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ONE WHITE FOOT, BUY IT.
TWO WHITE FEET, TRY IT.
THREE WHITE FEET, SEE HOW IT GOES,
FOUR WHITE FEET, AND WHITE NOSE,
CUT OFF ITS FEET AND THROW IT TO THE CROWS.

Submitter comment: THIS APPLIES TO BUYING A HORSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): ADVICE ; ANIMAL NUMBERS ; HUMOR EUPHEMISM SYMBOL OVERSTATEMENT ; INCREMENTAL REPETITION, SURPRISE ENDING CONTRAST QUINTET ; INTERACTION INITIAL INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; METER: DACTYL RHYME: FEMININE TRIPLE ; RHYME AABBB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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I WAS TOLD TO URINATE ON YOUR HANDS AND WASH YOUR FACE WITH IT.
THEN KISS YOUR GIRLFRIEND AND THIS WILL MAKE YOUR MATE LOVE YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): APHRODISIACAL ACTIONS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-00-1974

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BURY A LOCK OF SOMEONE'S HAIR THAT YOU WANT TO BE YOUR MATE. THIS
WILL MAKE THEM BE YOUR MATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): APHRODISIACAL ACTIONS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 10-00-1974

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RIDDLE

Q: A TRAVELER IS WALKING DOWN A ROAD WHEN HE COMES TO A FORK. NOT
KNOWING WHICH ROUTE TO TAKE HE DECIDES TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS.
THERE IS A MAN AT EACH PATH. ONE ALWAYS TELLS THE TRUTH WHILE THE
OTHER ALWAYS LIES. IF OUR TRAVELER CAN ASK ONLY ONE MAN ONLY ONE
QUESTION WHAT IS HIS QUESTION AND WHO WILL HE ASK?
A: IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO HE ASKS IF HE SAYS - IF I ASK THE OTHER
MAN WHICH WAY I SHOULD GO, WHAT WILL HE TELL ME?
LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: DETROIT ; J L HUDSONS ; DEPARTMENT STORE

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; AN ACTION (A) ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-02-1967

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT MUST BE DONE TO HAVE SOFT HANDS?
A: NOTHING.

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; LITERAL ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) HANDS

James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-17-1971

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN, FELT, OR HEARD, YET HAS A NAME?
A: NOTHING

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE

Q: WHAT DOES A LADY DO SITTING DOWN, A MAN STANDING UP, AND A DOG ON
THREE LEGS?
A: SHAKE HANDS

Data entry tech comment: 2 MORE EXAMPLES ARE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; PART OF THE BODY (A) HANDS ; PERSONS (Q) AND DOG.

James Callow Keyword(s): URINATE, IS ONE'S FIRST THOUGHT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-00-1971

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: KAS SALDESNIS US NEDIZ? - WHAT IS SWEETER THAN HONEY?
A: MIEGAS - SLEEP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATIONS AND ; EATABLE (HONEY) (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-20-1968

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PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: WHAT IS A FOUR LETTER WORD FOR INTERCOURSE?
A: TALK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATION (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-00-1971

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THE UNSEEN CAT RIDDLE

Q: HOW WOULD YOU SEE A BLACK CAT IN A DARK ROOM WITH NO WINDOWS
AT MIDNIGHT?
A: YOU WOULD TURN ON THE LIGHT.

Submitter comment: ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITIONAL
TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HER 3RD GRADE TEACHER, MRS. CLAPPER.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; ANIMAL (Q) ; CATCH QUESTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-28-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE?
A: WORK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; CATCH ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-20-1968

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: JOHN IS IN THE OTHER ROOM SLEEPING. MARY IS ON THE FLOOR DEAD.
THERE IS WATER ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. THERE IS ALSO BROKEN GLASS
ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. MARY DID NOT DIE OF ANY WOUNDS.
HOW DID MARY DIE?
A: JOHN IS A CAT. MARY IS A FISH. JOHN KNOCKED THE FISH BOWL OFF
THE STAND AND IT BROKE AND MARY DIED OF SUFFICATION (SUFFOCATION).

Submitter comment:

YES AND NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIDDLE ARE ASKED OF THE RIDDLER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A)

James Callow Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD ITEM (Q) ; NAMES FOR

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Proper Name
RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-26-1969

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS IT THAT GOES AROUND ALL DAY GRUNTING WITHOUT BEING SICK,
AND IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING LOST ANYTHING?
A: A PIG.

Submitter comment: DIRECTLY TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMAL (A) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITIONAL ; WISDOM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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RIDDLE

Q: IT IS NOT A SHIRT, YET IT IS SEWED;
IT IS NOT A TREE, YET IT IS FULL OF LEAVES;
IT IS NOT A PERSON, YET IT TALKS SENSIBLE.
A: A BOOK.

Submitter comment: ORIGIN: HARVEY GOLDMAN, 12YR. OLD CAMPER AT LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK (9)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) ; WEARABLE (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 07-25-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT CAN YOU HOLD WITHOUT TOUCHING IT?
A: CONVERSATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAPPENS ONCE IN A MINUTE, TWICE IN A MOMENT,
BUT NOT ONCE IN A THOUSAND YEARS?
A: THE LETTER M

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (Q) ; COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-10-1967

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS IT THAT YOU MUST KEEP AFTER YOU GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?
A: YOUR WORD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; CAUSAL ; COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 11-08-1967

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS ALWAYS BROKEN BEFORE IT IS USED?
A: AN EGG.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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EGG JOKE (SIC)

Q: WHAT IS HARD ON THE OUT SIDE, SOFT ON THE INSIDE, AND IMPOSSIBLE
TO GET INTO WITHOUT BREAKING IT ?
A: AN EGG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 11-10-1969

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