The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A STAR IS BORN BY THE URGINGS OF A FRIEND

IN 1939 THE ONLY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN A SMALL TOWN OF WEST
VIRGINIA WAS HAVING AN AMATEUR TALENT CONTEST. CHUBBY LITTLE
RICHARD BEGGED, PLEADED AND FINALLY URGED HIS SHY, SKINNY FRIEND
TO JOIN WITH HIM. AFTER MUCH CAJOLING LITTLE DON FINALLY
ACQUIESCED. THE BOYS WORKED UP A SONG AND PATTER ROUTINE WITH
GUITAR AND BANJO. THEY WERE THE DECISIVE WINNERS. THOUGH THEY'RE
SEPARATED THEY HAVE KEPT IN CLOSE CONTACT THROUGH THE YEARS.
GROSSE POINTE DOCTOR RICHARD FERRARA FREQUENTLY SEES HIS GOOD
FRIEND DON KNOTTS AND THEY STILL SING THE OLD SONGS TOGETHER.

James Callow Keyword(s): TELEVISION STAR

Date learned: 00-00-1939

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THE CRAZY BROTHERS

ON THE FARM IN DAYTON, OHIO I WAS CONSTANTLY WARNED TO STAY
AWAY FROM THE ADJACENT FARM IN WHICH LIVED TWO VERY STRANGE
BROTHERS. ALL THE NEIGHBLRS WERE WARY OF THE BROTHERS AND
THEIR INVENTIONS. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THEIR FIRST AIRPLANE FLEW
THAT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS WERE ACCEPTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A TRUE STORY AND WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER TELLS OF THE
WARNINGS THAT SHE GOT FROM HER MOTHER SHE LAUGHS WRYLY.

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AT A RATHER SMALL BUT FORMAL DINNER PARTY IN THE HOME OF A
BRITISH TELEVISION AND RADIO HOST, I WAS SEATED TO THE LEFT
OF MICHAEL MEYER, AN IBSEN TRANSLATOR AND SCHOLAR OF LITERATURE.
MR. MEYER IS A RETIRED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. HIS FATHER HAD
BEEN A PROMINENT, LONDON IMPORT-EXPORT MERCHANT. DURING
THE MEAL, I WAS ENTHRALLED WITH THE LOFTY CONVERSATION AND
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE INTIMATE GROUP OF OXFORD ALUMNI.
ONE SUCH REMINISCENCE CAME FROM MR. MEYER. HE TOLD ME THAT
GEORGE ORWELL, THE BRILLIANT AUTHOR, WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO
HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS. ONE SATURDAY MORNING, ORWELL ENTERED
WISHING TO PURCHASE SOME FINE, IMPORTED CHERRY LUMBER. WITH IT,
HE PLANNED TO BUILD BOOKSHELVES. ORWELL ENGAGED THE SERVICE OF
YOUNG MEYER TO HELP IN THE PROJECT.
THE IMPRESSIVE WOOD WAS DELIVERED TO ORWELL'S HOUSE, AND THE
PAIR SET TO WORK. THEY LABORED CAREFULLY, NOT WISHING TO MAR
THE EXTRAORDINARY LUMBER. ONCE THE SHELVES WERE COMPLETED,
ORWELL AND MEYER MOVED THEM INTO PLACE IN ORWELL'S STUDY. THEY
STOOD BACK IN ADMIRATION AND SILENCE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SUDDENLY, THE ECCENTRIC AUTHOR DASHED OUT THE DOOR, CALLING
BACK TO THE YOUNG BOY TO WAIT THERE FOR HIM.
HE RETURNED MANY HOURS LATER WITH A TIN OF WHITE PAINT. UNDER
ORWELL'S DIRECTION, THE TWO WORKED FEVERISHLY TO COVER THE FINE
FINISH OF THE CHERRY WOOD WITH A WHITE OVERCOAT! THE
GORGEOUS AND EXTRAVAGANT CHERRY LUMBER NOW LOOKED AS ORDINARY
AS ANY SCRAPS OF WOOD! MEYER WAS DUMBFOUNDED AND RESOLVED NEVER
TO TELL HIS FATHER OF THIS "SIN" IN WHICH HE HAD TAKEN PART.
ORWELL, HOWEVER, SEEMED EXCEEDINGLY PLEASED WITH THE WHITE
BOOKCASE, AND SHOWED THE BOY OUT WITH A HEARTY LAUGH AND A
SERIES OF HANDSHAKES AND PATS ON THE BACK.

Where learned: ENGLAND ; CHELSEA ; LONDON

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"SILVERKING"

THIS STORY WAS PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
IT TOOK PLACE SOMEWHERE IN THE OLD WEST, AROUND 1830.
MY FATHER TOLD IT TO ME, AND HIS FATHER TOLD IT TO HIM.
IT IS AN EXPLANATION FOR HOW MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER
MET HIS BRIDE.
GREAT-GREAT GRANDMA (BEFORE MEETING GREAT-GREAT GRANDPA) WAS
CAPTURED BY THE AMERICAN INDIANS. THEY TOOK HER BACK TO
THEIR CAMP AND TIED HER UP. SHE BECAME ENSLAVED TO THE REDMEN.
THEN, GREAT-GREAT GRANDPA CHARGED IN, RIDING HIS ARABIAN
STALLION NAMED SILVERKING. HE SAW GRANDMA, SWOOPED HER
UP, AND RESCUED HER. THEY WENT RIDING OFF, AND HE WAS A
HERO TO HER. SHE IMMEDIATELY MARRIED HIM, AND THE INDIANS
NEVER CAPTURED HER AGAIN.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WAS EXCITED IN RETELLING THIS STORY!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

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Founding of the Incan Empire

The Four Ayar brothers came out of the sea. On the way
to Cuzco, one by one three of them died. One of them,
Manco Capac makes it and he finds the Empire with
the help of the Sun God. (Inti) So Manco Capac is
the first Inca.

Submitter comment: Even though it is known that this is not a true story,
it is taught in all the schools in Peru.

Where learned: Peru

Date learned: 00001970S

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SILVER JACK

HE WAS JOHN DRISCOLL, FRIENDS--AND BEST KEEP A CIVIL
TONGUE IN YOUR HEAD AND BE SPARING WITH THE LINGERING
LOOK, IF YOU WERE IN HIS WHEREABOUTS WHEN THE SAGINAW
VALLEY WAS STREWN WITH THE SAWDUST AND GAUDY LEGENDS OF
LUMBERJACKS AND RIVERMEN.
HE WAS THE REDOUBTABLE "SILVER JACK" DRISCOLL. THEY SAID
HE COULD BEND A RAILROAD SPIKE BARE-HANDED - THAT HE
COULD BOOST A BARREL OF SALT UP OVER HIS HEAD AND HOLD
IT THERE WHILE DRINKING A PINT OF WHISKEY HELD BETWEEN
CLENCHED TEETH.
THEY SAID YOU NEVER SAW A BIG MAN SO CAT-QUICK -- WHETHER
WHIRLING HIS BIG, HARD FISTS IN A SALOON BRAWL, OR
KNUCKLED TIGHTLY ABOUT THE HANDLE OF A TWO-BITTED AXE
MEASURING A FOREST PINE.
THEY SAID SILVER JACK WAS A KIND OF ROUGHSHOD, LUMBER
DAY ROBIN HOOD WHO CUDGELED TORMENTORS OF THE WEAK.
THEY SAID HE WAS A SAVAGE VARLET AND BULLY WHO LIKED
TO WATCH BLOOD SPURT AFTER HIS FIST STRUCK.
THEY SAID MANY THINGS OF SILVER JACK DRISCOLL, MOST
CONTROVERSIAL LUMBERJACK AND RIVERMAN OF HIS TIME.
HE PLIED THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE MICHIGAN
PINELANDS AND LOG STREAMS. THERE IS A RECORD OF HIM
IN MINNESOTA AND CANADA. BUT IT WAS IN THE SAGINAW
VALLEY THAT DRISCOLL ENDURED LASTING FAME -- CALL
IT NOTORIETY IF YOU WILL.
SOME SAID HE WAS CALLED SILVER JACK BECAUSE OF
PREMATURELY WHITE HAIR. OTHERS SAID HIS WAS FLAXEN-
WHITE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OLD-FASHIONED "TINTYPE"
PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH SHOW HIM A WITH CAREFULLY POMADED
MANE OF BLACK HAIR.
OLDTIME LOGGERS -- LONG DEPARTED FROM THIS VALE OF
NEON LIGHTS AND CHROME-PLATED GADGETS OF MODERN LIVING
ONCE TALKED OF THE SIGHT IT WAS TO SEE SILVER JACK
SWINGING DOWN THE CHALK-COVERED BOARDWALKS OF EAST
SAGINAW (NOW THE EAST SIDE) AND SAGINAW CITY (NOW
THE WEST SIDE).
THEY SAID NEVER WAS SUCH A ONE AS SILVER JACK TO
"BLOW HER IN" WITH A FAT WINTER'S PAYCHECK, AFTER
THE LOGS HAD BEEN DRIVEN DOWN THE RIVER OVER
FRESHET-SWOLLEN TRIBUTARIES OF THE SAGINAW.
OTHERS CLAIMED JACK DRISCOLL WAS GOADED INTO MOST
OF HIS MANY FISTIC INTERLUDES -- THAT HE HAD, IN
THE LUMBER ERA, THE EQUIVALENT OF A WILD WEST
TWO-GUN REPUTATION SOMEBODY ALWAYS WANTED TO TEST.
SOME VOWED HE WAS MUCH MISUNDERSTOOD AND MALIGNED -
A CHAP AN EARNEST PREACHER MIGHT HAVE FASHIONED INTO
AT LEAST A PROPER DEACON IN A DESERVING PARISH.
BUT HISTORY RECORDS THAT DRISCOLL, AN ACKNOWLEDGED
SOMETIME VISITOR IN LOCAL VILLAGE "POKEYS" IN THE
MICHIGAN PINELANDS, ALSO SERVED FIVE YEARS'
IMPRISONMENT IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN PRISON. HE
WAS SENTENCED BY SAGINAW COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE
DEWITT GAGE ON A CHARGE OF ARMED ROBBERY. ADMIRERS
SAID HE WAS FRAMED. THE LAW SAID OTHERWISE.
SILVER JACK DRISCOLL DIED APRIL 1, 1895, IN A
HOTEL IN L'ANSE, MICHIGAN.
WHATEVER HIS EPITAPH, IT COULD HARDLY BE ADEQUATE,
SAINT OR SCALAWAG. HISTORIANS AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL,
ARE NOT AGREED EVEN TODAY.

Submitter comment: I AM NOT SURE WHO WROTE THIS STORY BUT IT DID COME
FROM THE FIRST ANNUAL TIMBER TOWN FESTIVAL
MAGAZINE AROUND 1950.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Keyword(s): LUMBERJACKS ; SAGINAW VALLEY LOGGING

James Callow Keyword(s): STRONG MEN

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THIS IS THE STORY OF A MAN NAMED WILLIAM SHIRLEY WILLIAMS.
HE LIVED IN TENNESSEE UNTIL, AS A YOUNG MAN, HE DECIDED TO
VENTURE WEST. HE ENDED UP SETTLING AMONGST SOME INDIANS
IN WYOMING AND BECAME WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED BY THEM.
HE WAS GIVEN AN INDIAN NAME BY THEM WHICH SPOKE OF HIS
MOST DISTINGUISHING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC: HIS FLAMING
RED HAIR. EVENTUALLY, BECAUSE HE HAD BECOME SO ADEPT IN
THE WESTERN WILDERNESS, HE WAS SOUGHT AFTER AS A GUIDE BY
OTHER WHITE MEN AND MOVED TO DAKOTA TERRITORIES. HE WAS
EVEN SAID TO HAVE AIDED THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION OF
1804-1806. ONE DAY, WHILE LEADING A GROUP OF WHITE
EXPLORERS, AN INDIAN ATTACK LED TO HIS DEATH. WHEN THE
INDIANS CAME UPON THE DEAD MEN TO SCALP THEM, ONE OF THEM
RECOGNIZED THE FACE OF THEIR OLD FRIEND, WILLIAM SHIRLEY
WILLIAMS. BY THIS TIME HIS HAIR HAD TURNED GRAY, SO HE
WAS NOT EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AT A DISTANCE. THE INDIANS
FELT SO SORRY TO HAVE KILLED THE MAN WHOM THEY HAD KNOWN
AND LIVED WITH THAT THEY GAVE HIM A CHIEFTAIN'S BURIAL.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY WAS DISCOVERED BY A RELATIVE OF MINE WHO WAS
RESEARCHING OUR FAMILY HISTORY. IT WAS TOLD TO HIM BY
PEOPLE IN A TOWN HE WAS VISITING THAT HAS A STATUE OF
WILLIAM SHIRLEY WILLIAMS STANDING IN THE MAIN PART OF
TOWN. THE LEGEND IS COMMONLY TOLD IN THE TOWN. WILLIAM
SHIRLEY WILLIAMS IS BELIEVED TO BE A RELATIVE OF THE
ROGER WILLIAMS WHO CAME TO AMERICA ON THE MAYFLOWER AND
EMIGRATED FROM WALES WITH HIS BROTHERS IN THE 18TH
CENTURY. HE IS A DISTANT RELATIVE OF MINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLAWSON

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What famous general was called "Long Hair"?

General George Armstong Custer, who had long, golden hair, was
named "Long Hair" by the Sioux Indians with whom he did battle.
After his entire command were wiped, out the Indians did not take
his scalp, but left it intact as a sign of respect.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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Eureka

The story goes that in the 3rd Century B.C. King Hiero of
Syracuse gave a jeweller some gold to make a crown. The jeweller
did but the King suspected that he mixed the gold with base metal
and did not use all the gold. The king gave the crown to the local
scientist, Archimedes, whose job it was to determine if the
jeweller had cheated the king by mixing the gold with metal. In
order to solve this problem Archimedes had to find the density of
the crown. How could he measure density? One day when getting
into the bathtub he noticed the water level rose. He has an
inspiration and the answer. He jumped from the bath tub and ran
down the street naked shouting "Eureka" which means "I have found
it."
Archimedes realized that if the crown was pure gold it would
displace the same volume of water as an equal weight of gold. He
performed the experiment and found that the jeweller had in fact
cheated.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-02-1992

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I learned to fly in Amelia Earhart's day-- when women were not
supposed to fly. I took the airplane up into the air with no
problem. When I landed, the instructor kissed me-- he was so happy
I had landed safely.

Submitter comment: Lillian is 86 years old; she was a woman before her time as
she was growing up. I would have liked to know her when she still
remembered everything she had done in her life; now her memory has
faded badly. She only has 3 stories which she tells you over and
over again, and 4 or 5 phrases which she constantly says. This
story is one of the stories. Her husband told me she had lunch
with Amelia Earhart many, many years ago at a woman's club meeting.
I thought this fact would be appropriate for this little story.

Where learned: UNITED STATES

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TOWARD PRE-SELECTED SEX: "GALEN, PERSONAL PHYSICIAN TO THE
ROMAN EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS, TOLD PREGNANT WOMEN TO FILL
TWO SMALL HOLES IN THE GROUND WITH URINE. IN ONE HOLE THEY
WERE TO PLANT WHEAT, IN THE OTHER BARLEY. IF THE WHEAT
SPROUTED FIRST THEY WOULD BEAR A BOY, IF THE BARLEY, A
GIRL."

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

Date learned: 08-03-1968

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THOMAS S. SPENCER

NOW, BACK TO THOMAS SHARPE SPENCER, HE WAS A HUGE PERSON, THEY
SAY, AN', UH, IT SEEMS THAT THE INDIANS SAW HIS FOOTPRINTS,
UH, AN' IT SCARED THEM AND THEY STAYED AWAY FROM HIM.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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THOMAS S. SPENCER

HE HAD SUCH A LARGE PRINT THEY . . . JUST FELT IT WAS LIKE
A MONSTER OR SOMETHIN' OUT THERE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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DURIN' A BATTLE FOR NASHVILLE, SOMEONE, I DON'T KNOW WHO--
WAS IT JAMES ROBERTSON'S WIFE?-- TURNED SOME DOGS LOOSE ON
INDIANS AND WON THE BATTLE.

Submitter comment: THIS PROVES TO BE HISTORICALLY CORRECT. INFORMANT GOT THE STORY FROM HER FATHER, BUT APPARENTLY PICKED UP THE NAME
FROM READING.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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IT SEEMS THAT, UH, THIS LITTLE BOY NAMED BOOKER -- THIS LITTLE
COLORED BOY, A SLAVE BOY, IF NOT A SLAVE IT WAS JUST AFTER
SLAVE TIME. HIS STEPFATHER AN' HIS MOTHER WERE RIGHT PROUD
PEOPLE, AN' HARD-WORKIN', TOO, AN' THEY TAUGHT HIM TO THINK
WELL ENOUGH OF HIMSELF. HE ALWAYS WORKED WELL AN' HIS STEP-
FATHER WAS VERY, VERY FOND OF HIM. AN' HE ALWAYS WANTED TO
TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF--HE HELPED TAKE CARE OF HIS PARENTS,
TOO. THERE WAS A COLONEL, WHO WAS A SOUTHERN COLONEL, HAD
MARRIED A YANKEE, AN' THEY HAD COME TO THIS SOUTHERN
PLANTATION TO LIVE. SOMEBODY TOLD THE LITTLE BOY ABOUT THEM
WANTIN' A HOUSEBOY, WANTIN' A BOY TO WORK IN THE HOUSE.
AN' IT PAID BETTER THAN ANYTHING HE COULD MAKE--NOT TOO
MUCH, BUT A LITTLE. HE WAS JUST ANXIOUS TO TRY IT. AN' EVERY-
BODY THOUGHT THE YANKEE LADY WAS THE MEANEST THING EVER WAS,
SHE WAS JUST CRUEL. AN' THEY TALKED AGAINST IT, BUT HE WAS
WILLIN' TO TRY IT ANYWAY, FOR WHAT HE COULD GET OUT OF IT.
AN' SHE WAS SO STRICT WITH HIM THAT IT WAS PATHETIC, UH, WHEN
SHE ASKED FOR A FLOOR TO BE CLEANED, IT HAD TO BE CLEAN ENOUGH
TO EAT OFF OF IT. AND SHE TAUGHT HIM TO DO JUST A LITTLE MORE
THAN SHE JUST SAID IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT SHE ALSO SAW HIM
LOOKIN' AT BOOKS AN' SHE TAUGHT HIM TO READ--SHE LET HIM
LEARN TO READ. AND, UH, HE SAVED HIS MONEY TO GO AWAY TO
SCHOOL. HE HAD HEARD WHERE THEY COULD GO TO SCHOOL. HE
WANTED TO GO, AN' SHE SAW HE WAS QUITE CAPABLE. AN' SHE
DIDN'T DISCOURAGE HIS LEARNIN'--SHE MADE A POINT TO SEE THAT
ALL THE BOOKS HE MIGHT LIKE TO READ AND GET SOMETHIN' OUT OF
WERE PUT WHERE HE MIGHT GET AHOLD OF 'EM. WHEN HE HAD JUST
NEARLY ENOUGH MONEY SAVED, HE WAS FIXIN' TO GO AWAY TO WHERE-
EVER THIS SCHOOL WAS--SOMEWHERE--POSSIBLY IN BOSTON, POSSIBLY
IN NEW YORK, POSSIBLY IN MASSACHUSETTS--IT WAS SOMEWHERE FURTHER
NORTH THAN WHERE HE WAS. AN' HE SAW HIS STEPFATHER LEAVE THAT
MORNIN' TO TRY TO FIND WORK--THEY WERE JUST ACTUALLY ON THE
VERGE OF BEIN' HUNGRY AN' HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING TO DO. HE
SAW HOW DEJECTED HE LOOKED & HEARD HIM TELL HIS MOTHER THAT
THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW--IF HE COULDN'T FIND SOMETHIN' TO DO
THERE, Y'KNOW, THEY JUST ABSOLUTELY WOULD JUST BE HUNGRY--
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING. AN', UH, HE WENT TO THE BIG HOUSE
WHERE HE'S BEEN WORKING--THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED IT, THE BIG
HOUSE--AN' HE HAD HOARDED HIS MONEY--THE LITTLE BIT THAT HE'D
GOTTEN, HE HAD SAVED IT. AN', UH, HE WENT IN AN' HE TOLD HER
HE HAD TO HAVE, UH, THE BIG HORSE--THE GELDING--HE WANTED IT
RIGHT THEN AN' HE HAD TO HAVE IT, SOMETHIN' HAD COME UP. SHE
SAW HE WAS VERY DISTURBED, SO HE TOOK HIS MONEY & GOT ON THIS
BIG HORSE AN' RACED TO OVERTAKE HIS STEPATHER TO GIVE 'IM
THE MONEY HE HAD. AN' IT JUST BROKE HIS HEART, 'COS, HE
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT AN' HIS TIME WAS GONE AN' HE HAD
LEARNED ENOUGH AN' HE THOUGHT HE COULD TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF
IN THIS SCHOOL. AND, UH, HE HAD HEARD THAT THIS WAS WHERE
NEGROES COULD GO--MAYBE THE YANKEE LADY HAD KIND OF
ENCOURAGED HIM A LITTLE, BUT HE TOLD HER THAT HE RESIGNED
ANYWAY BECAUSE HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO. HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY-
THING, NOW, BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO. SO HE GOT ON THIS
TRAIN. IT WAS JUST PACKED, AN', UH, HE WAS THE ONLY COLORED
PERSON ON THERE, 'CEPT FOR THE ONES THAT WERE WORKIN' THERE,
AN' THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE A BERTH FOR HIM, Y'KNOW. SO THEY CAME
TO A PLACE WHERE THEY HAD TO STOP THAT NIGHT, AND, UH, IT WAS
COLD, AND RAINY--JUST REAL COLD AN' RAINY, AN', UH, HE WAS
TIRED AN' HUNGRY AN' WHEN HE WENT IN TO GET FOOD WITH THE
GROUP THEY THREW HIM OUT BODILY, WOULDN'T LET HIM BE IN THERE.
HE SLEPT ON THE OUTSIDE. BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO SO HE STARTED
WALKIN' TO GET WHERE HE WAS GOIN'. IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HE
GOT THERE. AN' WHEN HE DID HE HAD NO CREDENTIALS, YE MIGHT
SAY, AN' HE HAD NO MONEY! BUT HE TOLD THE, UH, -- SHE WAS
A WOMAN--THE HEADMISTRESS, OR DEAN, ANYWAY, THAT HE HAD COME
TO GO TO SCHOOL. SHE ASKED HIM FOR HIS CREDENTIALS. OF
COURSE, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING. AN' HE JUST THOUGHT, 'COS
HE WAS ALONE . . . SHE ASKED HIM HIS NAME, AN' HE TOLD HER
BOOKER, THIS WAS THE ONLY NAME HE HAD --HE DIDN'T HAVE A LAST
NAME. AN' SHE TOLD HIM SHE NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY THAT JUST
HAD ONE NAME, WHAT WAS HIS LAST NAME? SO THE ONLY THING HE
COULD THINK OF WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON, SO HE SAYS, "BOOKER T.
WASHINGTON"--SOMEWHERE HE'S READ ABOUT THIS. AN', UH, SHE
TOLD HIM THAT . . . WELL, LET'S GO BACK TO THE YANKEE LADY--
SHE HAD TOLE HER HUSBAND THAT THIS YOUNGSTER WAS A PROMISING
YOUNGSTER, THAT HE HAD ALL IT TOOK BUT ONE THING, AN' SHE
WAS GIVIN' HIM THAT. AN' HE ASKED HER WHAT THAT WAS, AN'
SHE SAID, "GRIT. HE NEEDED YANKEE GRIT." THAT WAS WHY
SHE WAS SO HARD ON HIM. . . BUT ANYWAY NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO
THE SCHOOL. SO HE HAD NOWHERE TO GO. HE HAD NOWHERE TO
SLEEP, HE HAD NO FOOD. AND, UH, SHE SAW HOW DEJECTED HE WAS,
AN' HOW HE JUST HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL--HE HAD TO HAVE MORE
LEARNING. SHE KINDA MADE A LITTLE FUN OF HIM, BUT SHE TOLD
HIM, WHEN EVERYBODY'D LEFT BUT HIM, HE WAS STILL STANDIN'
THERE, AN' SHE TOLD HIM THAT THE LIBRARY NEEDED CLEANING'.
SWEEP THE FLOOR IS WHAT SHE TOLD HIM TO DO. HE'D DO THAT,
Y'KNOW, WHY SHE'D GIVE HIM A MEAL AN' HE COULD SLEEP THERE.
AN', UH, HE LOOKED AROUND, AND HE DIDN'T DO JUST WHAT SHE
TOLD HIM, HE WIPED THE BOARDS AN' CLEANED THE SHELVES, TOO.
HE DID MORE THAN HE WAS ASKED TO. AN' SHE CAME IN THE NEXT
MORNIN' AN' SAW WHAT HE'D DONE, AN' SHE ASKED HIM WHY HE
DID MORE THAN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO, AND HE TOLD HER THE YANKEE
LADY HAD ALWAYS TOLD HIM TO JUST DO MORE THAN HE WAS TOLD TO.
AN' THE LADY TOLD HIM HE WAS ENROLLED THAT MORNIN'.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAYS HER FATHER TOLD HER THIS STORY, BUT
IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT SHE GOT IT OUT OF A BOOK AS A
CHILD.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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THOMAS S. SPENCER

'BOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN HERE & CARTHAGE UP BY WAY OF GALLATIN, AT
CASTALIAN SPRINGS? THIS EARLIEST SETTLER COME THROUGH, AN'
THERE WAS A BIG SYCAMORE TREE THAT WAS HOLLOW, WITH AN
OPENING JUST BIG ENOUGH FOR A MAN TO GET IN; AN' HE SPENT
THE WINTER IN THAT THREE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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LEGEND

ONE DAY NEWT BUILT HIMSELF A BEAUTIFUL LOG CABIN--
IT WAS TWO STORIES AND EVERYTHING. ONE SIDE HAD
A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE OCEAN AND THE OTHER THE
WOODS. ONLY HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WINDOWS ON THE
OCEAN SIDE SO HE COULDN'T SEE OUT, BUT ON THE
WOODS SIDE, HE HAD A SUN PORCH--BUT FOR WINDOWS
HE PUT IN DOUBLE PANES AND EVERY TIME THE SUN
HIT THE WINDOWS, THEY WOULD STEAM UP SO HE
COULDN'T SEE OUT THERE EITHER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-00-1968

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LEGEND

OLD NEWT SOLD EGGS, SEE, BUT HE'D NEVER COOK
ON HIS OWN. HE'D ALWAYS SHOW UP AT SOMEONE'S
HOUSE AT ABOUT 4:30 AND HANG AROUND UNTIL THEY
INVITED HIM TO EAT. HE HAD A DIFFERENT HOUSE FOR
EVERY DAY. OURS WAS FRIDAY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-00-1968

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ATTILA THE HUN MARRIED A 400 POUND PRINCESS
AND WAS SMOTHERED TO DEATH ON HIS WEDDING
BED BY HER BREASTS.

Where learned: JOKING AROUND

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IT HAS BEEN TOLD MY GRANDMOTHER THAT ANDREW
JACKSON ONCE SLEPT IN THE HOUSE IN WHICH
MY FAMILY IS LIVING AT 300 5TH AVE., W.,
SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SPRINGFIELD

Date learned: 08-07-1968

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