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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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ITALIAN WOMEN

WHAT DO THEY CALL A BATHTUB FULL OF ITALIAN WOMEN?
THE BAY OF PIGS.

Submitter comment: THE BAY OF PIGS HAS SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS JOKE, BECAUSE
THERE IS ACTUALLY A PLACE HAVING THAT NAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ATTEMPT TO OVERTHROW CUBA'S CASTRO. ; CUBA ; KENNEDY'S PRESIDENCY, ALLUDING TO FAILURE OF ; POLITICAL REFERENCE TO INCIDENT DURING JOHN F.

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
ITAL

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FIRST, HAVE THE PREGNANT WOMAN LIE DOWN. NEXT YOU GET A
SEWING NEEDLE, TIE A PIECE OF STRING THROUGH THE "EYE" OF
THE NEEDLE. NOW YOU ARE TO HOLD THE STRING AT THE
END ALLOWING THE NEEDLE TO SWING FREE. YOU HOLD THE
NEEDLE OVER THE ABDOMEN OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN AND WATCH
THE ROTATION OF THE NEEDLE. IF THE NEEDLE SWINGS
VERTICALLY, THE CHILD WILL BE A BOY. IF THE NEEDLE SWINGS
HORIZONTALLY, THE CHILD WILL BE A GIRL. YOU SHOULD BE
STANDING AT HER FEET TO WATCH THE DIRECTION OF THE SWING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIAGRAMS OF HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY ON 5 X 8 CARD.

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth

Date learned: 12-06-1967

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MULTIPLICATION IS VEXATION,
DIVISION IS AS BAD,
THE RULE OF THREE DOTH PUZZLE ME,
AND PRACTICE DRIVES ME MAD.

Submitter comment: WRITTEN IN HER MOTHER'S ARITHMETIC BOOK FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO
DATED 1957.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DIALOGUE ; HUMOR ; MATHEMATICS ; QUATRAIN

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wisecracks, Gags, Silly Insults

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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FLYLEAF VERSE

HAIL, HAIL, BYRON'S IN JAIL.
TAFT IS ELECTED JUST AS WE EXPECTED.

Submitter comment:

THE ABOVE WAS FOUND IN MR. FINK'S "POWERS GRADED SPELLER"
COPYRIGHTED IN 1905, IN HIS OWN HANDWRITING ON THE BACK
COVER OF THE TEXT.

Data entry tech comment:

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHANT ; ELECTIONS ; INSULT ; POLITICIANS ; PRESIDENTS ; RIDICULE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wisecracks, Gags, Silly Insults

Date learned: 09-17-1969

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

WHEN YOUR DAYS ON EARTH ARE ENDED,
AND THE PATH MO MORE YOU TROD,
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN
IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF GOD.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AT ST. LUKES'S SCHOOL, DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ASSONANCE ; DIVINE RECOGNITION ; HEAVENLY AFTERLIFE ; PIOUS ; QUATRAIN ; RELIGION ; SINCERITY ; WISH

James Callow Keyword(s): ANAPESTIC AND IAMBIC METER ; RHYME: ABCB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Pious reflection

Date learned: 09-19-1967

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL

REMEMBER THE GIRL FROM THE CITY
REMEMBER THE GIRL FROM THE TOWN
BUT REMEMBER THE GIRL WHO SPOILED THIS BOOK
BY WRITING UPSIDE DOWN.

Where learned: HOME ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): BOAST ; FRIENDSHIP ; HUMOR ; INDIRECTION ; QUATRAIN ; REMEMBRANCE

James Callow Keyword(s): AMPHIMACERS IN FIRST LINE ; METER: ANAPESTIC ; TYPOGRAPHICAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Reading or writing backwards, upside down

Date learned: 10-22-1968

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AUTOGRAPH VERSE

IF YOU SEE A MONKEY UP IN A TREE,
PULL HIS TAIL AND THINK OF ME.

Submitter comment: FROM HER AUTOGRAPH BOOK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): COUPLET ; HUMOR ; REMEMBRANCE ; SURPRISE ENDING

James Callow Keyword(s): METER: IAMBS ; RHYME: AA ; RHYME: INTERNAL ; SELF-CRITICISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me

Date learned: 00-00-1938

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WRITTEN VERSE

HAD I THE HEAVEN'S EMBRIODERD CLOTHS,
ENWROUGHT WITH GOLDEN AND SILVER LIGHT,
THE BLUE AND THE DIM AND THE DARK CLOTHS,
OF NIGHT AND LIGHT AND THE HALF LIGHT,
I WOULD SPREAD THE CLOTHS UNDER YOUR FEET,
BUT I, BEING POOR, HAVE ONLY MY DREAMS;
I HAVE SPREAD MY DREAMS UNDER YOUR FEET,
TREAD SOFTLY, BECAUSE YOU TREAD ON MY DREAMS.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS WRITTEN IN MY MOTHER'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK WHEN SHE WAS
VISITING ENGLAND IN 1937.

Where learned: ENGLAND

Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; SERIOUSNESS

James Callow Keyword(s): DREAMS ; FUNCTION ; METAPHOR ; POETIC DICTION ; REPETITION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment

Date learned: 00-00-1937

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WHEN TWILIGHT DRAWS HER CURTAIN
AND PINS IT WITH A STAR.
REMEMBER YOU HAVE A FRIEND
NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO.

Where learned: NONE GIVEN

Keyword(s): FRIENDLY ; METER: IAMBS ; METER: TRISYLLABIC FOOT ; POETIC DICTION ; PROMISE OF FRIENDSHIP ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME:ABCD ; STARS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C768 C768.14

Date learned: 03-28-1960

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"CURTAINS OF EVENING"

"WHEN EVENING PULLS ITS CURTAINS BACK
AND PINS THEM WITH A STAR.
KNOW THAT I'LL REMEMBER YOU
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE."

Submitter comment: SIGNED BY ALDENE COTE, LATELY OF MIAMI, FLA.,
TO A PHOTO OF HERSELF, GIVEN TO ME.

Keyword(s): FRIENDLY ; FRIENDSHIP ; METER: IAMBS ; POETIC DICTION ; PROMISE OF REMEMBRANCE ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCB ; STARS ; TWILIGHT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me

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LUCK

A SEA SHELL (SEASHELL) PLACED AT THE FRONT DOOR INVITES LUCK
TO ENTER THE HOUSE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN OR WHERE HE LEARNED

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SALTWATER MOLLUSKS

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-25-1967

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ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR GOOD LUCK

IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM TO PUT SALT IN A HOUSE A FEW DAYS
BEFORE MOVING IN AND THIS WILL BRING THE OCCUPANT GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17

Date learned: 01-16-1968

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BAD LUCK PREVENTION: (ITALIAN)-SALT

TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM ENTERING A HOUSE, PLACE SALT IN LITTLE
BAGS AND PUT THE BAGS IN THE CORNERS OF THE ROOMS WHERE NO ONE SEES
THEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD TO DO THIS WHEN A NEW BABY ARRIVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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BELIEF

IF SOMEONE COMES IN THE FRONT DOOR AND LEAVES BY THE BACK DOOR IN
IRELAND IT WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THE HOUSE, BECAUSE THE PERSON
TOOK ALL THE GOOD LUCK OUT WITH HIM.

Submitter comment: THE POLICE USED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME IN IRELAND JUST
TO DISTURB THE WOMEN.

Where learned: LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; IRISH BELIEF

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2

Date learned: 11-15-1968

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN YOU ENTER A HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME EXIT THROUGH THE SAME
DOOR YOU ENTERED, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.21

Date learned: 03-25-1967

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INSIDE OUT

IF YOU PUT SOMETHING ON INSIDE OUT DON'T CHANGE IT OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT ACTUALLY SAID THIS ON SUCH AN OCCASION.

Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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WHEN YOU SEE A CHIMNEY SWEEP, QUICKLY PULL OFF A BUTTON FROM YOUR
CLOTHING TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT FOUND THIS AMUSING BUT IMPRACTICAL.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: 10-08-1971

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BAD LUCK

IF, IN PLAYING CARDS, YOU HAVE BAD LUCK, A WALK AROUND THE CHAIR
WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; GAMES: CARDS ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.6

Date learned: 11-01-1967

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WHAT IS FULL OF WATER AND YET IT'S FULL OF HOLES?
A SPONGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL CONTRADICTIVE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 04-00-1968

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BLOODY BONES

THERE WAS THIS LITTLE BOY AND HIS MOTHER SENT HIM TO
THE STORE TO GET SOME LIVER. BUT INSTEAD THE LITTLE
BOY BOUGHT CANDY. ON HIS WAY HOME HE PASSED A GRAVEYARD
AND DECIDED TO GO DIG UP A LIVER TO TAKE HOME. HE CAME
TO A HEADSTONE WITH THE NAME BLOODY BONES ON IT AND BEGAN
TO DIG. AT DINNER, EVERYONE RAVED ABOUT HOW GOOD THE
LIVER WAS. AFTER DINNER EVERYONE WENT TO BED, BUT WHILE
THE BOY WAS SLEEPING HE HEARD A VOICE. THE VOICE SAID,
"BLOODY BONES GONNA GET YA TONIGHT. BLOODY BONES IN
YOUR CLOSET TONIGHT." FRIGHTENED, THE BOY RAN INTO THE
KITCHEN, BUT THE VOICE FOLLOWED AND SAID, "BLOODY BONES
GONNA GET YA TONIGHT. BLOODY BONES IN THE KITCHEN TONIGHT."
HE TRIED TO ESCAPE BY GOING INTO HIS PARENTS' ROOM BUT
BLOODY BONES FOLLOWED HIM. FINALLY, BLOODY BONES KILLED
HIM AND TOOK HIS LIVER.

Submitter comment: THE STORY WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT TO FRIGHTEN HER INTO
OBEYING. IF SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG HER GRANDFATHER
WOULD SAY, "BLOODY DONES GONNA GET YA!"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPENSATION AND POETIC JUSTICE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale

Date learned: 04-00-1983

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