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FLOUR OF ENGLAND - RIDDLE

Q: FLOUR OF ENGLAND, FRUIT OF SPAIN/ MET TOGETHER IN A SHOWER OF
RAIN;/ PUT IN A BAG AND TIED ROUND WITH A STRING;/ IF YOU'LL TELL
ME THIS RIDDLE, I'LL GIVE YOU A RING.
A: A PLUM PUDDING.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS IN AN OLD MOTHER GOOSE COLORING BOOK WHICH WAS IN THE
ATTIC. THE COVER AND SOME PAGES WERE MISSING. IT IS AT LEAST TEN
YEARS OLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; NOTION ITEMS (Q) ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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RIDDLE? MUCH LIKE SAND

Q: MUCH LIKE SAND, ONLY SWEET;/ WET, IT DISAPPEARS, COMPLETE.
A: SUGAR.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC. FROM:
"LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO, THE SALLFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951) THE PAGES ARE
NOT NUMBERED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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RIDDLE IN VERSE

Q: I'M AS HELPFUL AS CAN BE/ BUT I MAKE AN AWFUL DIN/ WHEN I LEAVE,
NO DIRT YOU'LL SEE/ FOR I TAKE THE DIRT RIGHT IN.
A: VACUUM CLEANER. (VACUUM CLEANER)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18410 BIRCHCREST

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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Q: MOSTLY IT IS SEEN AT NIGHT;/ OFTEN IT IS ROUND AND BRIGHT;/
OTHER TIMES IT'S CURVED AND THIN./ NOW YOU HAVE THE NAME HEREIN.
A: MOON

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC. FROM:
"LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO: THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951). THE PAGES ARE
NOT NUMBERED.

Data entry tech comment: THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH VERSE IS UNDERLINED TO INDICATE THE ANSWER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; STATES OF BEING (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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RIDDLE VERSE

Q: I HAVE A LITTLE SISTER/ THEY CALL HER PEEP, PEEP;/ SHE WADES THE
THE WATERS DEEP, DEEP, DEEP;/ SHE CLIMBS THE MOUNTAINS/ HIGH,
HIGH, HIGH; / POOR LITTLE CREATURE, SHE HAS BUT ONE EYE.
A: A STAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Keyword(s): NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 11-12-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: SOMETIMES IT IS SHORT./ SOMETIMES IT IS TALL./ SOMETIMES YOU CAN
NOT/ SEE IT AT ALL. WHAT IS IT?
A: A SHADOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; STATES OF BEING (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: A HOUSEFUL, A HOLE FULL; YOU CANNOT CATCH A BOWLFULL.
A: SMOKE

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; NATURAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; UTENSIL (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-12-1965

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: A HOUSEFUL, A SPOONFUL,/ YOU CAN'T CATCH A SPOONFUL.
A: SMOKE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT BELIEVES SHE HEARD IT FROM HER SON WHEN HE WAS ATTENDING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT LEAST FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. SHE ALSO REMEMBERS
IT BEING REPEATED BY A CUB SCOUT WHILE SHE WAS DEN MOTHER ABOUT
1956.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; UTENSILS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): ROOMFUL?

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-20-1971

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Q: HIGH IT FLIES/ LOW IT FLIES/ YET HAS NO WINGS/ ON WHICH TO RISE.
A: SMOKE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; PRIVATIONAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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RIDDLE IN VERSE

I RIPPLE AND DRIP,/ I'M GREEN OR I'M BLUE/ I'M WILD OR I'M TAME/
BUT I AM NEEDED BY YOU.
A: WATER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18410 BIRCHCREST

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; STATES OF BEING (Q) COLOR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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RIDDLE

Q: ROUND AS A MOON,/ BLACK AS A COON,/ AND IT HAS A HANDLE -/ WHAT
IS IT?
A: A FRYING PAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMALS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; UTENSILS (A)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 11-10-1968

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WHAT AM I? RIDDLE

Q: I HAVE NO FEET, AND WHEN I RUN,/ I USE MY HANDS INSTEAD./ MY
FACE IS ROUND, JUST LIKE THE SUN, / AND YET I HAVE NO HEAD.
A: A WATCH.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC.
FROM: "LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO: THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951)
THE PAGES ARE NOT NUMBERED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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CUSTOM

AT SOCIAL AFFAIRS OR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, JAPANESE WOMEN WEAR
TRADITIONAL CEREMONIAL DRESS, ARE USUALLY SEATED, HAVE A QUIETLY NICE
TIME (AS IT IS IMPOLITE TO LAUGH ALOUD OR TO MOVE TOO MUCH AT FORMAL
GATHERINGS). THEY EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN A SUPPRESSED FORM, BY SMILES
BOWS, A FEW GESTURES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): JAPANESE WOMEN SOCIAL

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 08-01-1964

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THAI SAYING

THREE DAYS FROM " NOREE " THERE WILL BE
ANOTHER (IMPLICATION OF THE FICKLE NATURE OF WOMEN).

Where learned: THAILAND

Keyword(s): SEX ; WOMEN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Human Being
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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THE HAPPY WIFE

HAPPY WIFE HAPPY HOME

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO INFORMANT BY A POLISH WOMAN.
THE WOMAN LEARNED IT IN SCHOOL.

Data entry tech comment: LINES HAVE BEEN DIVIDED BY THE KEY PUNCHER

Where learned: HENDRICKSONS PHARMACY ; DETROIT ; ; TOLD IN ; 15947 W 7 MILE

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ELLIPSIS ; WOMEN

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 03-25-1970

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FEMININE OPINION

A HOUSE WITHOUT A WOMAN AND FIRELIGHT IS LIKE A BABY WITHOUT A SOUL
OR SPIRIT.

Submitter comment: USED BY MARY TO DESCRIBE WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF MY DORM ROOM AT U OF D
MOSTLY BECAUSE OF A COMPLETE LACK OF DECORATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Keyword(s): VAGUE OF WOMEN

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU MOVE INTO A BRAND NEW HOUSE, THERE WILL BE A DRASTIC CHANGE
IN THE FAMILY (BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): OMEN ASSOCIATED WITH NEWNESS.

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Number

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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GOOD FRIDAY

IF IT RAINS ON GOOD FRIDAY, IT WILL RAIN THE NEXT SEVEN SUNDAYS.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; OMEN ; RELIGION

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
PROVERB -- Weather Proverb

Date learned: 02-20-1968

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Content filter on this entry.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

A boy walks up to his father covering something up
in his hands.
The father asks,
"What do you have covered up in your hands son?"
The boy replies,
"It's a bullfrog."
The father asks,
"What are going to do with it son?"
The boy replies,
"I'm going into town to trade it in for a bull."
A couple of hours later the boy comes back leading
a bull.
The next day the boy walks up to his father covering
something up in his hands.
The father asks,
"What do you have covered up in your hands son?"
The boy replies,
"Its a horsefly."
The father asks,
"What are you going to do with it son?"
The boy replies,
"I'm going into town to trade it in for a horse."
A couple of hours later the boy comes back leading
a horse.
The next day the boy walks up to his father covering
something up in his hands.
The father asks,
"What do you have covered in your hands son?"
The boy replies,
"It's a pussywillow."
The father says,
"Hold on a second son while I go and get my coat. I'll
drive you into town."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LENNON

James Callow Keyword(s): Pussy = vulgar slang for illicit sex or sexy women

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 00-00-1989

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Blonde Flake

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

What do you get when you put 25 blondes in a freezer? Frosted
Flakes.

"Flake" is a slang for a person who is silly, goofy, or dumb.
"Frosted Flakes" is a cereal product.

James Callow comment:

"Blondes are dumb" -- Puckett, Ohio, no. 7197

"Blondes are dumb or stupid" -- Cannon, Utah, no. 2846

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHGATE

James Callow Keyword(s): Blond women

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 01-00-1992

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