Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RIDDLE QUESTION
IF A BIRD FLYS HALFWAY INTO THE FOREST, HOW FAR IS IT
TO THE OTHER END?
-- HALFWAY
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): DISTANCE MEASUREMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
RIDDLE
HOW FAR CAN YOU GO INTO THE WOODS?
-- HALFWAY AFTER THAT YOU WILL BE LEAVING.
Keyword(s): DISTANCE DIRECTION MEASURMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
RIDDLE
HOW LONG IS A PIECE OF STRING?
-- TWICE AS LONG AS IT IS FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE END.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN KINDE, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): DISTANCE MEASURMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-10-1967
RIDDLE
HOW MUCH DIRT IS THERE IN A WHOLE FIVE FEET DEEP?
-- NONE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): MEASURMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-30-1967
HOLES
HOW MUCH DIRT IS THERE IN A HOLE 2 INCHES DEEP AND 2 INCHES
IN DIAMETER?
-- THERE AIN'T NO DIRT IN A HOLE, STUPID!
Keyword(s): MEASURMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-00-1970
RIDDLE
WHY CAN'T IT RAIN FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW?
-- THERE IS ALWAYS A NIGHT IN BETWEEN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): WEATHER TIME
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
RIDDLE
HOW MANY MONTHS HAVE 28 DAY?
-- ALL OF THEM
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): TIME CALENDAR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-26-1968
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHAT TIME IS IT WHEN THE CLOCK SAYS THIRTEEN O'CLOCK?
ANSWER: TIME TO GET THE CLOCK FIXED.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): CLOCK (Q) ; TIME (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHAT TIME IS IT WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13?
ANSWER: TIME TO GET THE CLOCK FIXED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CLOCK (Q) ; TIME (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
QUESTION: IF I HAD ONE THOUSAND MEN AND YOU HAD ONE THOUSAND
MEN AND WE WERE AT WAR, WHO WOULD WIN?
LISTENER: I GIVE UP.
ANSWER: I WOULD BECAUSE YOU JUST GAVE UP.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
RIDDLE
QUESTION: IF YOU HAD 1,000 MEN AND I HAD 1,000 MEN AND WE
WERE AT WAR, WHO WOULD WIN?
LISTENER: I GIVE UP.
ANSWER: I WIN. YOU JUST GAVE UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
JOHN C. WOBBLESQUAW
HE WAS MY FATHER,S GREAT, GREAT, GRANDFATHER ON HIS MOTHER,S SIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, HE BUILT MACKINAC ISLAND.
HE HAD A GIRLFRIEND ACROSS THE STRAITS, AND HE USED TO LIKE TO SEE
HER, SO HE WOULD SWIM ACROSS THE STRAITS. HE SAW LITTLE WHITE STONES
ON THE LOWER PENINSULA SIDE AND HE USED TO TAKE THEM TO HER.
NOW HE WAS A STRONG FELLOW, BUT HE TIRED WITH ALL THE STONES WHILE
SWIMMING, SO HE USED TO DUMP THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STRAITS.
THIS WAS A HOT ROMANCE, BUT HE COULDN,T GET ACROSS THE STRAITS WITH
SOME MORE STONES. THAT,S HOW HE BUILT MACKINAC ISLAND. BECAUSE IF YOU
GO THERE TODAY, YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE WHITE STONES IN THE SAND.
or something like that.
Where learned: MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; STONES USED TO MAKE BRIDGE NOW A HISTORIC PATH ; STONES USED TO MAKE BRIDGE OF LOVE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 00001968 FALL
Language
Tongue Twister Verse:
As I was passing through Arkansas, I saw a saw that could outsaw any saw I ever saw.
So, if you're ever passing through Arkansas and see a saw that can outsaw the saw I saw, I'd like to see the saw you saw as you were passing through Arkansas.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Alternative possible spelling of Collector's last name: Datson, Datser
James Callow comment:
Already typewritten as Prose.
Keyword(s): Arkansas ; Detroit ; GAME ; Language ; Prose ; PUZZLE ; Saw ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE
James Callow Keyword(s): Prose ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Retort
Age before beauty.
Beauty was a horse.
Submitter comment:
Heard during college days
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; Black ; COMEBACK ; HORSE ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
What do you wnat? Eggs in your beer?
Submitter comment:
I heard this repeatedly when playing baseball in childhood days.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Something besides this must come first?
Usually in Singular?
Keyword(s): BEER ; COMEBACK ; Eggs ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Smart Aleck Saying:
Deaf in one ear, and can't hear in the other.
Data entry tech comment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_folklorists
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DEAF ; Ear ; Hearing ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
A) "You dance very well."
B) "I wish I could say the same about you."
A) "Oh, you could, if you were as big a fibber as I am!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Retort? Double A! A gives the punch line, not B.
The original Title [Smart Aleck Saying] has been crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DANCE ; Fibber ; INSULT ; Liar ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Language
Tongue Twister:
Betty Botta bought some butter. "But," she said, "this butter's bitter. If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter. But a bit o' better butter will but make my batter better." So she bought a bit o' butter, better than the bitter butter, made her bitter batter better. So 'twas better Betty Botta bought a bit o' better butter.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Something similar (but shorter) already typed as prose.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; Baking ; Batter ; Butter ; COOKING ; Dearborn Heights ; GAME ; Language ; MICHIGAN ; Prose ; PUZZLE ; Redford ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE
James Callow Keyword(s): Prose ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Potus Sack
In Ireland, people wear potus sacks around their neck to ward off illness.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Holistic ; ILLNESS ; IRELAND ; MEDICINE ; Potus
James Callow Keyword(s): ILLNESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Belief
Take a large piece of Alum and put it in your back pocket and it will cure anything.
Data entry tech comment:
Contributed to Folklore Archive; December 1967.
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Patient
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CURE ; DOCTOR ; Medicinal ; MINERAL ; Patient
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral |