Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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(PROVERB)
SOME GUY WHO WAS A GREAT TRACK STAR IN GREEK TIMES
STARTED TO BRAG HOW GREAT HE WAS. COME THE DAY OF THE
ATHENS-SPARTA MARATHON, AND HE WAS UP FOR IT. HIS
TRADE MARK BESIDES WINNING, WAS HIS CLOTHES, BECAUSE
HE WAS POOR. HE SAVED UP AND FOR THE BIG RACE HE
BOUGHT SHEEP WAX TO POLISH UP HIS CLOTHES SO THEY
LOOKED EXPENSIVE. THE RACE BEGINS. HE RAN AS HARD
AND AS LONG AS HE COULD. ALAS AND ALACK HE WAS
BEATEN.
MORAL: DON'T GLOSS YOUR BRITHCES AFORE YOU RUN IN
THEM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): DON'T CROSS YOUR BRIDGES BEFORE YOU COME TO THEM.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-20-1970
STRAWBERRY
BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, WHEN A BOY WAS
APPROACHING MANHOOD, HE'D HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD
AND DO A MANLY DEED. THE DEEDS INCLUDED THINGS LIKE
KILLING A LION OR SLAYING A GIANT, BUT EACH YOUNG MAN
WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM SOMETHING UNIQUE. THIS IS THE
STORY OF ONE SUCH LAD.
WHEN HIS TIME CAME, HE WENT OUT INTO THE WOODS TO DO HIS
MANLY DEED. CONFUSED, HE SEARCHED FOR WEEKS UNTIL ONE DAY
HE FOUND IT--A STRAWBERRY. BUT THIS WAS NO ORDINARY
STRAWBERRY. THIS ONE WAS TEN FEET HIGH AND MEASURED
FOURTEEN FEET IN CIRCUMFERENCE. HE SAID TO HIMSELF,
"SURELY, THIS MUST BE IT."
SPENDING TWO MORE WEEKS IN THE WOODS, OUR HERO BUILT A
CART FOR HIS STRAWBERRY. WHEN HE ARRIVED BACK IN ROME
WITH IT, THE PEOPLE CAME RUNNING OUT INTO THE STREETS TO
SEE IT. IN FACT, THEY WERE SO AWED BY THE GIANT STRAW-
BERRY, THAT THEY CONSTRUCTED A TEMPLE AROUND IT AND
MADE THE YOUNG MAN THE "KEEPER OF THE BERRY."
AS THE WORLD BEGAN TO HEAR ABOUT THIS STRAWBERRY, PEOPLE
WOULD MAKE PILGRIMAGES TO ROME IN ORDER TO SEE THIS
MAGNIFICENT SIGHT. WELL, ONE NIGHT THERE WAS A KNOCK
ON THE DOOR. THE YOUNG MAN SAID, "WE'RE CLOSED, COME
BACK TOMORROW." BUT THE KNOCK PERSISTED. FINALLY,
OUT OF ANNOYANCE, HE OPENED THE DOOR AND SAW THREE SHADY
LOOKING CHARACTERS DRESSED IN BLACK TOGAS AND CARRYING
VIOLIN CASES. ONE OF THEM SAID, "WE WANT TO SEE THE
STRAWBERRY." THE YOUNG MAN TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS SORRY
BUT THEY COULDN'T SEE THE STRAWBERRY UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.
WITH THAT THE LEADER OF THE GROUP, GRABBED OUR HERO AND
SAID, "LOOK KID, WE HAVE COME TO SEIZE YOUR BERRY, NOT
TO PRAISE IT!"
Submitter comment:
I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE INFORMANT. HE WAS ENTERTAINING
A GROUP AT A PARTY WHEN I HEARD THIS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SHAKESPEARE: WE'VE COME TO BURY CEASER, NOT TO PRAISE HIM.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
THE TRIDS OF TRIDVILLE WERE CONSTANTLY BEING PLAGUED
BY A MEAN OGRE WHO KICKED THEM VICIOUSLY. ONE DAY,
A RABBI CAME TO THE OGRE AND SAID, "OGRE, PLEASE DON'T
KICK THE TRIDS ANYMORE, KICK ME." THE OGRE REPLIED,
"SILLY RABBI, KICKS ARE FOR TRIDS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PARODY OF TELEVISION COMMERCIAL FOR KIX CEREAL ADVERTISE-
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
YELLOW FINGER
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A CASTLE THAT WAS GUARDED BY
A HUGE YELLOW FINGER, WHO WOULDN'T LET ANYONE PASS
THE KING FROM A RIVALING CASTLE SENT ONE OF HIS BRAVEST
KNIGHTS TO GET BY THE FINGER, BUT THE FINGER KILLED HIM.
SO THE KING SENT A DUKE, BUT HE, TOO, WAS KILLED. THEN
THE KING SENT ONE OF HIS PAGES. HE JUST WALKED RIGHT
THROUGH.
MORAL: LET YOUR PAGES DO THE WALKING THROUGH THE YELLOW
FINGER.
Submitter comment:
IT SEEMS TO ME THERE WAS SLIGHTLY MORE BUILD-UP ON THIS
STORY, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUN ON TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT: LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 11-18-1968
YELLOW FINGERS
ONCE THERE WAS A KING WHO WANTED TO GET A MESSAGE THROUGH
TO A NEIGHBORING KINGDOM. BUT IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH,
THE MESSANGER WOULD HAVE TO PASS THE MONSTROUS YELLOW
FINGERS. FIRST A KNIGHT WAS SENT, BUT THE YELLOW FINGERS
PINCHED HIM TO DEATH. THEN A SQUIRE TRIED, BUT MET WITH
THE SAME FATE. FINALLY, A PAGE WAS SENT AND MADE IT
THROUGH.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: LET YOUR PAGES DO THE WALKING
THROUGH THE YELLOW FINGERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUN ON COMMERCIAL FOR THE BELL TELEPHONE CO., WHICH SAYS,
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-15-1969
IT FLOATS
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND DUMPED
HIS BODY IN THE RIVER. THAT NIGHT WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING
HE HEARD A VOICE SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." SO HE
JUMPED UP AND RAN DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T
SEE THE BODY. THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD THE SAME VOICE
SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT BACK TO THE
RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANY BODY, SO HE WENT BACK
TO BED. THE NEXT NIGHT THE VOICE CAME AGAIN, SAYING
"IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT
HE COULDN'T FIND ANY FLOATING BODY. HE SAID "WHAT
FLOATS?" THE VOICE ANSWERED: "IVORY SOAP FLOATS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
ALBERT EINSTEIN
ONE TIME EINSTEIN WAS MAKING A JOURNEY BY TRAIN.
WHEN THE CONDUCTOR CAME TO COLLECT THE TICKETS, HE
SEARCHED THROUGH HIS POCKETS, BUT COULDN'T FIND HIS
TICKET. THE CONDUCTOR RECOGNIZED HIM AND TOLD HIM
TO FORGET ABOUT IT. EINSTEIN REPLIED THAT HE HAD
TO FIND THE TICKET, BECAUSE HE COULDN'T REMEMBER
WHERE HE WAS GOING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MEMORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
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
TOMBSTONE IN CEMETERY
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I CAN REMEMBER CHRIS TELLING ME
BECAUSE I HAD ORIGINALLY COME TO HER HOME TO TALK
WITH HER MOTHER ABOUT FOLKLORE AND EVERY SO OFTEN
CHRIS WOULD THROW SOMETHING INTO THE CONVERSATION.
MANY OF THE THINGS I WAS TOLD THAT EVENING WOULD
SUDDENLY COME OUT OF THIN AIR, WHILE WORKING ON AN
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT.
THIS IS TOLD OF A TOMBSTONE IN MT. OLIVE CEMETERY IN
DETROIT {MICHIGAN}, AT OUTER DRIVE AND SIX MILE.
UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE PARTICULAR TOMBSTONE
WOULD ALWAYS GLOW AN EERIE RED ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT
DURING THE DAY IT LOOKED LIKE ANY ORDINARY TOMB-
STONE. MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO BE A BIT CAREFUL WHEN TALKING
ABOUT IT, I GUESS IT WAS REAL. THE STONE, FROM WHAT
CHRIS SAID, HASN'T GLOWED SINCE A MAUSELEUM WAS BUILT
VERY CLOSE TO IT. EVERYONE OLD ENOUGH REMEMBERS SEEING
THE GLOWING TOMBSTONE. CHRIS'S HOME IS APPROXIMATELY
200 FEET FROM THE CEMETERY.
Data entry tech comment: THIS IS CONFUSING: PERHAPS MRS. MARSHAL'S DAUGHTER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): MAUSOLEUM MT. OLIVET CEMETERY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
ONCE A BOY DID NOT SWALLOW THE EUCHARIST, BUT TOOK
IT OUT OF HIS MOUTH. HE TOOK IT HOME AND CUT IT
IN HALF WITH A KNIFE. IT BLED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, BUT WAS SKEPTICAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): COMMUNION, SACRAMENT TRANS-SUBSTANTIATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 10-23-1971
TALE
A MAN HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW CAR. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR TWO
WEEKS, HE DISCOVERED AN AWFUL RATTLE IN THE DOOR. TAKING IT TO
A GARAGE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, HE DISCOVERED AN EMPTY
COKE BOTTLE WAS LODGED IN THE DOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): COKE=COCA COLA: BRAND NAME FOR SOFT DRINK. AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
GHOST STORY
TEXT KEYPUNCHED IN NOVEMBER, 1972--ALSO IN 5X8 FILE CABINET WHILE HITCHHIKING IN 1936,
WE WERE GOING TO NEW YORK. WE HAD GOTTEN A RIDE FROM A FARMER BUT HE HAD TO LEAVE US ON THE
OPEN ROAD. MY FRIEND AND I DECIDED TO REST ON A BLUFF WHERE WE COULD SEE IF ANY CARS WERE COMING.
WE WERE THERE FOR A WHILE WHEN WE HEARD FOOTSTEPS. THE MOON WAS FULL AND WE WERE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T
SEE ANYBODY ON THE ROAD. AN OLD MAN WAS WALKING TOWARD US. AFTER EXCHANGING GREETINGS, HE ASKED IF WE
WERE HUNGRY. HE THEN OFFERED US A COCONUT HE GOT FROM A FARMER. HE SLOWLY WALKED AWAY AND DISAPPEARED
FROM OUR SIGHT. I CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE BLUFF ONLY TO FIND A CEMETERY. SCARED, WE WENT TO THE ROAD
AND HITCHED A RIDE TO A DINER. THERE THE SHERIFF WAS DESCRIBING AN OLD MAN, THE ONE WE MET. HE HAD BEEN
DEAD FOR FOUR WEEKS. WHEN WE HEARD THIS, WE FAINTED. AFTER TELLING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SHERIFF, HE TOLD
US THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME IT HAD HAPPENED IN TWO WEEKS.
Submitter comment: GHOST NEAR CEMETERY OFFERS COCONUT TO TRAVELERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MEMORATE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-29-1972
(PROVERB)
SOME GUY WHO WAS A GREAT TRACK STAR IN GREEK TIMES
STARTED TO BRAG HOW GREAT HE WAS. COME THE DAY OF THE
ATHENS-SPARTA MARATHON, AND HE WAS UP FOR IT. HIS
TRADE MARK BESIDES WINNING, WAS HIS CLOTHES, BECAUSE
HE WAS POOR. HE SAVED UP AND FOR THE BIG RACE HE
BOUGHT SHEEP WAX TO POLISH UP HIS CLOTHES SO THEY
LOOKED EXPENSIVE. THE RACE BEGINS. HE RAN AS HARD
AND AS LONG AS HE COULD. ALAS AND ALACK HE WAS
BEATEN.
MORAL: DON'T GLOSS YOUR BRITHCES AFORE YOU RUN IN
THEM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): DON'T CROSS YOUR BRIDGES BEFORE YOU COME TO THEM.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-20-1970
STRAWBERRY
BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, WHEN A BOY WAS
APPROACHING MANHOOD, HE'D HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD
AND DO A MANLY DEED. THE DEEDS INCLUDED THINGS LIKE
KILLING A LION OR SLAYING A GIANT, BUT EACH YOUNG MAN
WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM SOMETHING UNIQUE. THIS IS THE
STORY OF ONE SUCH LAD.
WHEN HIS TIME CAME, HE WENT OUT INTO THE WOODS TO DO HIS
MANLY DEED. CONFUSED, HE SEARCHED FOR WEEKS UNTIL ONE DAY
HE FOUND IT--A STRAWBERRY. BUT THIS WAS NO ORDINARY
STRAWBERRY. THIS ONE WAS TEN FEET HIGH AND MEASURED
FOURTEEN FEET IN CIRCUMFERENCE. HE SAID TO HIMSELF,
"SURELY, THIS MUST BE IT."
SPENDING TWO MORE WEEKS IN THE WOODS, OUR HERO BUILT A
CART FOR HIS STRAWBERRY. WHEN HE ARRIVED BACK IN ROME
WITH IT, THE PEOPLE CAME RUNNING OUT INTO THE STREETS TO
SEE IT. IN FACT, THEY WERE SO AWED BY THE GIANT STRAW-
BERRY, THAT THEY CONSTRUCTED A TEMPLE AROUND IT AND
MADE THE YOUNG MAN THE "KEEPER OF THE BERRY."
AS THE WORLD BEGAN TO HEAR ABOUT THIS STRAWBERRY, PEOPLE
WOULD MAKE PILGRIMAGES TO ROME IN ORDER TO SEE THIS
MAGNIFICENT SIGHT. WELL, ONE NIGHT THERE WAS A KNOCK
ON THE DOOR. THE YOUNG MAN SAID, "WE'RE CLOSED, COME
BACK TOMORROW." BUT THE KNOCK PERSISTED. FINALLY,
OUT OF ANNOYANCE, HE OPENED THE DOOR AND SAW THREE SHADY
LOOKING CHARACTERS DRESSED IN BLACK TOGAS AND CARRYING
VIOLIN CASES. ONE OF THEM SAID, "WE WANT TO SEE THE
STRAWBERRY." THE YOUNG MAN TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS SORRY
BUT THEY COULDN'T SEE THE STRAWBERRY UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.
WITH THAT THE LEADER OF THE GROUP, GRABBED OUR HERO AND
SAID, "LOOK KID, WE HAVE COME TO SEIZE YOUR BERRY, NOT
TO PRAISE IT!"
Submitter comment:
I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE INFORMANT. HE WAS ENTERTAINING
A GROUP AT A PARTY WHEN I HEARD THIS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SHAKESPEARE: WE'VE COME TO BURY CEASER, NOT TO PRAISE HIM.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
THE TRIDS OF TRIDVILLE WERE CONSTANTLY BEING PLAGUED
BY A MEAN OGRE WHO KICKED THEM VICIOUSLY. ONE DAY,
A RABBI CAME TO THE OGRE AND SAID, "OGRE, PLEASE DON'T
KICK THE TRIDS ANYMORE, KICK ME." THE OGRE REPLIED,
"SILLY RABBI, KICKS ARE FOR TRIDS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
YELLOW FINGER
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A CASTLE THAT WAS GUARDED BY
A HUGE YELLOW FINGER, WHO WOULDN'T LET ANYONE PASS
THE KING FROM A RIVALING CASTLE SENT ONE OF HIS BRAVEST
KNIGHTS TO GET BY THE FINGER, BUT THE FINGER KILLED HIM.
SO THE KING SENT A DUKE, BUT HE, TOO, WAS KILLED. THEN
THE KING SENT ONE OF HIS PAGES. HE JUST WALKED RIGHT
THROUGH.
MORAL: LET YOUR PAGES DO THE WALKING THROUGH THE YELLOW
FINGER.
Submitter comment:
IT SEEMS TO ME THERE WAS SLIGHTLY MORE BUILD-UP ON THIS
STORY, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 11-18-1968
YELLOW FINGERS
ONCE THERE WAS A KING WHO WANTED TO GET A MESSAGE THROUGH
TO A NEIGHBORING KINGDOM. BUT IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH,
THE MESSANGER WOULD HAVE TO PASS THE MONSTROUS YELLOW
FINGERS. FIRST A KNIGHT WAS SENT, BUT THE YELLOW FINGERS
PINCHED HIM TO DEATH. THEN A SQUIRE TRIED, BUT MET WITH
THE SAME FATE. FINALLY, A PAGE WAS SENT AND MADE IT
THROUGH.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: LET YOUR PAGES DO THE WALKING
THROUGH THE YELLOW FINGERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-15-1969
IT FLOATS
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND DUMPED
HIS BODY IN THE RIVER. THAT NIGHT WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING
HE HEARD A VOICE SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." SO HE
JUMPED UP AND RAN DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T
SEE THE BODY. THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD THE SAME VOICE
SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT BACK TO THE
RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANY BODY, SO HE WENT BACK
TO BED. THE NEXT NIGHT THE VOICE CAME AGAIN, SAYING
"IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT
HE COULDN'T FIND ANY FLOATING BODY. HE SAID "WHAT
FLOATS?" THE VOICE ANSWERED: "IVORY SOAP FLOATS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
LET GEORGE DO IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONAL NAME USED IN PROVERB
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
IT ISN'T THE DAY OF THE STORM YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO FIX
THE ROOF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PROCRASTINATION EMERGENCY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-18-1970