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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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RIDDLE

WHY DID JOHNNY THROW HIS PANTS OUT OF THE WINDOW?
ANSWER: BECAUSE HE HEARD A BOY YELLING FREEPRESS.

Data entry tech comment: THE "FREE PRESS" IS A NEWSPAPER IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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RETORT

QUICK AS A FLASH

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK

REMEMBER M,
REMEMBER E
BUT MOST OF ALL
REMEMBER ME.

Submitter comment: SAW THIS IN AUTOGRAPH BOOKS IN FERNDALE, MICHIGAN

Data entry tech comment: LINES HAVE BEEN DIVIDED BY THE KEYPUNCHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Keyword(s): COMMAND ; FRIENDLY ; QUATRAIN ; SPELLING RHYME

James Callow Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; METER: IAMBS ; REMEMBRANCE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me

Date learned: 12-04-1967

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A CHRISTMAS LEGEND

IN THE EUROPE, ON THE CHRISTMAS TIME, AT MIDNIGHT, THE ANIMALS ARE
TALKIN', THEY SAY THEY WILL BURY THE MASTER. THE MASTER HEARS AND HE
WAS SO SCARED, HE WENT INTO THE HOUSE AND DIED.
NEXT MORNING, THE ANIMALS, PULLED THE WAGON WITH HIS BODY TO CARRY
TO CEMETERY.

Submitter comment: I RECORDED THIS LITTLE STORY AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE IN MY
GRANDMOTHER'S EXACT WORDS. MY GRANDMOTHER HAD FIRST HEARD THIS TALE
FROM HER FIRST HUSBAND MANY YEARS AGO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal

Date learned: 04-08-1965

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WHEN SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY DIES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO
STOP THE CLOCK AND COVER ALL MIRRORS IN THE HOUSE
UNTIL AFTER THEY ARE BURIED.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAD NOT DONE THIS, SINCE SHE HAD BEEN
LIVING IN MICHIGAN, BUT IN JULY, 1971 WHEN SHE WENT
TO HER GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL IN GEORGIA, ALL OF HER
RELATIVES HAD STOPPED THEIR CLOCKS AND HAD COVERED
THEIR MIRRORS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-18-1971

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MISCARRIAGE

A NUN (VERY OLD) AT ST. JAMES HIGH IN FERNDALE,
(MICHIGAN) WHERE THE INFORMANT TAUGHT, TOLD
THE FRESHMEN GIRLS IN HOME EC. WHAT TO DO IF THEY
SHOULD EVER MISCARRY.
THE FETUS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY WRAPPED AND TAKEN TO "A
CATHOLIC FUNERAL HOME" AND THE BEREAVED MOTHER
SHOULD SNEAK THE PACKAGE INTO THE BOTTOM OF A
COFFIN HOLDING THE REMAINS OF SOMEONE ABOUT TO BE
BURIED."
THIS WOULD ASSURE THE BABY OF A CATHOLIC BURIAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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GARLIC WORN AROUND YOUR NECK KEEPS VAMPIRES AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire

Date learned: 12-01-1971

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WHEN LEAVING THE HOUSE, ALWAYS STEP OUT WITH THE
RIGHT LEG, THEN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK. IF
YOU STEP OUT WITH LEFT LEG, YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK ALL DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel

Date learned: FROM YOUTH

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IN THE YEAR 1975 CHINA WILL CONQUER THE WORLD, BECAUSE
ITS PEOPLE WILL BE TOO CRAMMED IN THEIR OWN LAND.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination

Date learned: 02-29-1972

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS 88 KEYS AND CAN NOT OPEN A SINGLE LOCK?
A: A PIANO BOARD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT GOODS (A) ; HARDWARE (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RETORT

YOU'RE ONLY A PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN FERNDALE, MICHIGAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 09-23-1967

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TIGHT PANTS

AT ST. JAMES HIGH SCHOOL IN FERNDALE, WHERE THE
INFORMANT WAS A TEACHER, THE DRESS CODE DID NOT ALLOW
THE BOYS TO WEAR TIGHT PANTS. THE TEST ONE HAD TO
PASS, WAS A GOLF BALL DROPPED IN THE PANTS AT THE
WAISTLINE HAD TO FALL OUT THE BOTTOM OR THE PANTS
WERE ILLEGAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RED LICORICE

IN 1960 IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, AT HOLY NAME GRADE
SCHOOL, STRING TIES WERE POPULAR WEAR FOR THE BOYS.
THE SEVENTH-GRADERS WOULD BUY 3 FOOT STRINGS OF RED
LICORICE AND WEAR THEM AS TIES. BY THE END OF THE DAY,
"TIES" WERE NEARLY ALL GONE BECAUSE THE BOYS WOULD EAT
THEM THROUGH THE DAY, PROVOKING ONE NUN TO TELL THEM
THIS WAS A MORTAL SIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB

WENN DER VOGEL FRISST, SINGT ER NICHT.
IF THE BIRD EATS, HE CANNOT SING. (TRANS).

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER AND FATHER USED TO SAY
THIS TO THEIR CHILDREN TO ENCOURAGE SILENCE
AT THE DINNER TABLE AS WELL AS BETTER EATING.
INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN REGENSBERG, GERMANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): CONVERSATION TABU ; FUNCTION ; TALKING TABU

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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IF YOU HAVE A MISFORTUNE AND HAVE ONE FRIEND WHO
STANDS BY YOU, YOU ARE A LUCKY PERSON. TRANS.

Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN,
A VARIANT OF THIS PROVERB
A FRIEND IN NEED, IS A FRIEND IN DEED.
INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN REGENSBERG, GERMANY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

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

Date learned: 11-29-1967

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PROVERB

EINEM GESCHENKTEN GAUL SIEHT MAN NICHT INS MAUL.
IF YOU HAVE A HORSE GIVEN TO YOU, DO NOT LOOK HIM IN THE MOUTH. TRAN
IN THE SENSE THAT YOU CAN NOT BE TOO
CRITICAL OF WHAT YOU GET FOR NOTHING.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN REGENSBERG, GERMANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE

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

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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BELIEF

MIT GOTT FANG AN MIT GOTT IST ALLES WOHLGETAN.
IF YOU DON'T FORGET GOD IN YOUR DAILY TASKS, EVERYTHING WILL
COME OUT WELL. TRANSLATION.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS MARTIN LUTHER WAS FIRST TO POPULARIZE THIS
PROVERB. THIS VERY OLD GERMAN SAYING IS FOUND IN MANY BOOKS
EITHER HAND WRITTEN OR ENTERED BY THE PRINTER. IN FACT INFORMANT
SAID THIS SAYING APPEARED IN HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN'>
TEXT BOOKS AFTER W.W. II IN MUNICH GERMANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; WORLD WAR II

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 11-29-1967

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PROVERB

IDLENESS IS THE MOTHER OF ALL EVIL. TRANSLATION OF
MUESSIGANG IST ALLER LASTER ANFANG.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN ROGENSBERG, GERMANY. AS A CHILD IN
FERNDALE, MICHIGAN, I HEARD SOMETHING SIMILAR. AN IDLE MIND IS A
DEVIL,S WORKSHOP. INFORMANT SAID THIS IS THE GENERAL MEANING OF
THIS PROVERB.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 12-04-1967

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GOOD LUCK. ( COLLECTOR'S TITLE ) ; GOOD LUCK: OBJECTS ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )

CARRY A SILVER DOLLAR OR TWO DOLLAR BILL.

Submitter comment: BECAUSE THEY ARE SO RARE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1

Date learned: 10-02-1967

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GAME

JUDY'S IT, JUDY'S IT
CAN'T GET OVER ARITHMETIC.

Submitter comment: THIS IS SAID WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING TAG AND YOU ARE
PICKING SOMEONE TO BE "IT".

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.524

Date learned: 12-06-1965

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