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SIGNATURES

YOURS TILL CIGARS BOX.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON BOX

Subject headings: Z210

Date learned: 09-00-1973

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SIGNATURES

YOURS TILL THE UNITED STATES DRINKS CANADA DRY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN. CANADA DRY II BRAND OF SOFT DRINK.

Subject headings: Z210

Date learned: 09-00-1973

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IF ONE NOTICES A RAMBLER TRAVELLING AHEAD OF YOU IN TRAFFIC, THE
BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO FIND ANOTHER ROUTE QUICKLY,
FOR RAMBLERS
(ABOUT 99 %) ARE KNOWN TO TRAVEL ON THE AVERAGE ABOUT 15 MPH UNDER
THE SPEED LIMIT AND TEND TO CONFUSE TRAFFIC TO AN ABSURD DEGREE.
IT IS THOUGHT THAT ALMOST 85% OF RAMBLERS, ANCIENT THOUGH THEY BE,
ARE STILL TRYING TO MAKE IT HOME FROM THE SHOWROOM.

Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF WAS DERIVED THROUGH YEARS OF OBSERVATION.

James Callow comment: RAMBLER=SMALL AMERICAN MOTORS CAR
CK[ AUTOMOBILE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 09-22-1972

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AN ITCHING RIGHT HAND PALM IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK WHILE AN ITCHING
LEFT PALM IS A SIGN OF FINANCIAL LOSS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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WHEN YOU CUT A DECK OF CARDS AND THE ACE OF SPADES SHOWS UP, THIS
SIGNIFIES DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
Observation
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-29-1972

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TOAST

THROUGH THE TEETH AND OVER THE GUMS,
LOOKOUT STOMACH, HERE IT COMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE ; MOCK GRACE BEFORE EATING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 10-17-1972

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VIRGINITY

IN BRAZIL THE NEWLYWEDS HANG A BLOODY SHEET ON THE DOOR POST TO
SHOW THAT THE BRIDE WAS A VIRGIN

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HYMEN ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 11-19-1972

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TO TAKE OUT AND PUT BACK NEVER EMPTIES THE POT.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WARNS TO BEWARE OF THOSE WHO ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A
HANDOUT.

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): BEGGING CHARITY BEGGARS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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THE FEET OF A STRANGER ARE SMALL

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WILL TELL THIS TO A THIRD PARTY WHO STICKS HIS MOUTH
INTO AN ARGUMENT THAT DOES NOT AFFECT HIM.

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): BUTTING IN MEDDLE ; INTERRUPTS ; METONYMY

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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TWO HANDKERCHIEFS

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

A LADY WITH A COLD WENT TO A DINNER PARTY AND TOOK WITH HER TWO
HANDKERCHIEFS. ONE SHE TUCKED IN HER BOSOM. AT THE PARTY SHE
STARTED LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT IN HER BOSOM. SHE SUDDENLY NOTICED
PEOPLE LOOKING AT HER. EMBARRASSED, SHE SAID, "I KNOW I HAD TWO
WHEN I CAME."

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): BREASTS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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IT IS ONE THING TO BE SMART AND KNOW IT AND ANOTHER TO BE SMART AND
LET EVERYBODY ELSE KNOW IT.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): BRAGGING EGOTISM

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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TITS

ACCORDING TO INFORMANT WHO IS STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, A
COLLEGE STUDENT (MALE) WILL REFER TO SOMETHING AS BEING "TITS" WHEN
MEANING GREAT, FANTASTIC, OR WONDERFUL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): FEMALE BREASTS=TITS?

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Trade & commerce

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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IF SOMEONE IS SUSPECTED OF LYING

THIS WAS COMMONLY SAID BY INFORMER AS A RETORT TO SOMEONE SUSPECTED
OF LYING.OH, YOU'VE GOT A PIMPLE ON YOUR TONGUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 09-18-1972

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PROVERB

EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE. WORK LIKE HELL AND ADVERTISE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

James Callow Keyword(s): BUSINESS WORK ETHIC

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

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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PROVERB

IT IS BETTER TO KEEP THY MOUTH SHUT AND HAVE OTHERS THINK THAT YOU
ARE AN IMBECILE THAN TO OPEN IT AND ERASE ALL DOUBT.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER TEACHER AT SCHOOL.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Keyword(s): Fool ; HUMOR ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; WISDOM

James Callow Keyword(s): PROVERB

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 09-18-1972

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JESUS WEPT, MOSES CREPT, PETER FELL DOWN THE FRONT STEP.

Submitter comment: A SIMPLE SAYING USED AT TIMES AS A MOCK PRAYER, OR JUST SAID AT
TIMES TO BE FUNNY.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): BIBLICAL

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

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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RIDDLE {SICK HUMOR}

QUESTION: WHY DO THEY BOIL WATER WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A BABY?
ANSWER: SO IF IT DIES, THEY CAN MAKE SOUP.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; TORONTO

James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00001971 (SUMMER)

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Proverb

MAY YOUR LUCK BE AS LONG AS A RABBIT'S EARS, SORROW AS SHORT AS HIS TAIL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 02-22-2011 by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Ear ; EARS ; LUCK ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Rabbit ; SORROW ; Tail ; VERSE

James Callow Keyword(s): WISH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance P880.3

Date learned: 06-09-1944

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VERSE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

BEANS, BEANS, THE MUSICAL FRUIT, THE MORE YOU EAT THE MORE YOU TOOT,
THE MORE YOU TOOT, THE BETTER YOU FEEL, SO EAT BEANS AT EVERY MEAL.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM: TOOT FOR FART ; RHYME: AABB ; SCATALOGICAL

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

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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RETORT

WHEN SOMEONE HAS CALLED YOU A DIRTY OR A NASTY NAME, YOU ARE TO
RETORT WITH "I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I?"

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT, MY YOUNGER SISTER, SAYS THIS IS A VERY GOOD WAY TO
KEEP BIG MOUTHS AWAY BECAUSE THIS RETORT HAS A CIRCULAR MOTION
TO IT, AND YOU COULD KEEP SAYING IT ALL DAY.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): METONYMY: BIG MOUTH FOR OFFENSIVE TALKER ; SLANG: BIG MOUTH FOR OFFENSIVE TALKER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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