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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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THE GREEN MAN

THERE WAS A MAN WHO USED TO WORK FOR ONE OF THE POWER COMPANIES
IN PITTSBURGH. IT SEEMS THAT ONE DAY HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH A HIGH
TENSION WIRE AND WAS HORRIBLY DISFUGURED. THE SHOCK TURNED
HIS SKIN A GREEN COLOR AND GREATLY DISTORTED HIS FACE.
THIS MAN NOW LIVES BY HIMSELF IN A RAMSHACKLE HOUSE OUT IN
SOUTH PARK. HE IS KNOWN TO SCARE CHILDREN AND CHASE ANYONE
WHO GOES NEAR HIS PLACE AWAY. PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT HIM. TONY HAS NEVER SEEN THE MAN
BUT APPARENTLY HIS EXISTENCE IS ACCEPTED AS A FACT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DISFIGUREMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face

Date learned: 11-08-1968

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ADAM SONG

CHORUS
THE S STANDS FOR SIGMA, THE P FOR P-I, PI.
THE S STANDS FOR SIGMA, THE P FOR P-I, PI.
AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND YOU, OR GAZE INTO THE SKY.
YOU WILL SEE THAT NAUGHT IS WRITTEN, BUT THE NAME OF SIGMA PI.

ADAM WAS THE FIRST MAN TO WEAR A SIG PI PIN,
NOAH WAS THE SECOND, THEY HAD TO LET HIM IN,
MOSES WAS THE THIRD ONE, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN,
WHEN JULIUS CAESAR CAME ALONG, THEY PLEDGED THE SON OF A GUN.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO U. OF D., HE THOUGHT HE'D JOIN A FRAT,
HE THOUGHT HE'D TAKE A LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE HE WAS AT.
BECAUSE HE WAS A FELLOW WE KNEW HE'D BE ALL RIGHT,
THE COLORS THAT HE WORE NEXT DAY WERE LAVENDER AND WHITE.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO U OF D., HE THOUGHT HE'D JOIN A FRAT,
HE THOUGHT HE'D TAKE A LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE HE WAS AT.
BECAUSE HE WAS A FELLOW WE KNEW HE': BE ALL RIGHT,
THE COLORS THAT HE WORE NEXT DAY WERE LAVENDER AND WHITE.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED UP TO HEAVEN TO SEE WHO ALL WAS THERE,
HE FOUND A BUNCH A-HANGING AROUND THE FOOT OF THE GOLDEN STAIRS,
SOME WERE SMOKING CIGARETTES, THEY ALL WERE FEELING HIGH,
THEY ALL WERE DAMN GOOD FRIENDS OF HIS, THEY ALL WERE SIGMA PI'S.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO HADES TO SEE THE POOR LOST SOULS,
HE FOUND A BUNCH OF THETA XI'S A-ROASTING ON THE COALS,
FOR THE TEKES AMD THEATA TAUS THE SIZZLE HAD BEGUN,
WHILE SIGMA PI'S IN VELVET CHAIRS WERE WATCHING ALL THE FUN.
CHORUS
THEN IN CAME OLD BEELZEBUB, OF HELL HE WAS THE KING;
AND ALL THE LITTLE IMPS CAME IN AND THEY BEGAN TO SING.
THEY SAW THE GANG GIVE HIM A GRIP, AND THEN THEY HEARD THE CRY.
THAT HE'S A CHARTER MENBER AND A DAMN GOOD SIGMA PI.
CHORUS
NOW DON'T BE DISCONCERTED IF YOU MISS THE NARROW PATH.
OR IF YOU FLUNK YOUR MORALS LIKE YOU USED TO FLUNK YOUR MATH,
AND DON'T BE DISCONCERTED WHEN YOU HEAR THE FUNERAL KNELL,
FOR WE HAVE A STRONG ALUMNI IN THE VERY DEPTHS OF HELL.
CHORUS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): BIBLICAL FIGURES ; FRATERNITY SONG

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS THE GREATEST BUS IN THE WORLD?
COLUMBUS

Where learned: SAINT LEONARD SCHOOL ; DETROIT, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HISTORICAL ; NAME HISTORICAL FIGURE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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JOHNNY APPLESEED

JOHNNY APPLESEED WAS TO HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT
THEIR FARM HOUSE. FOR LETTING HIM SLEEP THERE, HE
PLANTED AN APPLE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. WHICH IS
STILL THERE TODAY.

Submitter comment: DERBY'S FARM HOUSE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THEM FROM
PAST GENERATIONS. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT TWO MILES
NORTHEAST FROM CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CARSONVILLE ; 2 MILES NORTHEAST

Keyword(s): LEGENDARY FIGURE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero

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JOHNNY APPLESEED

JOHNNY APPLESEED WAS TO HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT
THEIR FARM HOUSE. FOR LETTING HIM SLEEP THERE, HE
PLANTED AN APPLE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. WHICH IS
STILL THERE TODAY.

Submitter comment: DERBY'S FARM HOUSE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THEM FROM
PAST GENERATIONS. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT TWO MILES
NORTHEAST FROM CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CARSONVILLE ; 2 MILES NORTHEAST

Keyword(s): LEGENDARY FIGURE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero

Date learned: 05-00-1963

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Custom/Belief

Craving of Pregnant Woman:

If a pregnant woman has a craving for something and does not get it, the baby will have a birthmark resembling the food that was craved.

Submitter comment:

Informant is a friend's mother, and she remembers this from all her life.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Kantz, Mrs Robert

Keyword(s): BABY ; Birthmark ; Craving ; Craving ; Disfigure ; FOOD ; Lore ; Old Wives Tale ; PREGNANCY

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

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Belief: Animal

Warts/Toads:

This is the belief that a person gets warts on his hands from handling toads.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P740] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME ; Phillip, Philip J Jr

Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; SUPERSTITION ; Toad ; Toads ; Wart

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

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Belief: Animal

Cause for Warts:

If you touch a frog or a toad, you will get warts.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P400] crossed out. Replaced with P440

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Balous, Dorothy

Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; FROG ; SUPERSTITION ; Toad ; Warts

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

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Belief: Animal

Toads give warts.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): Amphibians ; ANIMALS ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; SUPERSTITION ; Toads ; Wart

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

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Belief: Animal

Some people believe that handling toads will give a person warts.

Submitter comment:

I do not believe this statement

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P740] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; SUPERSTITION ; Toad ; Wart

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

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Belief: Animal

If you touch a frog, it will cause warts.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; Glaser, Grace ; 32020 SHERIDAN DR

Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; Disfigure ; FROG ; SUPERSTITION ; Wart ; Warts

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

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Proverb

Figures don't lie but Liars can figure.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY

Keyword(s): Deduce ; Figure ; Liar ; Lie ; MATHEMATICS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

Figures don't lie, but liars figure.

Submitter comment:

Given in math class.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Lucas, Jerry

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Cheat ; Figure ; Liar ; Lie ; Maxim ; NUMBERS ; Plan ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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Proverb

Figures don't lie, but liars do figure.

Submitter comment:

I was working on a project at Continental Aviation and Engineering when I was using a number of supposedly reliable figures - they were not accurate figures.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Lucas, Thomas

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Figures ; Liar ; Lie ; Maxim ; NUMBERS ; Plan ; PLAY ON WORDS ; Plot ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Scheme ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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showing 14 items

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