FastCat Wrote:I feel a double-digit win for the Coogs in my gut!!

FastCat Wrote:Beat the hell out of those goats!!

Quote:THE ORIGIN OF THE BILLIKEN

The most frequently quoted of the many theories of interesting versions was that the Billiken originated in Egypt. It has been said that the Egyptian considered the Billiken to be a symbol of good luck, and the God of Laughter, Happiness, Merry making and Good Health. He was a patron of beauty and guardian angel of children. They believed that the presence of the little figure with his pointed head, pot belly, bat-like ears and whimsical smile, when kept in their homes, would protect and insure a happy, harmonious atmosphere. When worn, it would dispel clouds of trouble and bring joy into life ! This theory was proven to have no basis in fact. A noted archeologist of the Cairo museum was supplied with a copy of a billiken statue. The archeologist indicated that the figure was not of Egyptian antiquity.

The second most frequent theory was that the Billiken originated with the Alaskan Eskimos. The Eskimos began carving Billikens in ivory sometime between the turn or the century and the year 1913, either at Nome, Alaska, or Diomede Island. A squat Oriental figure was commercially produced by the ivory carvers which might have served as the Billiken original model. It was supposed that early-day whaling vessels plying the Alaskan-Siberian coast may have carried from the Orient a small Buddha like image which the Eskimo carvers copied and sold to as souvenirs to enthusiastic sailors. However, the arrival of Billiken in Alaska must have been comparatively recent since no evidence to the contrary has been found in excavations of ancient Eskimo village sites.

A magazine article published September 1960 in Alaska Sportsman by Dorothy Jean Ray unraveled the mystery of the Billiken. She related how she discovered by accident who " invented " the original Billiken. On a visit to Seattle's YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP she discovered a Billiken, not a carved ivory figurine, but a big gray cast iron coin bank. Almost illegible writing on the back turned out to be, Patent No. D-39603. An inquiry to the U.S.. Patent Office disclosed that in 1908 a young woman, Florence Pretz of Kansas City, Missouri was awarded a patent for a " new design " for an image called " A Billiken ". In 1909 the Billiken was manufactured as a coin bank and as a statuette, followed the next year by dolls. The American Doll and Toy company made more the 200,000 dolls which were the rage for 6 months and then disappeared. The slogan which Miss Pretz placed on the base of the plaster of Paris statuette read, "THE GOD OF THINGS AS THEY OUGHT TO BE", a paraphrase of Kipling's famous words from "L'Envoi": Shall draw the things as he sees it for the God of things as they are!

The Billiken was introduced into Alaska by a store keeper on Diomede Island. He gave the statuette to an Eskimo, Angokwaghuk, nicknamed "Happy Jack ", who was probably one of the most famous ivory carvers of all time. " Happy Jack " made one exactly like it with toes, belly, head and smile then made more and they sold fast. The Eskimos have continued to carve the Billiken to the present time. An interesting fact about today's Alaskan Billiken is the remarkable similarity to the original Pretz design. The carvers have continued to copy faithfully "Happy Jack's" copy. The Billiken is regarded by the Eskimos as a good luck symbol. Luck is supposed to be generated by ownership of a Billiken in any form. To bring greatness of health, happiness and good fortune one must rub his belly twice a day, always thinking of others, and for them " good things!"

In 1908, a Kansas City artist received a patent for the design, and evidently the name Billiken was attached to it, because the design was purchased by the Billiken Co. of Chicago, which manufactured it as a bank, a statuette and dozens of other permutations. In fact, it was the national rage for six months. For those interested, a photo of a real Billiken Bank is on this page.

It is said that Billikens are associated with good luck

It is associated with two organization one is Saint Louis University and the other  unnamed.

uhmump95 Wrote:Umm. I don't think a Billiken is a goat. A poster on ESPN.com informed me that it is a mythical creature that brings good luck or somethig like that.

lauramac Wrote:Whatever.  Go Coogs -- whup those nonexistent mofos. 

Quote:THE ORIGIN OF THE BILLIKEN
snip...

uhmump95 Wrote:

lauramac Wrote:Whatever.  Go Coogs -- whup those nonexistent mofos. 

L-Mac, you can do better than that. How about:

Go Coogs!! Whoop up on those lucky charms leprechaun wannabe mofos!!!

Your turn!!!

FastCat Wrote:Looks like my gut was right on! :hungry: