brass-faced file, etc., etc. 'In Dundee Harbour engineers' office tyro was usually sent for graving dock key. This was a large two-manual key for sluice gates and many a sore shoulder was made by carrying this tool which weighed at least a hundredweight.
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