[PW] Marshall Dodge Downeast Humor query

[Stanley, Elaine]

Don,

It might be included in a videotape titled "Downeast Smile-in with
Marshall Dodge", which contains 3 episodes of the original "A Downeast
smile-in" series, first broadcast on Maine Educational Television in
1970.  

We have a copy of that videotape in our collection and could ILL it to
your library if you'd like. 

Hoping to help,

Elaine 


Elaine C. Stanley
Retiring on August 31 as
Reference Services Coordinator
Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0064
207-287-5600
elaine.stanley at maine.gov 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org
[mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of
don wittig
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 10:54 AM
To: Project Wombat
Cc: dan8bks at yahoo.com
Subject: [PW] Marshall Dodge Downeast Humor query

      I'm trying to locate either a sound recording or a print version
of a particular Bert and I story which may have been included in a
television broadcast in the 1970s and could possibly have been filmed
before a college-age audience. The shermans.com website refers to a
recording it once marketed, now sold out, entitled: "Bert & I On Stage",
featuring Marshall Dodge. This is described as "The last of the Bert & I
recordings featuring Marshall Dodge in performance at the University of
Maine in the fall of 1977". The story I'm seeking may have been among
those Downeast tales presented in this televised production.
   
              The story's protagonists are Mr. Symes, the first mate on
a Maine whaling ship, and Captain Symes, the master of the vessel, but
no relation to the mate, as the mate makes clear as the story develops.
A whale is sighted, and Mr. Symes asks permission of the captain to
lower boats and pursue. The captain allows as how the weather is too
severe to make chase and says: "It's blowing a might pert and 'taint
fitting for to lower" (pronounced as "flower"), thus denying the mate's
request. Nonetheless, the whaling vessel still tracks the whale, and Mr.
Symes again entreats the captain to allow him to lower boats and chase
the whale, and again, Captain Symes refuses, based on his assessment of
the severe weather. The pursuit continues, Mr. Symes asks Captain Symes
a third time to be allowed to go after the whale. The exasperated
captain, remonstrating with Mr. Symes that he has already refused
permission twice previously owing to the stormy seas, finally
capitulates  and gives grudging permission to the mate, saying to him,
"Lower away and be damned!"
   
              Despite the fretful weather, Mr. Symes makes a successful
kill of the whale (He, being the harpooner, observes of himself: "I
darted the iron, and by God, it took!") and returns with it to the ship,
where he is greeting magnanimously by the formerly choleric, raspy
captain, who says to the mate that his determination and skill in
capturing the whale, in spite of the foul weather, are commendable. The
captain, realizing he may have been a trifle peevish, attempts to
ingratiate himself with his mate by saying: "Mr. Symes, in my cabin are
a box of fine, Havana cigars (pronounced "see-gars") and a keg of
Barbados rum---they are at your service (pronounced "sar-viss"). Mr.
Symes, somewhat nonplussed at the captain's abrupt change of heart,
replies: "Captain Symes, I don't want your Havana cigars, and I don't
want your Barbados rum. All I want is a little Christian civility
(pronounced "see-vility") and Goddamned little of that." Mr. Symes then
goes forward and  stands his watch. End of story.
   
              There are several recordings and a book of Downeast
stories, available from the two sources listed following *: Bert and I,
More Bert and I , The Return of Bert and I, Bert and I Stem Inflation,
and Bert and I On Stage. There is, however, no listing on the websites
of story titles or content in these items. E-mails to both sites have
not gotten any response. Can you help in identifying a source for this
tale?
   
  * http://www.bertandi.net/
  * http://www.shermans.com/Humor/
   
     I'm not presently subscribed to the list, so any responses should
come to my e-mail address. Many thanks for any assistance you can
provide.
   
   
   
   
   

       
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