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STORY OF ROB BACKUS
I HEARD THIS STORY FROM A GUY NAMED ROB BACKUS IN 1969. HE LIVED
IN A HOUSE WHERE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME. ROB TOLD A STORY ONE TIME
ABOUT HOW HE GOT OUT OF THE U.S. NAVY. ROB WAS A SEAMAN ON A
NAVY SHIP AND HE WAS GROWING MORE DISCONTENTED WITH LIFE IN THE
NAVY. ONE DAY HE WENT TO A MUSIC STORE AND BOUGHT A SAXOPHONE.
THE NEXT DAY IN THE EARLY MORNING BEFORE REVILLE HE CLIMBED TO
THE TOP OF THE MAST OF THE SHIP. WHEN THE SAILORS WERE ASSEMBLED
FOR REVILLE HE STARTED BLOWING ON THE SAXOPHONE. THEY FINALLY
GOT HIM TO COME DOWN, AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, HE WAS DISCHARGED
FROM THE NAVY. HE HAD NEVER PLAYED A SAXOPHONE BEFORE THAT DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY HAPPENED DURING THE VITENAM WAR ERA, AND IT WAS
GRATIFYING TO ME TO KNOW THAT ONE PERSON THAT I KNEW HAD BEEN ABLE
TO SAVE HIS LIFE FROM THE PERILS OF VIETNAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
James Callow Keyword(s): FEIGNED INSANITY TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE.
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
A STAR IS BORN BY THE URGINGS OF A FRIEND
IN 1939 THE ONLY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN A SMALL TOWN OF WEST
VIRGINIA WAS HAVING AN AMATEUR TALENT CONTEST. CHUBBY LITTLE
RICHARD BEGGED, PLEADED AND FINALLY URGED HIS SHY, SKINNY FRIEND
TO JOIN WITH HIM. AFTER MUCH CAJOLING LITTLE DON FINALLY
ACQUIESCED. THE BOYS WORKED UP A SONG AND PATTER ROUTINE WITH
GUITAR AND BANJO. THEY WERE THE DECISIVE WINNERS. THOUGH THEY'RE
SEPARATED THEY HAVE KEPT IN CLOSE CONTACT THROUGH THE YEARS.
GROSSE POINTE DOCTOR RICHARD FERRARA FREQUENTLY SEES HIS GOOD
FRIEND DON KNOTTS AND THEY STILL SING THE OLD SONGS TOGETHER.
James Callow Keyword(s): TELEVISION STAR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
WHEN I WAS A KID IF I DROPPED ANYTHING ON THE GROUND
I WOULD CROSS MYSELF WITH THE OBJECT IN MY HAND AND
SAY "GOD KISS IT, DEVIL MISS IT." THIS MADE ME
BELIEVE THAT THE OBJECT WAS CLEAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SANITARY
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration Favorites BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
WHEN I SAY, "KNOCK, KNOCK", YOU REPLY, "WHO'S THERE?"
I WILL SAY A NAME, THEN YOU REPLY, "I GOT TO GO WEAR MY
COAT", THEN THAT NAME.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
BILL
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, BILL.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
SAM
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, SAM.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
TOM
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, TOM.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
TEX
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, TEX.!!!!!
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS JOKE AT A PARTY AT A NUN'S RESIDENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
James Callow Keyword(s): KOTEX IS A SANITARY NAPKIN.
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
On the feast of St. Barbara (Dec.4), artillerymen wear
red socks.
Submitter comment:
Ray was not sure how this custom came into being, but says
that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen. Perhaps
because she is the saint to be prayed to for protection from
lightening and fire, the artillerymen feel that she has an
affinity with the explosive power of their weapons.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
Keyword(s): Military, soldiers
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
HOW MANY ETHIOPIANS CAN YOU FIT IN A BATH TUB. NONE,
THEY WILL FALL DOWN THE DRAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): THIN FROM STARVATION
| Subject headings: | ETHI |
Date learned: 00001970S
Festival of the Star
The Christmas Eve events in Poland are called the "Festival of
the Stars." This Festival begins when the young children see the
first star that evening. The mother has a white table cloth on
the table with small amounts of straw on it to symbolize the
Bethlehem stable in which Jesus was born. After the first star is
seen by the small children, the mother puts out the food. But
before anyone eats the dinner the family says a prayer of
Thanksgiving and the father passes out small wafers with religious
pictures stamped on them. These wafers have been blessed by the
priest. Those present at the dinner wish each other good health
and happiness and share the wafers with each of the others. One
at a time you go up to another member of the family, wish the
other family member good health and happiness and then break off a
small portion of their wafer and eat it. The special dinner
consists of borscht soup (beet soup) or duck soup, fish (it is a
pike fish with saffron and raisins in it), pierogi, sauerkraut,
mushrooms, nuts and kolatchi cookies (these are cookies made of a
sugar dough which is wrapped around a fruit jam in the middle).
One place setting is left vacant for either the Christ child or an
unexpected guest. This is significant of Mary and Joseph's search
for a place to stay when Mary was to give birth to Jesus. Since
there was no place for them to stay, not even in the inn, this
place guarantees a place for them. After supper, the Christmas
tree is lit, and Polish Christmas carols are sung. The star man
comes to the house and asks the children about religion and tests
their catechism knowledge. Three boys dressed as the Three Wise
Men carry a lit star into the room singing Polish Christmas carols
and bring presents to the children. The children do not believe
in Santa Claus; they receive their presents from the Three Wise
Men, only if they answer the religious questions posed by the star
man correctly. Sometimes men would also dress up to be a camel
and accompany the Three Wise Men in their entrance into the home.
At midnight, the families attend the midnight mass which they call
"Pasterka" or in English, "Shepherd's Mass." The church is
decorated with the manger scene throughout the Christmas season.
On January 6, "The Day of the Three Kings," the Christmas season
is over.
Submitter comment:
Many of the activities listed in this Polish Christmas were
practiced by both her mother and father when they lived in Poland.
The Polish Christmas dinner, Christmas Carols, and the tree
decorating are still practiced in the family. Also the family
attends the "Shepherd's Mass" each year.
Where learned: POLAND
Keyword(s): Festival of the Star
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
The Ant and the Grasshopper
All day long all through the warm days of summer, a green
grasshopper went happily about. Whenever the grasshopper was
thirsty, he would sip nectar from any plant he saw. One
afternoon, as the grasshopper was leaping from flower to flower,
he saw beneath him a little black ant struggling to carry a fat
leaf bigger than himself. "Little friend," said the grasshopper,
"What are you doing down there?" "Why, I am carrying this leaf
off to my nest. I must fill my nest with food to last through
winter." "Winter?" said the grasshopper. "Who cares about
winter? Why don't you climb up to this flower and enjoy its
sweet nectar? Winter will take care of itself." "That isn't the
way things work in this world," said the ant. "Winter will be
here soon. The flowers will be gone, and there will be nothing
to eat." "Well, suit yourself," said the grasshopper. And off
he went, singing happily and having no cares at all. The ant
returned to carry each leaf, but he did not mind. He knew he
would have enough to last the winter. Soon the cold weather
came. The ant was snug in his
nest with plenty of food to eat. The grasshopper? He had
nothing to eat and soon was no more. A WISE PERSON KNOWS THAT
SUMMER DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.
Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): Nectar = A sweet liquid secreted by plants
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 11-00-1991
CHARLIE CHAPLIN SAT ON A PIN.
HOW MANY INCHES DID IT GO IN?
ONE, TWO, THREE,...
Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; CHARLIE CHAPLIN, MOVIE STAR ; COUNTING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
SHIRLEY TEMPLE WENT TO FRANCE
TO TEACH THE CHILDREN HOW TO DANCE.
HEEL AND TOE AND AROUND YOU GO,
HEEL AND TOE AND AROUND YOU GO.
SALUTE THE CAPTAIN,
BOW TO THE KING,
TURN YOUR BACK ON THE UGLY OLD QUEEN.
Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): CHARACTER MOVIE STAR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
DON'T WEAN AN ANIMAL UNLESS SIGNS ARE IN THE THIGH OR LOWER.
IF THE SIGN IS ABOVE THIGH, THE ANIMAL WILL CRY ALL THE TIME.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SAGITTARIUS AQUARIUS CAPRICORN ; ZODIAC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching |
Date learned: 09-23-1973
A WELL FED PERSON DOESN'T UNDERSTAND A HUNGRY PERSON.
Submitter comment:
{UKRAINIAN GIVEN, BUT ILLEGIBLE}
INFORMANT RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM RELATIVES IN UKRAINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): STARVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-14-1967
ROTC=ROTTEN OLD TIN CANS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; JOKE ; MILITARY ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; ROTC:MILITARY TRAINING UNIT. ; SATIRE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- P535 SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
MARTINI'S LAW
MARTINI'S LAW STATES THAT FOR EVERY 50 FEET THE SCUBA DIVER DESCENDS
THE EFFECT OF THE NITROGEN UPON HIM IS EQUIVALENT TO DRINKING ONE
MARTINI. THIS THEORY IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN FORMULATED BY THAT GREAT
ITALIAN SKIN DIVER, MARTINI. THIS LAW HAS GIVEN TO THE SAYING THAT
"YOU SHOULDN'T DRINK AND DIVE."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS TONGUE IN CHEEK, EVENTHOUGH THE EFFECT OF BREATHING NITROGEN
UNDER PRESSURE IS SIMILAR TO DRINKING, OR PERHAPS, BECAUSE OF IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MILITARY
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHAT WERE TARZAN'S LAST WORDS?
ANSWER: WHO GREASED THE VINE?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GREASED (A) ; TARZAN'S (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHAT WERE TARZAN'S LAST WORDS?
ANSWER: WHO GREASED THE GRAPEVINE?
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): GREASED (A) ; TARZAN'S (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Story
The recruit would go around the base in a constant search looking for a piece of paper. He would go through elaborate to attract attention [sic]. He would turn over rocks, pick up other pieces of paper or what have you. After each act he would exclaim "no, that's not it!" Finally he got the attention of the camp doctors who then had him confined. Finally the doctors deemed him unfit for service and gave him a medical discharge. Then the guy said he finally found the right piece of paper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Bogg Number [B600] crossed out and replaced with B646
Keyword(s): Discharge ; FEIGNED INSANITY TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE. ; Fool ; INSANITY ; INSANITY ; Mental Disorder ; MILITARY ; Parable ; Recruit ; Sanity ; Wise Fool
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Content filter on this entry.
Poor Wording
A number of GI's in England during the war decided to hold a horse race to keep up the morale of the base. For some reason they were short of active animals for the event. Now it happened that the local parish priest had a donkey and they obtained his permission to use it to make up the field. The donkey to the surprise of everyone came in third in the first race. Where upon the camp newspaper came out with the headline "Padre's Ass Shows."
This naturally caused no small scandal among the people of the parish and eventually reached the bishop. However, when called to ask about it by the bishop the padre managed to mollify the good man by explaining it was only an American slang expression. The next day a race was held and the donkey came in first. The paper then announced "Padre's Ass Out in Front."
This called for further episcopal disapproval, but again the padre succeeded in mollifying the bishop. The third day's race the donkey finished second and the paper reported "Padre's Ass back in Place." This was the last straw for the bishop and he ordered the priest to withdraw the animal from the race. The camp then came forth with the sad news: "Bishop Scratches Padre's Ass."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [ B667 ] modified: the number zero is written over the seven. Additionally, the entire BN is crossed out and replaced with B660.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Cieslak, John
Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; Anecdote ; Culture Clash ; DONKEY ; European ; GAMBLING ; HORSE ; Jest ; Language ; MILITARY ; NEWSPAPER ; PUN ; RACING ; RELIGION ; SLANG
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote Filter - Mature Content |
Ethnic:Belgium
Wedding:
In Belgium, at weddings, it was a belief and general practice that the more important or wealthy the bride, the later she would arrive at the church. There were instances where the bride would be as much as 1/2 hour late. The priests were well aware of this practice and would not grow impatient during the waiting period.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P545, F578] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; 935 FIDELITY DR ; Marcischak, Mrs Helen ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; Bride ; CEREMONY ; ETHNIC ; Late ; MARRIAGE ; PRIEST ; Tardy ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Proverb
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Where learned: Barrett, Joan
Keyword(s): Busy ; LAZY ; METAPHOR ; Moss ; Rolling ; Sedentary ; Stagnant ; STONE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |