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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B437 returned 155 results.
Muskeg Molly
Every summer on my camping trip to Quetico Park, I am told
the legend of Muskeg Molly. Muskeg Molly and her new husband
were camping there for their honeymoon. Unfortunately, her
husband drowned and Molly is thought to still roam about in
the park. She is approximately six feet ten inches tall, has
blond hair, like her husband, and lives off the land. She
camps in sparsely populated campsites and will assault anyone
coming near her territory, especially fair-skinned people.
Only one case has actually been reported and to this day
he resides in a mental hospital.
Where learned: Quetico Provincial Park
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
ONE MORNING WHILE WASHING AT A BASIN OUT ON A BACK PORCH,
THE INFORMANT CLAIMS TO HAVE SEEN A HEADLESS MAN RIDE
TOWARD HER ON A HORSE. SHE ALSO CLAIMS THAT SHE COULD
FEEL THE WIND BRUSH AGAINST HER ARM AS THE HE RODE PAST.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY WAS OFTEN RETOLD BY MYSELF AT GIRL SCOUT
CAMP OUTINGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00001930ca
In the Arab world there is one town in Egypt
where all the people are supposed to be stupid.
The name of the town is Said (pronounced Sa-eed) and
there are many jokes about them. There are even whole plays
built around them. MM
(Here's one of the jokes:
One day this man from Said went to Cairo for the first
time in his life. When he got there he was very amazed
at the traffic lights and since he had never seen one
before and didn't know what they were for, he asked
someone. The man knew he was from Said and so he
told him that when the light is green then only the
people from Cairo can go. When the light is orange,
only the foreigners can drive and when the
light is red then this is when the Saidians may
drive. The Saidian, of course, believed him because when
the light was green a lot of cars drove through and he figured
it was because he was in Cairo that there were so many going.
Then when the light turned orange a few cars tried to make
through and he figured these were the few foreigners in town.
So when the light turned red he went and a cop pulled him
over. When he saw the cop he waved and said, "It's alright,
I'm from Said!")
James Callow Keyword(s): numskull clan
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00001960S
(In the Arab world there is one town in Egypt
where all the people are supposed to be stupid.
The name of the town is Said, pronounced Sa-eed, and
there are many jokes about them. There are even whole plays
built around them. Here's one of the jokes:) MM
One day this man from Said went to Cairo for the first
time in his life. When he got there he was very amazed
at the traffic lights and since he had never seen one
before and didn't know what they were for, he asked
someone. The man knew he was from Said and so he
told him that when the light is green then only the
people from Cairo can go. When the light is orange,
only the foreigners can drive and when the
light is red then this is when the Saidians may
drive. The Saidian, of course, believed him because when
the light was green a lot of cars drove through and he figured
it was because he was in Cairo that there were so many going.
Then when the light turned orange a few cars tried to make
through and he figured these were the few foreigners in town.
So when the light turned red he went and a cop pulled him
over. When he saw the cop he waved and said, "It's alright,
I'm from Said!"
James Callow Keyword(s): numskull clan
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00001970S
They say the Saidians give their chickens hot
water to drink so that the eggs they lay will
be hard boiled.
James Callow Keyword(s): numskull clan
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00001970S
Two Saidians were in a boat and they were drunk.
The boat started to sink so one of them says, "Hey,
the boat is sinking!" The other man says, "So what.
It's not ours."
James Callow Keyword(s): numskull clan
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00001970S
There was a bunch of Saidians in a car on their way to
Cairo.
One man says to the driver, "Hey, slow down. You're
going 60 miles an hour."
The driver says, "Do you know how to drive?"
"No."
"Then shut up."
A minute later, another man says, "You had better slow down,
you're going 70 miles an hour!"
The driver says, "Do you know how to drive?"
"No."
"Then shut up."
A second later, another man says, "Slow down! You're going
80 miles an hour!"
The driver says, "Do you know how to drive?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me where the brake is."
James Callow Keyword(s): numskull clan
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00001970S
When I went to camp with my school one summer I was told this
"true" story. Several years earlier one of the camp counselors
went swimming in the river. Unknown to her a leech planted its
eggs in her scalp. A few weeks later as she was combing her hair
the eggs broke open and hundreds of little leeches slithered
down her face. She's been in an asylum ever since.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
Experience
One day as my friends and I were walking home from school, some
of the older kids approached us and told us we shouldn't walk down
Wisconsin because the pig lady lived on that street and she would
chase you home if you walk past her house. They even went on to
say that she had a face that was half pig and half lady. They
scared me so badly, that from that day forward I either walked down
Ohio or Northlawn to get home, regardless of what exit I came out
of. I didn't realize until I became an adult that the pig lady
everyone was referring to was a lady named Shirley, who had been
badly burned on one side of her face and one time in her life she
led a productive life as an intelligent woman. But, because she
could no longer function in society as we know it to be, she lost
everything she had, including her mind. She wandered the streets
in the neighborhood and because of her appearance, she scared a lot
of people. Upon my realization, I felt sorry for Shirley, because
she and I had one-on-one contact, merely by standing in the same
line in the
grocery store and she always treated me nicely.
Submitter comment: Never judge a book by its cover.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
CHAIN LETTER (TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN).
PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER OF O.L.J.C.
COPY OF A LETTER OF PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER
OF O.L.J.C. IN JERUSALEM KEPT IN A SILVER CASE BY HIS
HOLINESS AND BY THE CHRISTIAN EMPERORS AND EMPRESSES.
SAINT ELIZABETH QUEEN OF HUNGARY, SAINT MATILDA, AND
SAINT BRIGIDE WISHING TO KNOW SOME THINGS REGARDING
THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST, MADE CERTAIN AND SPECIFIC
PRAYERS THROUGH WHICH JESUS CHRIST APPEARED AND TOLD
THEM:
KNOW (YOU) THAT THE ARMED SOLDIERS WERE 23, THE JUDICIAL
EXECUTIONERS 83, THE PUNCHES WHICH I RECEIVED IN THE
HEAD WERE 150, IN THE BREAST 108. THE KICKS ON THE SHOULDERS
80, AND I WAS DRAGGED WITH ROPES AND BY THE HAIR 23 TIMES.
THE SPITS IN THE FACE WERE 180, BEATINGS ON THE HEART
6,666, BEATINGS ON THE HEAD 110. THEY VERY FORCIBLY
RAMMED INTO ME (ONCE), MY HEAD WAS LIFTED BY THE HAIR
ON THE 21ST HOUR (9 P.M.), I SIGHED 120 SIGHS. I WAS
DRAGGED AND PULLED BY THE BEARD 23 TIMES, WOUNDS IN THE
HEAD 20, THORNS OF (BLANK BLANK) 72. THORN WOUNDS 110.
FATAL THORNS IN THE FOREHEAD 3, AFTERWARDS FLAGELLATED
AND CLOTHED AS KING IN MOCKERY. WOUNDS ON THE BODY
(WERE) 1000. THE (NUMBER OF) SOLDIERS THAT LED ME TO
CALVARY WERE 908, THOSE THAT GUARDED ME WERE 3, DROPS
OF BLOOD THAT I SHED WERE 5,475. TO WHOMEVER RECITES
SEVEN OUR FATHERS, AVES, AND GLORIAS EACH DAY FOR 15
YEARS, TO NUMBER (OR COUNT) THE NUMBER OF DROPS OF
BLOOD WHICH I LOST, I WILL ALLOW 5 GRACES: (1) A
PLENARY INDULGENCE AND REMISSION OF ALL SINS ; (2)
HE (OR SHE) WILL BE FREED FROM THE PAINS OF PURGATORY;
(3) IF HE (OR SHE) WILL DIE BEFORE FINISHING THE 15 YEAR
DEVOTION (4) IT WILL BE AS IF HE HAD FINISHED IT AND
SHED HIS BLOOD FOR THE FAITH. (5) I WILL COME DOWN FROM
HEAVEN TO RECEIVE HIS SOUL AND THOSE OF HIS RELATIVES
UP TO THE FOURTH DEGREE.
THE ONE THAT WILL CARRY THIS PRAYER WON'T DIE BY
DROWNING, NOR OF A BAD DEATH (I.E., HE WILL DIE A GOOD
DEATH), NOR WILL HE HAVE SUDDEN DEATH. HE WILL BE
FREED FROM CONTAGION, FROM THE PLAGUE, FROM LIGHTNING,
AND WILL NOT DIE WITHOUT CONFESSION;; HE WILL BE FREED
FROM HIS ENEMIES AND FROM JUDICIARY POWER (THE ARM OF
THE LAW) AND FROM EVERYONE WHO WISHES HIM EVIL, AND
FROM FALSE WITNESSES. WOMEN THAT COULDN'T CONCEIVE
WILL CONCEIVE AND WILL BE OUT OF DANGER.
IN THE HOUSE WHERE THIS PRAYER IS KEPT, THERE WON'T
BE ANY BETRAYALS NOR ANY BAD THINGS, AND 40 DAYS
BEFORE HIS DEATH, THE ONE THAT WILL DIE, WILL SEE
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. AS SAINT GREGORY POPE SAID:
"A CERTAIN CAPTAIN TRAVELING BY LAND SAW NEAR
BARCELONA A HEAD CUT OFF WHICH SPOKE TO HIM THUS:
SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO BARCELONA, TRAVELER, BRING ME A
CONFESSOR SO I MAY RECEIVE CONFESSION, SINCE IT'S BEEN
THREE DAYS ALREADY SINCE I HAVE BEEN CUT OFF BY
THIEVES AND I CANNOT DIE UNLESS IF I HAVE NOT RECEIVED
CONFESSION. A CONFESSOR BEING LED TO THE PLACE BY THE
AFORESAID CAPTAIN, THE HEAD RECEIVED CONFESSION AND
THEN DIED. ON THE BODY FROM WHICH THE HEAD WAS CUT OFF
WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING PRAYER; WHICH ON THAT OCCASION
WAS APPROVED BY VARIOUS TRIBUNALS OF THE HOLY JURISDIC-
TION OF SPAIN. THE AFOREMENTIONED SEVEN OUR FATHERS,
AVES, AND GLORIAS CAN BE RECITED AND APPLIED FOR WHICH
EVER SOUL ONE MAY WISH. ANOTHER SIMILAR COPY OF THE
LETTER HAS BEEN MIRACULOUSLY FOUND IN A PLACE (OR
LOCATION) CALLED PORTIS, FOUR LEAGUES FROM MARSEILLES
(OR MARSIGLIA), WRITTEN IN GOLDEN LETTERS AND BROUGHT
BY A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD OF PORTIS.
AN ADDITIONAL DECLARATION OF JANUARY 23, 1750 SAYS:
ALL THOSE THAT WILL WORK ON SUNDAY WILL BE CURSED BY
ME, SINCE ON SUNDAY YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH TO PRAY SO
THAT I MAY FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS, AND IT IS FOR THIS
REASON THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU SIX DAYS TO WORK AND ONE
FOR RESTING AND GIVING WORKS OF DEVOTION AND WITH WHAT
YOU HAVE (OWN) DO GOOD TO THE POOR AND YOUR ACTIONS
WILL BE FULL OF BLESSINGS AND GRACES (AND/OR FAVORS);
ON THE CONTRARY IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, YOU AND
YOUR CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE MAJOR PUNISHMENTS, AND I WILL
SEND PLAGUES, FAMINE, WARS, ATROCIOUS GRIEF (HORRIBLE PAIN)
AND HEART SPASMS: AS A SIGN OF MY INDIGNATION, YOU WILL
SEE SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS, THUNDERS, EARTHQUAKES. THOSE
THAT WILL JUDGE THIS LETTER NOT TO BE WRITTEN BY WORK OF
THE DIVINE AND AS COMING FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD AND
THOSE THAT WILL MALICIOUSLY KEEP IT HIDDEN WITHOUT
WRITING IT TO OTHER PERSONS, WILL BE CURSED BY GOD AND
CONFUSED ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT AND HE WHO WILL COPY IT
(OR MAKE IT PUBLIC) EVEN IF HE HAD MANY SINS, IF HE IS
TRULY SORRY OF HAVING OFFENDED ME, AND AGAIN HAVING
WRONGED HIS NEIGHBORS ASKING ME PARDON, I WILL "ERASE"
(FORGIVE) HIS SINS: THE ONES THAT WILL READ IT AND
WILL FINISH THE DEVOTION, OR WILL HAVE IT READ, WILL
BE FREE FROM ALL TEMPTATION.
WITH ECCLESIASTICAL APPROVAL.
Submitter comment:
THE ORIGINAL, IN ITALIAN, IS IN THE POSSESSION OF
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Date learned: 02-00-1968
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
THIS IS A STORY THE DEAN OF STUDENTS USED TO TELL
TO KEEP US FROM GOING OFF BY OURSELVES AND PARKING.
THIS COUPLE WAS OFF ON A LONELY ROAD MAKING OUT
AND THE GIRL GOT SCARED FOR SOME REASON AND TOLD
THE BOY SHE WANTED TO GO RIGHT THEN. SO THEY
LEFT AND DROVE BACK TO CAMPUS. HE GOT OUT AND
WENT AROUND TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR HER. WHEN HE
REACHED FOR THE HANDLE, THERE WAS A PART OF AN
ARTIFICIAL ARM WITH A BIG HOOK HANGING ON THE
DOORHANDLE. LATER THAT NIGHT THEY HEARD ON
THE RADIO THAT A ONE-ARMED CONVICT HAD ESCAPED
FROM PRISON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
BASKETBALL-HEAD
THERE WAS A BOY WHO WAS DRIVING NEAR
JAFFREY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE HAD AN ACCIDENT
AND WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHILE OF THE CAR
AND LOST HALF OF HIS BODY, FROM THE WAIST
DOWN. HE WALKS AROUND LEAVING BLOODY
HAND PRINTS, AND HE STRANGLES PEOPLE. HE
IS VERY STRONG AND HAS A VERY LARGE HEAD,
HENCE THE NAME "BASKETBALL-HEAD."
Where learned: NEW HAMPSHIRE ; CAMP MONADNOCK ; JAFFREY CENTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
THE HOOK
A MAN WITH A HOOK INSTEAD OF A HAND ROAMS THROUGH WARNER
PARK AT NIGHT. A COUPLE WITH A CONVERTIBLE (CAR) PARKED
THERE ONE NIGHT AND HEARD A RIPPING SOUND. WHEN THEY
GOT HOME AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR, A HOOK WAS IN THE
CONVERTIBLE TOP.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
SLEEP WALKING
NELL, MY MOTHER'S SISTER, USED TO WALK IN HER SLEEP.
SHE WALKED RIGHT OUT OF THE HOUSE ONE NIGHT TOWARD
THE RAILROAD TRACK THAT YOU HAD TO CROSS TO GET TO THE
ROAD. HER DAD MISSED HER AND RAN OUTSIDE TO FIND HER.
HE CAUGHT HER JUST AS SHE WAS STARTING TO CROSS THE TRACK
WITH A TRAIN COMIN'. HE JERKED HER OFF THE TRACK JUST
AS THE TRAIN RAN BY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; KINGSTON
James Callow Keyword(s): SLEEPWALKER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
ELECTROCUTED BUT DIDN'T DIE
A MAN WAS EXECUTED IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR, BUT HE DIDN'T
DIE. HE WAS BADLY DEFORMED AND NOW HE LIVES IN THE
WILDERNESS NEAR A LOVERS' LANE IN PENNSYLVANIA. HE
COMES OUT AND TALKS TO THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO
PARK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
THERE IS A MAN (WHOM I HAVE SEEN) WHO WALKS UP AND
DOWN A CERTAIN STREET. HE WAS INJURED IN AN AUTOMOBILE
ACCIDENT. WHEN CARS SPEED UP THE ROAD, HE WILL THROW
ROCKS AT THEM. WHEN THEY DRIVE SLOWLY, HE WAVES
FRIENDILY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
CRAZY CHARLY
THERE IS A TALE IN NORTHEAST DETROIT {MICHIGAN} ABOUT
A MAN NAMED CHARLY WHO WENT CRAZY. FIRST HE KILLED
HIS WIFE, AND THEN HIMSELF (WITH AN AX).
IT IS REPORTED THAT HE HAS BEEN SEEN CHASING TEENAGERS
PARKED NEAR HIS OLD HOME WITH A BLOODY AX.
Where learned: APARTMENT ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 11-12-1969
THEN THERE IS THE STORY ABOUT PROF. WHITTY AT
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT {MICHIGAN}. A FEW YEARS AGO,
HIS CAR WAS STOLEN. HE CALLED THE POLICE TO REPORT
IT. WHEN THE OFFICER ARRIVED, HE COULDN'T REMEMBER
THE COLOR, YEAR, MAKE OR BODY STYLE, AND HE WASN'T
REALLY SURE WHEN HE LAST USED THE CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LOSS OF MEMORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BACK TO THE HOUSE THAT HE AND HIS WIFE LIVED IN
AND EVER SINCE HE HAS NEVER TURNED ON ANY LIGHTS AND HE
LIVES THERE. THERE IS ELECTRICAL WIRES HOOKED UP TO
THE HOUSE AND EVERYTHING.
Data entry tech comment: SOMETHING MISSING HERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 10-20-1971