Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for CAT returned 284 results.
IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS WHEN SPEAKING IS NOT
ALLOWED DURING AN "AIR SITUATION" THE INDEX FINGER
WHEN POINTED AT THAT PERSON GOING TO BE ON "THE AIR"
BY USE OF THE WHOLE FOREARM IN BENDING AT THE
ELBOW, MEANS THE PERSON CAN BEGIN, OR START.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS SIGNAL TO INSTRUCT A PERSON WHO IS ON
THE AIR TO BEGIN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS? CLEAR AS MUD.
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-31-1971
WHAT GOES CLUMP, CLUMP, CLUMP, SQUISH?
AN ELEPHANT WITH ONE WET TENNIS SHOE.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET SWALLOWED BY AN ELEPHANT?
RUN AROUND UNTIL YOU GET "POOPED" OUT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED FROM PATIENT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN--POOPED REFERRING TO DEFECATION.
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
IF YOU PULL A GUINEA PIG'S TAIL HIS EYES WILL
POP OUT.
Submitter comment: THE TROUBLE IS THAT A GUINEA PIG DOESN'T HAVE A TAIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
SHERLOCK HOLMES RIDDLE
JOHN AND MARY WERE IN A SEALED ROOM DEAD. WHEN YOU
WALK INTO THE ROOM YOU SEE A PUDDLE OF WATER, BROKEN
GLASS AND A CAT. WHO KILLED JOHN AND MARY?
-- THE CAT, JOHN AND MARY WERE GOLDFISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): FISH CAT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
Omen
A cat on board a ship will keep death and disaster away.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by T.R. Davidson
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; TORONTO
Keyword(s): CAT ; DEATH ; Disaster ; Nautical ; OMEN ; PREVENTION ; Ship
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Nine Times Tables
Easy way to multiply by nine:
1x9=9
2x9=18
3x9=27
4x9=36
5x9=45
6x9=54
7x9=63
8x9=72
9x9=81
Count from one to eight for the first didgits top down, and then again from the bottom up (for the second digits).
Data entry tech comment:
Possible name variations for Collector: Cuisloh, Crisloh, Cisloh
Possible name variations for Informant: Frabiky, Frabilsy, Zrabiky, Zrabilsy
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; Calculation ; Cheat ; COUNTING ; MATHEMATICS ; MULTIPLICATION ; Multiplication Tables ; NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Numbers System of counting Calculation |
Belief
If you drop salt on the floor, shake salt over your left shoulder or there will be a catastrophe of fire or disappointment.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Various Boggs number classifications written down and crossed out:
P686
P860 = Use of Object
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CATASTROPHE ; DISAPPOINTMENT ; FIRE ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17 |
Belief
If you drop salt on the floor, shake salt over your left shoulder or there will be a catastrophe of fire or disappointment.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Various Boggs number classifications written down and crossed out:
P686
P860 = Use of Object
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CATASTROPHE ; DISAPPOINTMENT ; FIRE ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: |
A woman was in church praying to the Blessed Mother. Suddenly she heard a voice say, "My name is Jesus." The woman did not answer, but only prayed harder. Again the voice sounded. The woman turned around, looked, and continued praying. Again in happened. The woman was then very angry and said "Keep Quiet! Can't you see I am talking to your mother?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs entered by TRD
Where learned: SCHOOL ; Myself
Keyword(s): Catholic ; CATHOLICISM ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS IN
COUNTY SLIGO, IRELAND HAS A LUMP IN THE MIDDLE AND THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT ONE DAY THE DEVIL TOOK A BITE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPIT
IT AT CASHEL.
Submitter comment:
KATHY HEARD THIS FROM AN IRISHMAN WHILE HITCH-HIKING FROM CORK
TO LIMERICK IN IRELAND. CASHEL IS A ROCK ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET
HIGH WITH A RUIN OF A CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL ON IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS
ONCE THE SEAT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS BUT AM NOT SURE. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THE MAN WHO TOLD KATHY BELIEVED IT BUT KATHY DOESN'T.
Data entry tech comment:
Additional (non-numbered) Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Please make a copy. Label it B472] - handwritten at the bottom of the card.
The original Boggs Number [P400] is crossed out and B425 and B472 are written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PARTY
Keyword(s): Castle ; Cathedral ; DEVIL ; GEOLOGY ; IRELAND ; IRISH BELIEF ; MOUNTAIN ; NATURE ; Pagan ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS LEGEND ; Rock ; Rock Formation
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
A woman was in church praying to the Blessed Mother. Suddenly she heard a voice say, "My name is Jesus." The woman did not answer, but only prayed harder. Again the voice sounded. The woman turned around, looked, and continued praying. Again in happened. The woman was then very angry and said "Keep Quiet! Can't you see I am talking to your mother?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs entered by TRD
Where learned: SCHOOL ; Myself
Keyword(s): Catholic ; Catholocism ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: |
The Clever Chef
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
There once was a king who demanded that his chef prepare him a different type of meat for each principle meal. when the chef ran out of meats it would mean his death.
Quite naturally, the king soon ran out of chefs and volunteers for the job were few and far between. in fact, things got so bad that the king had to draft his subjects into the job. One of these peasants got drafted and day after day he prepared a different type of meat. However, as time went by, he began to run out of choices. Finally the day arrived when he had none. In desperation, he went to the palace barn at milking time and collected the cow manure as it was being expelled. That night he served it to the king. Upon tasting it, the king called for the chef in order that he might compliment him on the most delicious meat of all. When asked where it came from, the chef replied "it is that which hasn't fallen, your majesty."
Submitter comment:
This is translated from Polish and I feel it has lost its humor in translation.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
A grammatical correction was made to the Collector's spelling: Changing it's to its.
Original Boggs Number [B665] has been crossed out and B646 is written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Class ; COOKING ; Deception ; FECES ; Fool ; IGNORANCE ; King ; Peasant ; ROYALTY ; Scat ; SCATOLOGICAL ; Scatological Humor ; Social Class ; Trickery ; Wit
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Caught
Three men: a Catholic, Jew and Protestant; were digging a ditch in front of a house of inequity. They looked up and saw the Rabbi coming down the street. The Rabbi stopped in front of the house, looked both ways and ran up the steps. When this happened the Catholic and Protestant really gave it to the Jew. A little later, the Protestant minister came down the street, stopped in front of the house, looked both ways and ran up the steps. Well now it was the Protestant's turn to be razzed. A little later the three saw a Catholic priest walk up to the front of the house, look both ways and run up the steps. The Catholic man yelled "There must be somebody sick in there!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO PROSTITUTION ; Catholic ; HUMOR ; Jewish ; JOKE ; PROSTITUTION ; Protestant ; RELIGION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Spelling Aid
Arithmetic: A Rat In Tom's House May Eat Tom's Ice Cream.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
BN V300 and MNEM chosen due to previous/existing classification of such entries using the same mnemonic device.
James Callow comment:
Original BN [A784] Crossed out and replaced with the term Mnemonic Device.
Submission Card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; MATHEMATICS ; MEMORY ; Mnemonic Device ; SPELLING
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Spelling Aid
Geography - George Eats Old Gray Rats And Paints Houses Yellow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TR.Davidson
V300 and MNEM chosen due to previous entries of similar or exact substance using these classifications.
James Callow comment:
Original BN [A784] crossed out and the term mnemonic device is written next to it.
Submission card was located in a pile markled To Be Classified.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; GEOGRAPHY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device ; SPELLING
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Entry filtered.
Mnemonic Device
A mnemonic Device for remembering the names of the Great Lakes:
H.O.M.E.S.
----------
H.uron
O.ntario
M.ichigan
E.rie
S.uperior
Submitter comment:
It is rather vague where, when or who I learned this from, But I do remember it!
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: OHIO ; FOURTH GRADE CLASS ; Teacher ; Brownhelm School
Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; GEOGRAPHY ; GREAT LAKES ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Entry filtered.
Mnemonic Device
-Vibgyor-
One of my art teachers tried to make it easier for us to remember colors and their place on the color wheel so she introduced to us -vibgyor-pronounced vib-gee-or.
Submitter comment:
This method works every time - I now remember them (the colors).
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile labeled To Be Classified.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ART ; COLOR ; EDUCATION ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Entry filtered.
