Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for W200 returned 364 results.
Riddle
There is a traditional riddle that goes,
"What is black and white and read all over?"
The answer, of course, is a newspaper.
When I was younger, in our neighborhood
we made up many variations on this answer.
All of them involved black and white animals,
covered with blood. Examples include bloody
dalmatians, skunks, zebras, snow leopards, etc.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001975CA
On what planet can you throw a rock in such a way that it
goes a short distance, stops in midair, reverses direction
and travels back to you? No, it doesn't bounce off anything.
The answer is the earth for one. Just toss the rock straight
up.
Submitter comment: Roy gave us this at a party
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00001980S
An astronaut exploring the moon bet his pal that with his
eyes shut he could walk one kilometer. How did he do it?
The answer is he walked over a kilometer, at some point he
had walked a kilometer.
Submitter comment: Roy also gave us this at a party.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00001980S
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
There can be various answers but you might think that
the egg that some refer to is not a chicken egg but
reptile eggs so reptile eggs came first.
Submitter comment: Roy also gave us this at a party.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00001980S
What did Tennessee, what Arkansaw
Submitter comment:
My mother said that a lot of the time they learn different
things such as the states through riddles and these are just a few
she could remember.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00001960S
What did Delaware? A New Jersey.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00001960S
What did misissip? A Minnesota.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Mississippi
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00001960S
What can speak in every language but never went to school?
Answer: An echo.
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 03-02-1992
RIDDLE TO IDENTIFY CORAL SNAKE
YELLOW ON RED, DO NOT DREAD.
BLACK ON YELLOW, KILLA FELLA.
Submitter comment: AS TOLD BY MY SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
LITTLE NANCY ETTICOAT
WITH A WHITE PETTICOAT
AND A RED ROSE.
SHE HAS NO FEET OR HANDS;
THE LONGER SHE STANDS
THE SHORTER SHE GROWS.
(A CANDLE)
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PALOS PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
TWO LEGS SAT ON THREE LEGS
WITH ONE LEG IN HIS LAP.
IN COMES FOUR LEGS
AND RUNS AWAY WITH ONE LEG.
UP JUMPS TWO LEGS;
CATCHES UP WITH THREE LEGS,
THROWS IT AFTER FOUR LEGS
AND MAKES HIM BRING BACK ONE LEG.
ONE LEG = LEG OF MEAT; TWO LEGS = A MAN; THREE LEGS = A STOOL;
FOUR LEGS = A DOG.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LEXINGTON
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
AS I WAS GOING TO ST. IVES
I MET A MAN WITH SEVEN WIVES.
EACH WIFE HAD SEVEN SACKS,
EACH SACK HAD SEVEN CATS,
EACH CAT HAD SEVEN KITS.
KITS, CATS, SACKS, AND WIVES;
HOW MANY WERE THERE GOING TO ST. IVES?
(ONE)
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CHATTANOOGA
James Callow Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
THIRTY WHITE HORSES
UPON A RED HILL.
NOW THEY STAMP,
NOW THEY CHAMP,
NOW THEY STAND STILL.
(TEETH)
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PALOS PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHY DID THE CHICKEN LAY ITS EGG?
IT WOULD BREAK IF HE DROPPED IT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
WHY DOESN'T A PIANO WORK?
BECAUSE IT ALWAYS PLAYS
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 12-01-1973
WHAT DO MEN DO STANDING UP,
WOMEN DO SITTING DOWN,
A DOG DOES ON THREE LEGS?
SHAKE HANDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
SHOW YOUR HAND RIGHT SIDE UP AND THEN ASK:
WHAT'S THIS?
ANSWER: YOU INVERT YOUR HAND AND SAY THE
OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
WHY DOES A CHICKEN CROSS THE STREET?
TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
TAKE TWO LETTERS FROM A FIVE LETTER WORD AND
HAVE ONE LEFT.
TAKE S AND T FROM STONE AND HAVE ONE.
Where learned: INDIANA ; PORTAGE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
WHAT OCCURS ONCE IN A MINUTE, TWICE IN A MOMENT,
AND NOT ONCE IN A HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS?
THE LETTER M.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1971