Date:  Mon, 10 Jul 1995 22:18:55 -0400

From:  James C Stalker <stalker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PILOT.MSU.EDU>

Subject: Re: milk can dinner



>

> I wonder if this use of "can" is related to the use of "pail" in "lunch

> pail," the term we used as kids in Texas for what others call a "lunch

> kit," although somewhere I've heard the term "lunch bucket." Sour bologna

> was bad enough in a metal box with a latched lid. Taking lunch in an

> actual pail or bucket sounds somehow depressing. You could get a lot of

> food in a milk can, however.

>

>

>

> Wayne Glowka

> Professor of English

> Director of Research and Graduate Student Services

> Georgia College

> Milledgeville, GA 31061

> 912-453-4222

> wglowka[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]mail.gac.peachnet.edu

>

Verrry interesting for a Texan to use a "pail."  Aren't Texans supposed to

fall within the old S. Midland group, hence bucket people rather than pail

people? In KY in the 50's lunch bucket was common, but only for grown-ups.

Kids used lunch boxes or bags. I guess some might have used the Shedd's peanut

butter buckets, but I don't remember any at Penile Elementary School.