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PROVERB

GO TO BED LATE, STAY VERY SMALL
GO TO BED EARLY, GROW VERY TALL.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHESIS ; RISING AND RETIRING

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 07-17-1964

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SAYING

GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS,
ORDINARY MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS,
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHESIS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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LEGEND

AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY THERE IS A TOWER CALLED BEAUMONT
IN WHICH THERE ARE TWO STEEPLES, EVERY TIME A VIRGIN
IS GRADUATED FROM THIS SCHOOL, ONE OF THE TWO STEEPLES
ARE KNOCKED DOWN TO HONOR HER. THESE TWO STEEPLES HAVE BEEN
THERE SINCE 1865.

Submitter comment: FROM ROOM MATE.

Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.

Where learned: DORM ; MICHIGAN STATE

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTIFEMINISM ; PESSIMISM ; SATIRE ; VIRGINITY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-01-1967

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AUTOGRAPH

MAY NOT OUR FRIENDSHIP
BE LIKE THE ROSE TO WITHER,
BUT LIKE THE EVERGREEN
MAY IT LAST FOREVER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP. ; RHYME: ABCB

James Callow Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; SLANT RHYME ; WISH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

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PAUL REVERE'S DASH

TWAS' THE 18TH OF APRIL IN '75,
HARDLY A MAN IS YET ALIVE
WHO REMEMBERS THAT FAMOUS DAY AND YEAR
OF THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE.
UP THE ALLEY AND DOWN THE STREET,
A TWENTY-YARD DASH FOR THE TOILET SEAT.

Submitter comment: SHE FIRST HEARD IT IN A SEVENTH-GRADE CLASS FROM ANOTHER PUPIL AT
OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL IN 1961.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): PARODY--POEM COMPARE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE ANTI-CLIMAX ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 11-13-1968

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WHISTLING GIRLS AND CROWING HENS
ALWAYS COME TO SOME BAD END.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; SLANT RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse in Other Group of Folklore C800.300

Date learned: 09-30-1971

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GOD IS ALIVE JOKE

GOD IS ALIVE AND WELL IN MEXICO CITY.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS ON A BATHROOM WALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTHROPOMORPHISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: 12-06-1967

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GRAFFITI

IF GOD IS DEAD THEN HE MUST BE IN HEAVEN.

Where learned: MENS LAVATORY

Keyword(s): RETORT RELIGION

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTHROPOMORPHISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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GRAFFITI

GOD ISN'T DEAD, HE IS JUST ON VACATION IN MIAMI BEACH.

Where learned: DETROIT ; PLUM ST

Keyword(s): FLORIDA PARODY RELIGION

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTHROPOMORPHISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: 10-31-1967

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ERIEVIEW CONSTRUCTION WORKER

A FEW YEARS BACK THE CITY OF CLEVELAND WAS CONSTRUCTING AN URBAN
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CALLED ERIEVIEW. THE PROJECT HAD BEEN BESET BY A
NUMBER OF STUMBLING BLOCKS FROM FINANCING TO RACIAL TROUBLE.
ONE WINDY DAY A WORKER FELL FROM ONE OF THE UPPER-MOST FLOORS TO HIS
DEATH. AS A LASTING REMEMBERANCE, HIS WORKERS ON THE LOWER FLOORS
QUOTED HIM AS SAYING, AS HE FLEW BY "OH, SHIT"

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; OBSERVATION

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX ; OHIO

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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SMART VINCENT

IT IS TOLD THAT THERE IN A CITY OR TOWN, THERE ALWAYS COMES
ALONG A SMART YOUNG MAN AS OFTEN AS A GOOD FARM HAND. BUT OUT IN
THE FARM VILLAGES THERE ALSO COMES ALONG A SMART BOY-WITH A ROUND
HEAD.
IN ONE PARISH THERE WAS A BOY NAMED VINCENT, (WHO) FROM BIRTH WAS
VERY SMART. HIS PARENTS WERE POOR, SO THERE WAS NO MONEY TO SEND
HIM TO SCHOOL WITH. WHEN HE TURNED TWELVE, HIS FATHER GAVE HIM TO A
RICH MAN AS HIS MESSENGER. BEING WITH THE MAN, VINCENT LEARNED HOW
TO WRITE. IN THE FARMS, THE CHILDREN OFTEN GET OUT OF HAND, BECAUSE
THERE IS NO ONE TO LOOK AFTER THEM; BUT VINCENT DIDN'T, HE WAS
FAITHFUL TO HIS MASTER AND DIDN'T OVERLOOK THE SMALLEST THING.
AFTER HE GREW AWHILE, HIS MASTER RAISED HIM TO A HIGHER POSITION,
DRESSED HIM IN THE BEST CLOTHES, PAID HIM A GOOD SALARY AND TOOK HIM
EVERYWHERE WITH HIM. VINCENT DECIDED THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE MUCH TOO
TALKATIVE, THEY TELL EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE-TO THOSE NECESSARY AND T
THOSE NOT NECESSARY. THAT'S WHY HE DECIDED THAT HE WILL NOT TELL
ANYTHING TO ANYONE WITHOUT LYING.
ONE TIME THEY WENT TO VILNIUS. THE MASTER WENT TO THE TOWN AND
VINCENT STAYED ON AT THE HOTEL. AFTER AN HOUR, A STRANGE MAN CAME U
TO HIM AND STARTED TALKING:
"I READ YOUR MASTER'S PASSPORT AND I KNOW THAT HE CAME FROM THE
NORTHERN COUNTRY: TELL ME, WHAT'S NEW UP THERE BY YOU?"
"WHILE LEAVING THE RIVERFRONT, WE HEARD THE CHURCH BELLS CHIMING.
MAYBE SOMEBODY DIED," ANSWERED VINCENT.
"BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT I ASKED," SAID THE MAN. "I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING."
"THE PEOPLE AND PRIESTS SAY PRAYERS EVERY MORNING AND EVENING."
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ME. I HEARD THAT THE PEOPLE ROSE UP."
"TRUE, TRUE," ANSWERED VINCENT. "AS SOON AS DAWN COMES AROUND,
EVERYONE RISES."
"AND WHAT DO THE RISEN WORK?"
"OH, ANYTHING THAT THEIR MASTERS TELL THEM TO: ONE GOES OUT TO
PLOW, ANOTHER TO HERD THE SHEEP AND SO ON."
"WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU}? I'M ASKING YOU IF THERE IS ANY
FIGHTING BY YOU?}"
"WELL, WHILE BEING IN SAULIAI, A MAN DID GET INTO A FIGHT WITH A
JEW, BUT THE AUTHORITIES SEPARATED THEM."
"YOU'RE RATTLING NONSENSE. I WANT TO KNOW ISN'T THERE A WAR AT
YOUR PLACE?"
"THERE IS, THERE IS," ANSWERED VINCENT.
"AH, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW} WHERE AND WHO IS FIGHTING."
"MY MASTER'S BARNYARD, THERE IS AN OLD ROOSTER, WHO IS ALWAYS
FOREVER FIGHTING WITH THE TURKEY. I WONDER WHO IS GOING TO DO THE
OTHER IN?" ANSWERED VINCENT.
"I SEE THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND YOU." SAID THE GUEST.
"TELL ME, WHAT IS YOUR MASTER PLANNING TO DO?"
"OH, HE'S PLANNING TO GO HOME TOMORROW."
"TELL ME, ARE THE MASTERS AND NOBLEMEN GETTING RUFFLED AGAINST
THE GOVERNMENT?"
"SOMETIMES THEY GET RUFFLED," ANSWERED VINCENT. "MY MASTER,
GOING FOR THE GOVERNMENT, IS COMBING HIS HEAD, BUT RUFFLING HIS HAIR
ESPECIALLY HIS FOREHEAD HAIRS."
"MAY YOU BURN WITH YOUR WAY OF TALKING}" SAID THE ANGERED GUEST.
"THE DAMNED NORTHERNERS: COULDN'T FIND OUT ANYTHING FROM HIM." HAVIN
SAID THAT, HE LEFT.
AFTER THE GUEST LEFT, THE MASTER SOON CAME HOME, AND FINDING THE
DOOR UNLOCKED, SAID:
"WHY DIDN'T YOU LOCK UP, BECAUSE THIS IS THE CITY. SOMEONE
COULD ROB YOU. MAYBE SOMEONE WAS HERE?"
"THERE WAS SOME FAT-CHICK WITH RED HAIR AND DUMPY NOSE,"
ANSWERED VINCENT.
"OH DEAR, PRAY TELL ME WHAT HE ASKED AND WHAT YOU TOLD HIM}"
VINCENT TOLD HIS MASTER ABOUT HIS TALK WITH THE STRANGER. HIS
MASTER, HEARING THIS, TOOK HIM AND HELD HIM TO HIS HEART.
"YOU'RE NOT MY SERVANT, BUT MY SON. DO YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WAS
THIS CITY'S FIRST MAIN THEIF? IF YOU WOULD'VE ANSWERED HIM
DIFFERENTLY, HE WOULD HAVE ROBBED ME AND MANY MORE}"
OUR PEOPLE TELL TOO MUCH TO THE WRONG PEOPLE, ANYTHING THAT COMES
INTO THEIR HEADS. THIS STORY TEACHES US NOT TO OPEN OUR HEARTS FULL
TO ANYONE.

Submitter comment: SAULIAI-- A FARM CITY IN NORTHERN LITHUANIA.
TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN BY RAMUNE STONYS.

Where learned: DISCUSSION

Keyword(s): PRODIGAL SON BIBLE SERVANT GOSSIP FAITHFULNESS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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IF YOU'RE TOO SWEET A MAN, EVERYBODY WILL LICK YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): LOLLIPOP NAIVETE

James Callow Keyword(s): GENTLE DISPOSITIONS TEMPT PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM ; OBSERVATION PREDICTION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 09-23-1971

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IF YOU'RE GONNA RIDE HIGH ON THE HOG, YOU BETTER TAKE SOME SPARE RIB
ON THE WAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANATOMY ANIMALS PORK

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; LIVING LAVISHLY, EXTRAVAGANTLY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU SEE AN ORANGE SEWER PLATE ON THE
STREET? A POLISH HOWARD JOHNSON'S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): HOWARD JOHNSON'S RESTAURANTS HAVE ORANGE COLORED TILE ROOFS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 02-00-1980

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POLACK WHO HAD B.O. ONLY ON ONE SIDE?
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO BUY ANY LEFT GUARD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO DEODERANT "RIGHT GUARD" ; B.O.: SLANG FOR OFFENSIVE BODY ODOR ; LEFT GUARD: AN ANTIPERSPIRANT FOR BODY ODOR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 02-00-1980

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AFRICAN PROVERB

AN INTELLIGENT ENEMY IS BETTER THAN A STUPID FRIEND.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA

Keyword(s): ASSONANCE ; CONTRAST ; OBSERVATION

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTITHESIS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-00-1969

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PRAYER SUPPLICATION

WHEN SOMEONE SNEEZES REPLY:
GOD BLESS YOU.
MAY THE ANGELS KISS YOU
AND THE DEVILS MISS YOU.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHESIS ; BLESSING ; METAPHOR ; PARALLEL STRUCTURE

James Callow Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.646
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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MY FIRST EXPERIENCE

THE SKY WAS DARK, THE MOON WAS HIGH,
WE WERE ALONE, JUST HER AND I.
HER HAIR WAS SO SOFT, HER EYES SKY BLUE,
I KNEW JUST WHAT I HAD TO DO.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW, BUT I DID MY BEST.
I RAN MY FINGERS DOWN HER SPINE
I PUT MY HAND AGAINST HER BREAST.
I'LL NEVER FORGET MY BEATING HEART,
AS SHE SLOWLY SPREAD HER LEGS APART.
NOW ITS ( IT'S ) DONE--ITS ( IT'S ) OVER NOW
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE MILKING A COW.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ANTICLIMAX ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; SURPRISE ENDING

James Callow Keyword(s): PRETENDED OBSCENE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.660

Date learned: 09-30-1970

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GUY WHO HATES HIS JOB

I HATE THIS WORSE THAN A RACOON HATES AN AXE HANDLE.

Submitter comment: ARKANSAS ORIGIN?

Where learned: HOME ; NOT RECORDED

Keyword(s): DISSATISFACTION WITH AN UNPLEASANT JOB

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 10-01-1968

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UGLY IN THE CRADLE, PRETTY AT THE TABLE.

Submitter comment: THIS SAYING PROBABLY IS A NOTE OF OPTIMISM WHEN A BABY IS TRULY UGLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; ELLIPSIS ; SLANT RHYME

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950

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