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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THERE IS A HOUSE ON CATAWBA ISLAND DATED 1859 THAT WAS
INHABITED BY BETSY MOJOHN, AN ALCOHOLIC INDIAN MARRIED
TO A WHITE MAN. SHE GOT HER NAME FROM THE MANNER IN
WHICH SHE ASKED HER HUSBAND JOHN FOR MORE LIQUOR.
Where learned: OHIO ; CATAWBA ISLAND
James Callow Keyword(s): MORE, JOHN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
MRS.MERRIWEATHER
CUT OFF ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE HOUSE AND STAND IN FRONT OF A
MIRROR AND SAY 15 TIMES, WHILE TURNING AROUND IN A 360 DEGREE
CIRCLE, MRS. MERRIWEATHER, MRS. MERRIWEATHER; AND HER BLOODY
FACE WILL APPEAR BEFORE YOU.
Submitter comment: NO ONE HAS REACHED 15 TIMES, ALL WERE AFRAID OF IT.
Where learned: DETROIT ; NORWEST THEATER
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- P689 P689.1 SPEECH -- FamilyGroup |
Date learned: 01-30-1984
TO CALL BACK SOMEONE YOU LOVE FROM THE DEAD
PLACE A LETTER WRITTEN TO A DECEASED MEMBER OF THE FAMILY ON TOP
OF A GLASS OF WATER AND PLACE IT UNDER YOUR BED. YOUR BELOVED ONE
WILL COME AND VISIT YOU IN PEACE. BEWARE: NEVER PERFORM THIS TASK
ON A FULL MOON NIGHT OR EVIL SPIRITS WILL HAUNT YOU.
Where learned: DETROIT ; NORWEST THEATER
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Word Letter |
Date learned: 01-30-1984
IF A GIRL HAS BEEN BAD TO HER PARENTS OR HAS TRIED TO HIT
THEM, HER HAND WILL COME OUT OF HER GRAVE UNTIL IT IS SLAPPED
DOWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HER BOYFRIEND. HIS
GRANDMOTHER TOLD HIM THIS STORY WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY.
SHE SAID THAT IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN TO GIRLS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; JUSTICE ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Gesture |
THIS IS ANOTHER STORY I HEARD WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD.
IT'S FROM DETROIT. I WAS TOLD AFTER MIDNIGHT, IT YOU GET A GLASS
OF WATER AND A PIECE OF PAPER, TAKE IT TO THE BASEMENT OF YOUR
HOME, PUT THE GLASS OF WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR AND PUT THE
PAPER ON TOP OF THE GLASS. TURN OUT THE LIGHTS IN THE BASEMENT
AND IN THE ENTIRE HOUSE, AND IF YOU WOULD CALL THE NAME OF THE LAST
PERSON IN FAMILY THAT DIED HE OR SHE WOULD APPEAR.
THE CORRECT WAY TO DO THIS IS TO HAVE A SMALL CANDLE BURNING NEXT
TO THE GLASS OF WATER AND PAPER. CALL THE DEAD PERSON'S NAME
WHILE LOOKING AT THE GLASS OF WATER. AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
CALLING OUT THE DEAD PERSON'S NAME, THE PAPER WILL BEGIN TO
SPIN AROUND THE THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PERSON WOULD APPEAR.
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
MIKE'S GRANDFATHER WAS ALWAYS CONFUSING HIM WHEN
HE WAS YOUNGER BY SAYING "DO YOU WALK TO WORK OR
TAKE YOUR LUNCH?" AFTER THIS WAS SAID MIKE WAS
DUMBFOUNDED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): JOKES
James Callow Keyword(s): FORCED DILEMMA
| Subject headings: | Favorites RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001978CA
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE COP THAT RAN OVER HIMSELF?
A YOUNG POLICE OFFICER WENT TO THE CORNER STORE TO
BUY HIMSELF A PACK OF CIGARETTES. AFTER LEARNING THAT
THIS STORE DID NOT HAVE HIS BRAND, HE ASKED THE STORE
CLERK IF SHE COULD GO ACROSS THE STREET FOR HIM AND BUY
HIM HIS BRAND. "I'M TIRED," HE REPLIED.
SHE EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WORKING
AND SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO FOR HIM. THE POLICEMAN
ACCEPTED HER REFUSAL AND RAN OVER HIMSELF.
Submitter comment: ANOTHER ONE OF GRANDPA FOURNIER'S DUMB JOKES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): JOKES
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00001978CA
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BLACK AMERICAN
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A FRENCHMAN
NAMED HAROLD BENOIT. HE STEPPED OFF
THE BUS IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, AND
WAS CONFRONTED BY A GENTLEMAN WITH A
GUN IN HIS HAND, WHO ASKED, "ARE YOU
HAROLD BENOIT?" THE FRENCHMAN REPLIED,
I SUSPECT YOU'RE RIGHT. THE MAN THEN
ASKED, " YOU EVER BEEN TO PITTSBURGH?"
MR. BENOIT CHECKED HIS LITTLE BLACK
BOOK UNDER P'S, AND REPLIED, YES, I'VE
VISITED PITTSBURGH. THE MAN THEN ASKED,
"WELL, DIDJA EVER KNOW OR MEET A LADY
MORRIS?" BENOIT CHECKED HIS BOOK UNDER
A'S FOR ACQUAINTANCES, AND RESPONDED,
YES, I KNEW A LADY MORRIS. THE MAN
THEN ASKED, "DIDJA EVER HAVE AN AFFAIR
WITH LADY MORRIS?" BENOIT CHECKED HIS
BOOK UNDER F FOR AFFAIRS AND RESPONDED,
YES, I SURELY DID HAVE AN AFFAIR WITH
LADY MORRIS. THE MAN THEN REPLIED
ANGRILY, "WELL I'M SIR MORRIS AND I
DON'T LIKE THAT ONE BIT." BENOIT
THEN LOOKED IN HIS BLACK BOOK UNDER
O'S FOR OPINIONS AND RESPONDED, "I
DON'T BLAME YOU SIR, I DIDN'T LIKE
IT EITHER."
Submitter comment: HILARIOUS
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
Keyword(s): JOKE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 09-20-1985
THE NATIVE ZULU TRIBE OF SOUTH AFRICA HAD A UNIQUE WAY OF
PUNISHING WRONGDOERS. THEY MADE THE PERSON BEND OVER, AND
SLOWLY HAMMERED RED HOT BAMBOO SKEWERS UP HIS RECTUM WITH A
KNOBBIE (CLUB). AFTER THIS, THEY HUNG HIM FROM A TREE TO
SUFFER TERRIBLY UNTIL HE DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CRIMINAL JUSTICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law |
THE CADET GHOST OF ST. JOHN'S
ABOUT SEVEN YEARS THERE WAS A CADET AT ST. JOHN'S WHO
WAS VERY UNHAPPY. THE PRESSURES OF SCHOOL WERE REALLY
GETTING TO HIM AND TO TOP IT OFF, HE WAS NOT GOING
TO BE ABLE TO GO HOME FOR THANKSGIVING.
ONE NIGHT, AFTER QUIET HOURS HAD BEGUN, HE PLAYED
A BEATLES RECORD VERY LOUD. EVEYONE THOUGHT THAT
THIS WAS STRANGE BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT IT WAS QUIET HOURS
AND THERE WAS TO BE NO NOISE. AFTER A WHILE SOMEONE HEARD
A SCREAM. EVERYONE WENT DOWN TO HIS ROOM TO SEE WHAT
WAS THE MATTER. THE CADETS FOUND THEIR FRIEND HANGING
FROM A ROPE. HE HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE.
NO ONE EVER LIVED IN THAT ROOM AGAIN.
EVERY YEAR ON THE NIGHT OF HIS DEATH THE CADETS CAN
HEAR BEATLES MUSIC COMING FROM HIS ROOM, THOUGH NO ONE
IS LIVING THERE. THEN, A WHILE LATER A SCREAM IS
HEARD THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.
NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN THE MUSIC OR THE SCREAM.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY BROTHER.
HE TOLD ME THAT THE CADETS JUST SIT IN THE HALL ON THAT
NIGHT AND WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SAINT JOHNS MILITARY ACADEMY ; DELAFIELD
Keyword(s): ST. JOHN'S
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
JAIN BUDDHISTS DON'T EAT MEALS AFTER SUNSET FOR FEAR THAT THEY
WILL EAT GERMS AND SIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): JAIN IS A CLASS OF BUDDHISTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
MISS SUZI HAD A TUG BOAT, THE TUG BOAT HAD A BELL.
MISS SUZI WENT TO HEAVEN, THE TUG BOAT WENT TO
HELL-O OPERATOR, PLEASE GIVE ME NUMBER NINE, AND
IF YOU DISCONNECT ME, I'LL KICK YOU RIGHT BEHIND
THE 'FRIGERATOR, THERE LAID A PIECE OF GLASS,
MISS SUZI FELL UPON IT AND BROKE HER LITTLE
AS-K ME NO MORE QUESTIONS, PLEASE TELL ME NO MORE
LIES, MISS SUZI TOLD ME ALL OF THIS THE DAY BEFORE SHE
DIED HER HAIR ALL PURPLE, SHE DYED HER HAIR ALL RED,
SHE DYED HER HAIR ALL POLKA DOTS AND IT ALL RAN DOWN
THE SINK, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): HAND GAME OR JUMPING COUNTING GAME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.560 |
Date learned: 09-00-1988
ONLY THOSE BORN IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER SHOULD WEAR THE OPAL,
IT WILL BRING ALL OTHERS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WHITMORE LAKE
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F100 BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-24-1988
It is unlucky for someone who is not a Scorpio to
wear an opal.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's great aunt was a Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21),
and owned a lovely opal ring. Her daughter, Nettie, wanted
the ring, but her mother cautioned her against wearing it,
as it would bring bad luck. Nettie wore the ring anyway. The
first time she wore it, she was almost hit by a car. The
second time that she wore the opal, she had a mishap,
mangling the ring beyond repair, and losing the opal. After
that, Nettie believed what her mother had told her.
Nettie told this to Elinor as a warning, because they are both
Sagittarius. Elinor also was told by one of her students,
Molly, that she had a terrible string of bad luck for a
whole week, until she gave away her opal ring.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): Horoscope, proscription, advice, astrology, gems, jewelry
Date learned: 00001960S