Browse:Author Becomes a Specialist (Volume 1, entries 807)
Author Becomes a Specialist
Volume 1, entries 807. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → THE DOCTORS THEMSELVES: BIRTH TO DEATH: DESCRIBED BY LAYMEN. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 807
(You went to Shelbyville, Tennessee.)
That's right. Well, now, during the course of three weeks there I made $600, see, just telling people. But ah actually know how to tell, you see.
(Well, what do you use in telling?) Teacup. (You tell their fortunes with the teacup. And then what do you do?)
Then the person say, "That is true" - which it is. There's hardly any true - now, I kin tell you or anyone; well, that's true. But, now you say, you see where I'm going to get some money from some place or well - can you do something, can you do anything to influence a lawsuit or something like that. Well, ah don' know how to do that part. Well, AH REFER DIS PERSON TO YOU. You see, [ah] says, "I know a man that probably could give you something to help you that way. [The specialization of modern medicine has influenced hoodoo!]
(Have you ever worked in cooperation with other people?)
Many people in that way. Say now, if someone comes to me and says, "You tell my fortune?" And I charge them $2.00 - that's my price you see when ah would tell them. Course ah don't have any large fee for telling fortunes. Down where we lived in Tennessee it cost something to tell fortunes. There was one white lady that lived down de street from me that told fortunes, she paid $1000 a year, but that woman really made it. Now the people would begin at her house at four clock in de morning and come till four in the evening. Well, she retired. They would be there every day - cars just be lined up. Well, now for instance I tell fortune, maybe you have some magical power. A person says, "Well, can you do something to influence the sale of my home? I have a piece of property that I would like to sell." I say, "Well, I don't do that, BUT I KNOW A MAN THAT CAN." Well, I GIVE THEM A CARD AND SEND THEM TO YOU.
(Where did you learn how to tell fortunes?)
I learned that from a child. My aunt does to this day.
(Well, you have prepared tobies for people, haven't you?)
Oh, sure ah done - that's what ah told you ah wanted to give you, a little [either a toby or a card of introduction to a toby specialist].
(He doesn't do anything else but just take care of those [tobies].)
I kin do a lot of little things but I never did profit in that [toby-making].
[I comment to microphone as soon as informant leaves room:]
(The woman who has just finished talking was Mrs. Frazee. She came back to talk to me a little bit - she didn't give me anything worthwhile this morning.)