Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE HEN-PECKED DEVIL
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE MAYOR OF HAMBURG, GERMANY,
CONTRACTED TO HAVE A BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE ELBE. THE CONTRACTOR
PROMISED TO HAVE THE JOB COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT,
BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE WAS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SINCE THE BUILDER KNEW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT FULFILL HIS END
OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE
SPRING FESTIVALS, HE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEVIL FOR ITS COMPLE-
TION. THE DEVIL WOULD COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN RETURN FOR THE
SOUL OF THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE.
WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED AND TO BE DEDICATED, THE MAYOR AND
BUILDER ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO
WALK ACROSS THE SPAN. THE MAYOR, SUSPECTING SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BECAUSE OF THE JOB'S RAPID COMPLETION, INSISTED THAT THE BUILDER
PROCEED FIRST. IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, THE BUILDER HAD TUCKED
A HEN UNDER HIS COAT. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE MIDWAY MARK OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE THE DEVIL WAS LURKING BEHIND A COLUMN, HE THREW THE
HEN OUT TO HIM. THE DEVIL SEIZED THE BIRD, BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT
HIS CATCH WAS ONLY A HEN, HE THREW IT DOWN IN DISGUST. THE
DEVIL'S ANGER WAS SUCH THAT THE HEN WENT CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE,
AND TO THIS DAY THERE IS A HOLD IN THE BRIDGE WHICH WILL NOT BE
FILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A GERMAN PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AT
GANNON COLLEGE, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE ; GANNON COLLEGE
Date learned: 10-23-1965
LEGEND
THERE IS A GRAVEYARD IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, THAT HAS A STRANGE
VISITOR EVERY TEN YEARS. HE IS A TALL, LEAN, HOODED FIGURE WITH
LONG NOSE, SUNKEN EYES, AND BONY FINGERS. EVERY TIME HE VISITS,
HE MURDERS TWO KIDS, WHO HAPPEN TO WANDER THROUGH THE CEMETERY
AT THE SAME TIME.
HIS APPEARANCE HAS BEEN REGULAR FOR THIRTY YEARS, I.E., HE HAS
COME THREE TIMES, THE MOST RECENT BEING A FEW MONTHS BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
THE HEN-PECKED DEVIL
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE MAYOR OF HAMBURG, GERMANY,
CONTRACTED TO HAVE A BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE ELBE. THE CONTRACTOR
PROMISED TO HAVE THE JOB COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT,
BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE WAS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SINCE THE BUILDER KNEW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT FULFILL HIS END
OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE
SPRING FESTIVALS, HE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEVIL FOR ITS COMPLE-
TION. THE DEVIL WOULD COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN RETURN FOR THE
SOUL OF THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE.
WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED AND TO BE DEDICATED, THE MAYOR AND
BUILDER ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO
WALK ACROSS THE SPAN. THE MAYOR, SUSPECTING SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BECAUSE OF THE JOB'S RAPID COMPLETION, INSISTED THAT THE BUILDER
PROCEED FIRST. IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, THE BUILDER HAD TUCKED
A HEN UNDER HIS COAT. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE MIDWAY MARK OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE THE DEVIL WAS LURKING BEHIND A COLUMN, HE THREW THE
HEN OUT TO HIM. THE DEVIL SEIZED THE BIRD, BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT
HIS CATCH WAS ONLY A HEN, HE THREW IT DOWN IN DISGUST. THE
DEVIL'S ANGER WAS SUCH THAT THE HEN WENT CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE,
AND TO THIS DAY THERE IS A HOLD IN THE BRIDGE WHICH WILL NOT BE
FILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A GERMAN PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AT
GANNON COLLEGE, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE ; GANNON COLLEGE
Date learned: 10-23-1965
LEGEND
THERE IS A GRAVEYARD IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, THAT HAS A STRANGE
VISITOR EVERY TEN YEARS. HE IS A TALL, LEAN, HOODED FIGURE WITH
LONG NOSE, SUNKEN EYES, AND BONY FINGERS. EVERY TIME HE VISITS,
HE MURDERS TWO KIDS, WHO HAPPEN TO WANDER THROUGH THE CEMETERY
AT THE SAME TIME.
HIS APPEARANCE HAS BEEN REGULAR FOR THIRTY YEARS, I.E., HE HAS
COME THREE TIMES, THE MOST RECENT BEING A FEW MONTHS BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
PEDIDDLE
IF A GUY SEES A CAR WITH ONLY 1 LIGHT ON, HE SAYS "PEDIDDLE" AND
KISSES THE GIRL. IF THE GIRL SEES IT FIRST, SHE SLAPS HIS FACE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-02-1970
WHEN A PERSON POINTS HIS THUMB UP IT MEANS THAT ALL
IS GOING WELL. WHEN HE POINTS BOTH THUMBS UP IT
MEANS ALL IS GOING SUPER.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED THESE SIGNS.
Where learned: BELGIUM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two SPEECH -- All right O.K. |
Date learned: 06-00-1970
IN ORDER TO RELIEVE ONE'S GUILT WHEN TELLING A LIE,
ONE CROSSES THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS OF ONE HAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 10-02-1967
IF YOU VISIT PEOPLE IN A NEW HOME, BRING BREAD AND SALT
AS A GIFT, AND THE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY TO EAT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY ; UTICA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BREAD ; Eat ; FOOD ; GIFT ; Housewarming ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-31-1969
Superstition
On New Year's Day in the north of England, the first person to come to your house brings coal, salt and bread. If the person has red hair it means bad luck, but if he has black hair it is good luck and any other color is alright.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |