The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGENDS OF ROGUES' HOLLOW

ROGUES' HOLLOW IS A SMALL, ISOLATED AREA OF LAND LOCATED ABOUT
TWO MILES SOUTH OF DOYLESTOWN, OHIO, WHICH HAS A GREAT DEAL OF OLD
RUMORS AND LEGENDS ABOUT IT. THE FEW LISTED HERE ARE ALL THAT I
REMEMBER HEARING, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING ELSE
ABOUT IT WHICH PEOPLE DECLARE TO BE TRUE ALSO. AS FAR AS I KNOW,
NONE OF THESE LEGENDS HAVE BEEN PROVEN OR DISPROVEN.
1--JESSE JAMES WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HIDDEN OUT IN THE CAVES AT
ONE TIME
2--A MAN WHO WORKED IN A MILL IN ROGUES' HOLLOW WAS SUPPOSED
TO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE WATER WHEEL AND KILLED INSTANTLY. EVER
SINCE, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HAUNTED THE MILL. EVENTUALLY IT WAS
BURNED DOWN (FACT), AND THIS IS ALSO ATTRIBUTED TO THE GHOST. ONE
VERSION SAYS THAT HE DID THIS BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS GOING TO BUY IT.
3--IF YOU STAND IN A CERTAIN PLACE AT MIDNIGHT, YOU CAN HEAR
THE SOUND OF A BABY CRYING.
4--IF YOU STAND NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS AT MIDNIGHT, YOU CAN
HEAR THE SOUND OF A TRAIN COMING DOWN THE TRACK, THOUGH THERE IS NO
TRAIN,
5--AN OLD BEARDED HERMIT, OR HIS GHOST, LIVES IN THE COAL MINES
AND WILL TRY TO KILL ANY TRESPASSERS WITH HIS PICK.
6-- MANY MINERS WERE ONCE KILLED IN A CAVE-IN, AND THEIR GHOSTS
STILL WORK THERE TODAY.

Submitter comment: ROGUES' HOLLOW IS A POPULAR PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND SIGHTSEERS
ON SUNDAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEAVES ARE CHANGING COLOR, BUT
DURING THE WEEK, TEENAGERS MAKE UP THE BIGGEST PART OF THE CROWD.
GROUPS OF BOYS, OR BOY-GIRL GROUPS ARE THERE DAY AND NIGHT EXPLORING
THE MINES AND HOPING TO SEE SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL.
A GREAT MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DO SEEM TO BELIEVE AT LEAST A FEW OF
THE SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT ROGUES' HOLLOW, AND SOME CLAIM TO HAVE WIT-
NESSED THEM EITHER FIRST-HAND OR VICARIOUSLY. THE TWO BELIEFS ABOUT
THE BABY AND THE TRAIN SEEM TO BE THE ONES BEST KNOWN, AS WELL AS
THE ONES MOST BELIEVED.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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EVERY YEAR IN MASSILLON, OHIO, BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST FRIDAY
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND CONTINUING FOR TEN WEEKS, THE FOOTBALL GAMES
OF THE CITY'S ONLY HIGH SCHOOL DOMINATE THE SOCIAL, ENTERTAINMENT
AND CONVERSATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE CITIZENS. THE SEASON TRADITION-
ALLY CLOSES WITH AN INTER-CITY RIVALRY WITH CANTON'S (MASSILLON'S
NEIGHBORING CITY--LESS THAN TEN MILES AWAY) LARGEST SCHOOL--MCKINLEY,
AND APPROPRIATELY, "BEAT MCKINLEY WEEK."
THE MASSILLON TIGER--MCKINLEY BULLDOG FESTIVITIES ARE NOT PAR-
TICIPATED IN JUST BY STUDENTS. PEOPLE OF ALL AGES GET EXCITED ABOUT
THE GAME. SOME OF THE MOST ARDENT SUPPORTERS ARE OLD-TIMERS WHO
LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY YEAR, AND MOST EVERY CHILD HAS SEEN ONE
TIGER GAME, AND PROBABLY SPORTS A TIGER JACKET, BY THE TIME HE ENTERS
FIRST GRADE.
EACH OF THE TEAM'S THREE BOOSTER CLUBS, THE TIGER BOOSTERS, THE
SIDELINERS (EACH OF WHOSE MEMBERS SPONSOR A FOOTBALL PLAYER) AND THE
BENCHWARMERS, HOLD A "BEAT MCKINLEY RALLY" SOMETIME DURING THE WEEK,
AND THE STUDENT BODY ITSELF ALSO HOLDS A FEW RALLIES DURING THE
COURSE OF THE WEEK.
ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THE BIGGEST PRE-GAME EVENT IS HELD. A PARADE
MARCHES THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA. INCLUDED IS THE MASSILLON TIGER
SWING BAND, MAJORETTES, COACHES, PLAYERS, AND FLOATS (ALL BEARING
THE THEME"BEAT MCKINLEY.") "OBIE," THE MASCOT IN A TIGER SKIN
(AND SINCE 1970, A LIVE TIGER IN A CAGE ALSO) ARE THERE, AS WELL AS
THE TRADITIONAL CALLIOPE; PLAYED ONLY DURING BEAT MCKINLEY WEEK, IT
ALSO DRIVES AROUND THE CITY STREETS PLAYING FOR A FEW HOURS
EACH NIGHT. THE PARADE MARCHES TO THE STADIUM COMPLEX, WHERE A HUGE
BONFIRE IS HELD. (STARTING IN 1973, FIRE REGULATIONS REDUCED THE
SIZE OF THE FIRE. AT THE SAME TIME THE SITE WAS CHANGED TO A PLACE
CLOSER TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. SEE SUPPLEMENTARY PICTURE, AND NOTE
ATTENDANCE.)
INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS ALSO DO A GREAT DEAL OF "CAMPAIGNING."
BESIDES THE TIGER JACKETS, RAINCOATS, RIBBONS, CUSHIONS, BUMPER
STICKERS, AND TIGER TAILS, SOME FAMILIES DECORATE THEIR HOMES WITH
BOTH MASS-PRODUCED AND HOME-MADE SIGNS, AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL THREE-
DIMENSIONAL EXHIBITS, SUCH AS A STUFFED BULLDOG WITH A NOOSE TIED
AROUND HIS NECK.
THE SITE OF THE GAME ALTERNATES YEARLY BETWEEN MASSILLON TIGER
STADIUM AND CANTON FAWCETT STADIUM, AND IS ALWAYS PLAYED ON A SATUR-
DAY AFTERNOON AT TWO O'CLOCK. (WHEREAS ALL THE OTHER GAMES ARE
PLAYED ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.) IT NEVER DRAWS LESS THAN A SELLOUT CROWD
OF OVER TWENTY THOUSAND, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ALWAYS BROADCAST LIVE ON
THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATION.
THE FANS COME AS MUCH AS TWO HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THE GAME,
BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC JAMS. BEFORE THE START OF THE GAME, THE LIVE
TIGER MEETS MCKINLEY'S LIVE BULLDOG, AS DO THEIR COSTUMED COUNTER-
PARTS. LARGE CRATES OF HELIUM-FILLED BALLOONS (ORANGE AND BLACK BY
MASSILLON, AND RED AND BLACK BY CANTON) ARE ALWAYS RELEASED. THE
MAJORETTES RECEIVE CARNATIONS, AND THE SENIOR BAND MEMBERS ARE GIVEN
A FAREWELL CEREMONY. DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, AN AIRPLANE BEARING
A BANNER WITH THE "BEAT MCKINLEY" MESSAGE HAS FLOWN BACK AND FORTH
OVER THE STADIUM, ADDING ANOTHER TRADITION TO THE GAME. DURING
HALF-TIME, THE SWING BAND PLAYS "THE TIGER RAG," AND PERFORMS SOME
ROUTINES THEY HAVE DONE FOR DECADES.
THE NIGHT OF THE GAME IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST NIGHTS FOR CELEBRA-
TION IN STARK COUNTY. WIN OR LOSE, THE ADULTS AND TEENS ALL HAVE
THEIR RESPECTIVE GET-TOGETHERS. MANY CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS SPONSOR
DANCES, INDIVIDUAL HOMES HAVE PARTIES, AND IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE
TO GET A RESTAURANT RESERVATION LESS THAN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS IN
ADVANCE OF THE GAME.
IN ADDITION TO CALLING ATTENTION TO THE EVENTS OF "BEAT MCKINLEY
WEEK," THE TOWN NEWSPAPER, THE EVENING INDEPENDENT, ALSO CARRIES OUT
CERTAIN TRADITIONS OF ITS OWN. ON THE DAY BEFORE THE BIG GAME, THE
INDEPENDENT SUPERIMPOSES THE WORDS "BEAT MCKINLEY" (IN BIG BLOCK
LETTERS PRINTED IN ORANGE) OVER THE FRONT-PAGE STORIES. ON NEARLY
EVERY OTHER PAGE (AND ESPECIALLY ON THE SPORT PAGE) THE COL-
UMNS OF THE PAPER ARE BORDERED WITH THE WORDS "BEAT MCKINLEY." ALSO,
THE PAST SCORES OF THE MASSILLON-CANTON GAME, FROM ITS ORIGIN IN
1894, ARE TRADITIONALLY PRINTED YEARLY. SOMETIME DURING THE COURSE
OF THE WEEK, PICTURES OF THE SENIORS PLAYING THEIR LAST GAME ARE
PRINTED.

Submitter comment: CANTON CELEBRATES "BEAT MASSILLON WEEK" IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS
MASSILLON CELEBRATES "BEAT MCKINLEY WEEK." THERE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE
"RIBBING" (SOMETIMES FRIENDLY, SOMETIMES NOT) BETWEEN MASSILLONIANS
AND CANTONIANS. I MYSELF ATTENDED THE NEAREST CATHOLIC SCHOOL, WHICH
IS LOCATED BETWEEN CANTON AND MASSILLON. EVEN THERE, THOUGH WE HAD
FOOTBALL GAMES OF OUR OWN THE SAME WEEK, STUDENTS WOULD WEAR "BEAT
MASSILLON" AND "BEAT MCKINLEY" RIBBONS, DEPENDING ON THEIR ALLEGIANCE
AND IT WAS A SIMILAR SITUATION IN ALL THE SUBURBAN AND COUNTY
SCHOOLS.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

James Callow Keyword(s): SPORTS FOOTBALL

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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WEATHER SUPERSTITION

IF YOU SEE COWS LAYING DOWN, THAT MEANS IT WILL RAIN.

Submitter comment: I FIRST HEARD THIS ITEM FROM MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD,
AND WE WERE TAKING A DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRY. SHE HAD HEARD
IT FROM HER MOTHER, WHO STRONGLY BELIEVED IT, AND WHO HAD LIVED ON A
FARM AS A SMALL GIRL. MY MOTHER "THINKS THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO
IT," BUT DOES NOT TOTALLY BELIEVE IN THE IDEA. MY FATHER HAS HEARD
THE SUPERSTITION ALSO.
SOMETIMES WE WOULD SEE A GROUP OF COWS: SOME STANDING AND SOME
LYING. HAVING NO REAL ANSWER, MY PARENTS WOULD TELL ME THAT THE
COWS WERE NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS GOING TO DO.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE

THE TRICKSTER POINTS WITH HIS INDEX FINGER TO A SPOT ABOUT
HALF-WAY DOWN THE DUPE'S SHIRT, AND ASKS HIM, "WHAT IS THAT?" WHEN
THE DUPE BOWS HIS HEAD TO LOOK DOWN, THE TRICKSTER SCOOTS HIS FINGER
UP AND SLAPS THE FORMER ON THE LOWER CHIN.

Submitter comment: SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN USING THIS AS LONG AS I CAN RE-
MEMBER, AND YOUNG ADULTS STILL DO IT OCCASIONALLY FOR A LAUGH.
THE REALLY AMUSING THING ABOUT IT IS THAT SOMEONE WILL NEARLY ALWAYS
FALL FOR IT, NO MATTER HOW OFTEN THEY HAVE BEEN TRICKED--THE QUESTION
IS SUCH THAT THE REFLEXES ARE IMMEDIATELY STIMULATED INTO FORCING THE
EYES TO LOOK DOWN. SOMETIMES THE TRICKSTER MAY LOOK HORRIFIED, AND
EXCLAIM, "EWWWW, WHAT'S THAT:?" AND MAY AT OTHER TIMES SAY IT MATTER-
OF-FACTLY.
IN THE RARE CASE WHEN THE DUPE IS NOT FOOLED, HE USUALLY GETS A
WIDE GRIN ON HIS FACE, AND WILL NOT LOOK DOWN. THE DEFEATED
TRICKSTER DROPS HIS HAND IN DISGUST.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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FORMULA SPEECH

WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME WORD OR PHRASE AT THE SAME TIME, THE
FIRST ONE WHO PUNCHES THE OTHER ON THE ARM, AND SAYS "COKE," IS
SUPPOSED TO BE BOUGHT A COKE BY THE OTHER. (IN MY WORDS)

Submitter comment: OCCASIONALLY, BESIDES SAYING THE ORIGINAL WORD TWICE, WHEN BOTH
PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE GAME USING "COKE," THEY MIGHT BOTH SAY THE
WORD "COKE," ITSELF AT THE SAME TIME, IN ATTEMPTING TO BEAT THEIR
OPPONENT AT SAYING IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE QUICK THINKER IMMEDI-
ATELY REPEATS "COKE" AGAIN, AND HE'S NOW THE WINNER. WHEN TWO ARE
BOTH VERY MUCH AWARE OF HOW THE GAME WORKS, THIS QUITE OFTEN HAP-
PENS. THE RESULT IS THAT THE TWO PEOPLE MAY SAY "COKE" TOGETHER
FOUR OR FIVE TIMES IN A ROW. THE QUICK PLAYER NOW OFTEN SAYS "COKE,
NO RETURNS, STOP," AND HE IS THE WINNER.
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BET MADE IN FUN, THIS ONE IS RARELY PAID OFF, AND
IS NOT EVEN EXPECTED TO BE. THE FUN IS MERELY IN THE DOING OF IT.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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FLYLEAF PROSE

BORED OF EDUCATION AND
FLUNK NOW, AVOID THE JUNE RUSH

Submitter comment: THESE TWO PHRASES WERE IMMENSELY POPULAR FOR TEXTBOOK USE IN MY
FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE CLASSES AT CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN
CANTON, OHIO. BY THE TIME JUNIOR AND SENIOR CLASSES WERE REACHED,
THE NOVELTY HAD WORN OFF AND IT JUST WAS NOT "THE THING TO DO." BUT
THE NEW FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE CLASSES HAD PICKED IT UP, AND CHECKING
BACK, ITS USE STILL EXISTS POPULARLY WITH THE FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES
OF TODAY. SOME OF IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT TODAY'S
UNDERCLASSMEN ARE USING THE SAME BOOKS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN BY YES-
TERDAY'S UNDERCLASSMEN, BUT SOME OF IT IS NEWLY WRITTEN BY THE STU-
DENTS THEMSELVES.
BESIDES BEING WRITTEN ON THE FLYLEAVES, THE PHRASES ARE ALSO
WRITTEN ON FOREDGES.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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PARODY OF CHRISTMAS SONG

(SUNG TO THE TUNE OF "WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE")
WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE
SMOKING ON A RUBBER CIGAR
IT WAS LOADED AND EXPLODED
OVER OUR FRANKINCENSE
OH-OH-OH
STAR OF WONDER, STAR OF LIGHT
THIS ONE DIED ON FRIDAY NIGHT
THIS ONE DIED ON SATURDAY, AND
THIS ONE DIED ON SUNDAY NIGHT

Submitter comment: I FIRST HEARD THIS SONG AT MY GRADE SCHOOL; (ST. MARY IN
MASSILLON, OHIO) USUALLY ONLY AROUND THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. ADULTS
DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW IT, AND WERE SOMETIMES SHOCKED UPON HEARING
IT-- NOTABLY THE SCHOOL NUNS. FOR A WHILE I FORGOT ABOUT IT, BUT THEN
I HEARD IT AGAIN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL (CENTRAL CATHOLIC IN CANTON,
OHIO,) FROM OTHERS.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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MEANS OF CAUSING OR AVOIDING ILLNESS (RHEUMATISM)

BEING EXPOSED TO EITHER A FAN OR TO AIR-CONDITIONING FOR MORE THAN
A FEW MINUTES AT A TIME WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE ONE RHEUMATISM.

Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF IS SHARED BY A PROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF LABORERS AT
REPUBLIC STEEL PLANT IN MASSILLON, OHIO WHERE I WAS EMPLOYED DURING
THE SUMMER OF 1973. I FIRST LEARNED OF THIS BELIEF WHEN I WAS
STANDING IN FRONT OF A FAN, AND A CO-WORKER, AGED ABOUT 60, TOLD ME
THAT DOING THAT JUST A LITTLE AT A TIME DOES SOMETHING TO YOUR SYSTEM
AND IN A FEW YEARS WOULD GIVE ME RHEUMATISM. HE KNEW OTHERS IT HAD
HAPPENED TO, AND HE HIMSELF AVOIDED (OR CLAIMED TO AVOID) FANS FOR
LONG PERIODS OF TIME BECAUSE OF THIS. I LATER HEARD SIMILAR COMMENTS
FROM OTHER WORKERS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 40 TO 60. SOME QUALIFIED
THAT IT IS TRUE ONLY IF YOU ARE PERSPIRING IN FRONT OF A FAN, WHILE
OTHERS CLAIMED THAT PERSPIRATION WAS NOT A NECESSARY CONDITION; IN
FACT, AIR-CONDITIONING HAS THE SAME RESULTS, AND MANY PEOPLE GETTING
THEIR HOMES AIR-CONDITIONED TODAY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT THEY
WILL BE SORRY AFTER AWHILE. SOME CLAIMED THAT BUSINESSMEN WITH AIR-
CONDITIONED OFFICES HAVE DEVELOPED RHEUMATISM, TOO. ONE MAN TOLD ME
ABOUT THE BELIEF WHILE A FAN WAS ON US BOTH. HE STARTED YELLING
WORDS TO THE EFFECT, "TURN THAT THING OFF! I DON'T WANT IT ON ME!"
AND PROCEEDED TO TELL ME HIS VERSION OF THE BELIEF. BUT WHEN I LATER
OFFERED TO TURN THE FAN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, HE TOLD ME TO NEVER
MIND--AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, ONCE MORE WOULDN'T HURT OR HELP HIM.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 07-00-1973

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SOUP PICNIC

EVERY LABOR DAY, FOR AT LEAST FORTY YEARS, BUT NOT SINCE 1971,
THE ROHR FAMILY HELD WHAT THEY CALLED A "SOUP PICNIC." EACH INDI-
VIDUAL FAMILY WOULD BRING A PAN OF VEGETABLE SOUP, AND AT THE PICNIC
SITE (WHICH TRADED OFF FROM FAMILY TO FAMILY YEARLY) THE SOUPS WOULD
BE COMBINED IN A BIG BUTCHERING KETTLE, AND HEATED OVER AN OPEN
FIRE. THE FAMILY MADE A DAY OF IT, AND WOULD EAT THE SOUP BOTH FOR
LUNCH AND SUPPER THAT DAY.
WHEN THE CUSTOM FIRST STARTED, THE MEALS CONSISTED SOLELY OF
SOUP AND CRACKERS. AFTER A FEW YEARS, CORN ON THE COB WAS ADDED,
SINCE MANY OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE GROWING IT, AND IT WAS PLENTI-
FUL DURING THE LATE SUMMER. AFTER A FEW YEARS, DESSERTS WERE ALSO
ADDED TO THE TRADITION, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS KEPT AT THAT--NEVER ANY
SIDE DISHES, OR MEAT (OTHER THAN THAT IN THE SOUP ITSELF.) (IN MY
WORDS)

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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OCTOBER GAVE A PARTY

OCTOBER GAVE A PARTY
THE LEAVES BY HUNDREDS CAME
THE CHESTNUT, OAK, AND MAPLE
AND LEAVES OF EVERY NAME
THE SUNSHINE SPREAD THE CARPET
AND EVERYTHING LOOKED GRAND
MISS WEATHER LED THE DANCING
PROFESSOR WIND THE BAND
THE CHESTNUTS CAME IN YELLOW
THE OAK IN CRIMSON DRESS
THE LOVELY MRS. MAPLE
IN SCARLET LOOKED HER BEST
ALL DANCED TO THEIR PARTNERS
AND GAILY FLUTTERED BY
THE SWEET ONE LIKE A RAINBOW
NEW-FALLEN FROM THE SKY
THEN IN THE RUSTIC BILLOW
AT HIDE AND SEEK THEY PLAYED
THE PARTY BROKE AT SUNDOWN
BUT STILL THE LEAVES ALL STAYED
PROFESSOR WIND PLAYED LOUDER
THEY FLEW ALONG THE GROUND
AND HERE THE PARTY ENDED
WITH A JOLLY OLD HAND ROUND

Submitter comment: THIS SONG WAS LEARNED BY MY AUNT FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
SIX YEARS OLD.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTUMN ; PERSONIFICATION

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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I'M A PRETTY LITTLE KITTEN

I'M A PRETTY LITTLE KITTEN
MY NAME IS TABBY GRAY
I LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTRY
SO MANY MILES AWAY
MY EYES ARE DARK AS HAZEL
MY FUR IS SOFT AS SILK
I'M FURNISHED IN THE MORNING
WITH A SAUCER FULL OF MILK
THE MILK COMES FRESH AND FOAMY
FRESH FROM THE GOOD OLD COW
AND AFTER I HAVE LAPPED IT
I FROLIC YOU KNOW HOW
I'M PETTED BY THE CHILDREN
THE MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE
AND SOMETIMES WHEN I'M NIMBLE
I CAN CATCH A LITTLE MOUSE
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN I'M NAUGHTY
I CLIMB UPON THE STAND
AND EAT THE CAKE OR CHICKEN
OR ANYTHING I CAN
AW, THEN THEY HIDE MY SAUCER
NO MATTER HOW I MEW
AND THAT'S THE WAY I'M PUNISHED
FOR THE NAUGHTY THINGS I DO

Submitter comment: THIS SONG HAS BEEN KNOWN BY MY AUNT SINCE SHE WAS A SMALL GIRL,
AND SHE USED TO SING IT TO ME WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD. SHE HAS
LONG HAD IT MEMORIZED. I HAVE SEEN IN CHILDREN'S STORY-BOOKS A SIM-
ILAR STORY (NOT SET TO MUSIC) ABOUT A HORSE NAMED DAPPLE GRAY, BUT
HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD THE KITTEN VERSION ANYWHERE OTHER THAN FROM
MY AUNT, AND IT IS THE ONLY VERSION SHE KNOWS.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

James Callow Keyword(s): CAT

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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FIVE-WAY TIC-TAC-TOE

TO PLAY FIVE-WAY TIC-TAC-TOE, A SHEET OF GRAPH PAPER IS USED BY
TWO PLAYERS, WHO TRY TO BUILD ROWS OF FIVE "X" OR "O", DEPENDING
ON THE PLAYER'S RESPECTIVE SYMBOL. UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL TIC-TAC-TOE,
IN WHICH A NEW GRID IS DRAWN AFTER A PLAYER (OR CAT) WINS A GAME,
FIVE-WAY KEEPS THE GAME GOING CONSTANTLY: SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY
SPACES, AS SOON AS ONE ROW OF FIVE IS COMPLETED, THE GAME DOES NOT
STOP, BUT CONTINUES, WITH PLAYERS TRYING TO COMPILE AS MANY ROWS AS
POSSIBLE. THE WINNER IS THE ONE WHO BUILDS THE MOST ROWS IN A PRE-
DETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME, OR WITHIN A GIVEN AMOUNT OF SPACE.

Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS POPULAR TO PLAY BETWEEN (AND DURING) CLASSES AT MY
HIGH-SCHOOL (CEETRAL CATHOLIC IN CANTON, OHIO),
ESPECIALLY DURING A
"FIVE-WAY FAD" IN 1970.
A FEW SIMPLE VARIATIONS OF THE GAME WERE PLAYED, ONE WHICH
ALLOWED ANY NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE, BY USING ANOTHER SYM-
BOL, SUCH AS A LETTER; SOMETIMES INITIALS WOULD BE USED FOR EASE IN
IDENTIFICATION, AND RARELY, ROWS WOULD BE DETERMINED BY COLORING IN
BLOCKS WITH A COLORED PEN AT YOUR TURN.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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COLORED EGGS

AT LEAST THREE PLAYERS ARE NEEDED, BUT THE MORE THE BETTER. ONE KID
PLAYS THE WOLF, ONE PLAYS THE MOTHER, AND THE REST ARE EGGS. BEFORE
THE GAME STARTS, THE WOLF GOES AWAY WHERE HE CANNOT HEAR, WHILE THE
MOTHER ASSIGNS EACH OF THE EGGS A COLOR. AT THE GAME'S START, THE
WOLF KNOCKS AT AN IMAGINARY DOOR AND THE MOTHER ANSWERS. HE ASKS HER
IF SHE HAS ANY COLORED EGGS. SHE REPLIES "NO." BUT AT THAT MOMENT
ALL THE EGGS IN THE BACKGROUND GO "PEEP-PEEP-PEEP." HE PUSHES THE
MOTHER ASIDE, AND GOES INTO THE "HOUSE." HE THEN NAMES OFF COLORS
UNTIL HE GUESSES THE COLOR OF ONE OF THE EGGS. THAT EGG MUST THEN
RUN AROUND A DESIGNATED AREA, SUCH AS THE BACK YARD. IF THE WOLF
CATCHES HIM, THAT EGG BECOMES THE WOLF, AND THE GAME STARTS ALL OVER
AGAIN, WITH THE ORIGINAL WOLF NOW BECOMING AN EGG, AND THE REST OF
THE EGGS GETTING NEW COLORS. (THE ROLE OF MOTHER MAY OR MAY NOT
ROTATE.) IF THE EGG IS NOT CAUGHT, HE GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE AND THE
WOLF GUESSES OTHER EGGS' COLORS. (IN MY WORDS)

Submitter comment: THIS GAME IS ESPECIALLY POPULAR WITH BOYS AND GIRLS UNDER AGE TEN.
AFTER THAT AGE, IT IS PLAYED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY GIRLS. A POSSIBLE
EXPLANATION FOR THIS COULD BE THAT THE BOY DOES NOT LIKE HAVING TO
OCCASIONALLY TAKE THE ROLE OF THE MOTHER.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 09-00-1973

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OLD WITCH, WHAT TIME IS IT?

ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY, THE MORE THE BETTER. ONE PERSON PLAYS THE
PART OF THE WITCH, AND SHE STANDS FAR AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE
PLAYERS, WITH HER BACK TURNED AWAY FROM THEM. THE FIRST PLAYER SAYS
TO THE WITCH, "OLD WITCH, WHAT TIME IS IT?" THE WITCH RESPONDS WITH
A TIME ON THE HOUR, SUCH AS 1, 2, OR ANYWHERE TO 12 O'CLOCK, AND THE
PERSON TAKES THAT MANY STEPS. EACH PLAYER DOES THIS IN TURN, AND
THEY KEEP REPEATING UNTIL A POINT WHERE THE WITCH BELIEVES ONE OF
THEM IS CLOSE TO HER. WHEN THAT PERSON AGAIN ASKS HER "OLD WITCH,
WHAT TIME IS IT," SHE SAYS (OR USUALLY YELLS) "TWELVE O'CLOCK MID-
NIGHT" AND TURNS AROUND RUNNING, TRYING TO CATCH THE PERSON. IF SHE
SUCCEEDS BEFORE THE PERSON REACHES THE STARTING POINT WHICH SERVES
AS BASE, THAT PERSON BECOMES THE WITCH FOR THE NEXT GAME. IF SHE
FAILS TO CATCH THE PERSON, SHE REMAINS THE WITCH. IN ADDITION, IF
THE PLAYER GETS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE WITCH TO TOUCH HER WHEN SHE IS
STILL TURNED AROUND, HE MAY DO SO, AND SHE WILL STAY THE WITCH FOR
THE NEXT GAME. (IN MY WORDS)

Submitter comment: THE GAME DESCRIBED ABOVE IS THE "CORE" GAME, BUT THERE ARE MANY
VARIATIONS. IN ONE THE WITCH MAY SAY SOMETHING SUCH AS "13 O'CLOCK"
OR EVEN "100 O'CLOCK." ALSO, THE GAME MAY INCLUDE DIRECTIONS ON WHAT
TYPE OF STEPS TO TAKE: AFTER THE WITCH GIVES THE TIME, SHE TELLS YOU
TO TAKE REGULAR, GIANT, BABY, OR SARSAPARILLA STEPS. THE SARSAPA-
RILLA STEP IS MADE BY TURNING COMPLETE CIRCULAR REVOLUTIONS WHILE AT
THE SAME TIME ADVANCING.
BEFORE A GAME YOU USUALLY STATE WHICH VARIANTS YOU WILL BE USING,
UNLESS IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU USE THE SAME
VARIANTS ALL THE TIME.
WHEN YOU PLAY WITHOUT THE VARIANT WHICH DICTATES THE STEP SIZE
TO TAKE, STRATEGY CAN BE EMPLOYED. A PERSON MAY TAKE HUGE STEPS,
TRYING TO GET UP TO THE WITCH SOON SO THAT HE CAN TAP HER ON THE
BACK. OR HE MAY TAKE TINY STEPS SO THAT HE NEVER GETS TOO FAR AWAY
FROM THE BASE, THEREFORE AVOIDING BEING CAUGHT.
THE WITCH CAN USE STRATEGY ALSO, BY OCCASIONALLY SAYING "12
O'CLOCK NOONTIME," TRYING TO FOOL THE PERSON INTO THINKING SHE SAID
"12 O'CLOCK MIDNIGHT:" IF THE PERSON RUNS BEFORE HE REALIZES THIS,
HE IS AUTOMATICALLY MADE THE WITCH. THIS MAY WORK IN REVERSE AT
TIMES, BECAUSE THE PLAYER MAY THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT THE WITCH HAS
SAID "12 O'CLOCK NOONTIME" WHEN ACTUALLY SHE HAS SAID "12 O'CLOCK
MIDNIGHT" AND HE MIGHT STAND STILL FOR THAT MOMENT, GIVING THE WITCH
EXTRA TIME TO CATCH HIM.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 09-00-1973

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I HAD A DREAM ONE NIGHT THAT I WAS HUNTING WITH MY BROTHER IN THE
WOODS. HE WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS AHEAD OF ME WHEN I SAW HIM STUMBLE AND
THEN A SPIRIT GOT OUT OF HIS BODY, WAVED TO ME, THEN DISAPPEARED IN
THE WOODS. THEN I WOKE UP. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE HUNTING IN THE
SAME WOODS WITH MY NEPHEW, I RECEIVED WORD THAT MY BROTHER HAD DIED
ONLY A MILE FROM WHERE WE WERE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MEMORATE

Date learned: 10-29-1972

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WHEN MY YOUNGER BROTHER AWOKE DURING THE NIGHT, HE MISTAKENLY
ENTERED THE CLOSET AND SCREAMED. WHEN THE FAMILY ARRIVED, HE TOLD
THEM THAT A LADY DRESSED IN WHITE HAD REACHED OUT TO PAT HIM ON
THE HEAD. TWO DAYS LATER, THE FAMILY RECEIVED A TELEGRAM THAT THE
BOY'S GRANDMOTHER HAD DIED IN POLAND THE SAME NIGHT THE LADY IN
WHITE APPEARED IN THE CLOSET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR

Date learned: 10-29-1972

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PICTURES OF THE DEAD

HIS GRANDMOTHER TOOK PICTURES OF HIS GRANDFATHER'S WAKE (HIM IN THE
COFFIN) AND SHE HUNG THEM AROUND THE HOUSE FOR ONE YEAR. THIS
HELPS HIM GET TO HEAVEN

Where learned: DETROIT

Date learned: 11-19-1972

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SAINT ANTHONY

WHEN YOU LOSE SOMETHING, TURN THE STATUE OF SAINT ANTHONY
UPSIDE DOWN UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. THIS IS
SUPPOSED TO HELP YOU FIND THINGS

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Date learned: 11-19-1972

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TANGLETALK

MARDON ME PADAM IS THIS PIE OCCUPEWED? YES, MAY I SOW YOU TO A SHEAT
IN THE CHACK OF THE BURCH?, MY THIS IS A CHEAUTIFUL BURCH. YES MANY
THINKLE PEEP SO. (PARDON ME MADAM. IS THIS PEW OCCUPIED? YES.
MAY I SHOW YOU TO A SEAT IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH? MY! THIS IS A
BEAUTIFUL CHURCH. YES, MANY PEOPLE THINK SO.)

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): MONOLOGUE

Date learned: 00001972 SUMMER

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