Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NUN returned 36 results.
LIMERICK
THERE WAS A BELLE OF OLD NATCHEZ,
WHOSE GARMENTS WERE ALL SHREDS AND PATCHES.
WHEN COMMENT AROSE
ON THE STATE OF HER CLOTHES,
SHE DRAWLED, "WHEN AH ITCHES, AH SCRATCHES."
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): DIACLECT PRONUNCIATION ; FEMININE RHYME ; HUMOR ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
LIMERICK
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN OF SPOKANE
WHOSE VERSES WOULD NEVER SCAN.
WHEN TOLD THIS WAS SO,
HE SAID "YES, I KNOW,
BUT I ALWAYS TRY TO GET AS MANY WORDS IN THE LAST
LINE AS I CAN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALEXANDRINE FOR HUMOR ; POET ; PROSODY ; RHYME DICTATES PRONUNCIATION OF PLACE NAME ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
TRICKING SPIES
IN WORLD WAR ONE, WHEN SPIES WHO HAD INFILTRATED INTO ENEMY RANKS
WERE CAPTURED. THEY WERE PUT TO THE TEST. WHEN A GERMAN SPY
WHO CLAIMED TO BE FRENCH WAS CAUGHT, HE WAS ASKED TO REPEAT THE
WORD "GRENOUILLE" (FROG), WHICH SHOULD
SOUND SOMEWHAT LIKE GRRUNWEEAH
BUT A GERMAN WOULD ALWAYS SAY GRUNWEEHKH, MAKING A HARSH GUTTURAL
SOUND. SIMILARLY, WHEN A FRENCH SPY WAS CAUGHT BY THE GERMANS, HE
WAS ASKED TO SAY HATHAWAY BUT A FRENCHMAN COULD ONLY SUCCEED IN
SAYING HASSAWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; SAINT MARYS RECTORY
Keyword(s): PRONUNCIATION OF FOREIGN WORDS REVEALS IDENTITY AND NATIONALITY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
THE BROLGA
THE BROLGA OR AUSTRALIAN CRANE
HOLDS DANCING ORGIES ON THE PLAIN;
AND STUDENTS OF THE RUSSIAN BALLET
HAVE CREPT IN CROWDS ACROSS THE MALLEE
FAR BEYOND THE DESERT GRASSES
TO WHERE THE BROLGA HOLDS ITS CLASSES;
AND MANY A MOTIF FOR THE LEG
HAS EMANATED FROM AN EGG.
BUT CERTAIN PURISTS DO NOT CARE
FOR SUCH TECHNIQUE AND PRUDES DECLARE
SPECIFIC MOVEMENTS OF THE BROLGA
UNACADEMIC, IF NOT VOLGA.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ASSONANCE ; DANCE ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.444 |
THE ECHIDNA
THE MALE ECHIDNA WITH ITS MATE
SURVIVES THE MOST PRECARIOUS STATE;
HE ROLLS HER, HAIR AND SPINES AND ALL
INTO AN EENZY-WEENZY BALL--
AND BURIES HER; AND IN THIS WAY
PROVIDES AGAINST A RAINY DAY.
BUT, LIKE AS NOT, THIS SAME ECHIDNA
FORGETS JUST IF, OR WHERE, HE'S HID NA.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: AABB ; SLANG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442 |
Date learned: CA10001968
Entry filtered.
RIDDLE QUESTION
WHAT DID GEORGE WASHINGTON SAY WHEN HIS FATHER ASKED WHO CHOPPED
DOWN THE CHERRY TREE?
HE SAID, "I CANNOT TELL A LIE, POPEYE DID IT."
Submitter comment: "POPEYE" IS A PUN ON "POP, I" THEREFORE A DOUBLE MEANING
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; GEORGE WASHINGTON ; HISTORICAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
ELEPHANT JOKE
QUESTION: WHAT DID THE GRAPE SAY WHEN THE ELEPHANT STEPPED ON IT?
ANSWER: NOTHING, IT JUST LET OUT A LITTLE WHINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; RIDDLE JOKE: ELEPHANTS
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON WINE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-10-1968
RIDDLE
WHY IS A RIVER RICH?
ANSWER: BECAUSE IT HAS TWO BANKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; RIDDLING QUESTION
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON BANK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
IF YOU PUT THREE DUCKS INTO A BOX, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE?
A BOX OF QUACKERS.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; FOWL: DUCKS ; NUMBERS: THREE
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON CRACKERS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
WHY DOESN'T SWEDEN EXPORT CATTLE?
BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO KEEP HER STOCKHOLM}
Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania
Keyword(s): ANIMALS: CATTLE ; CONUNDRUM
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON STOCK HOME
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GUITAR AND A TUNA FISH?
YOU CAN TUNE A GUITAR, BUT YOU CAN'T TUNE A FISH.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; FISH: TUNA FISH
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-10-1971
RIDDLE
WHY DID THE LITTLE RED HOUSE CALL FOR A DOCTOR?
BECAUSE IT HAD A WINDOW PANE.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON PAIN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
RIDDLE QUESTION
WHAT HAS FOUR WHEELS AND FLIES?
A GARBAGE TRUCK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; INSECTS: FLIES ; PUN ON FLY (INSECT) AND FLY (VERB)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-16-1965
RIDDLE
WHAT DID BEN FRANKLIN SAY WHEN HE DISCOVERED ELECTRICITY?
HOW SHOCKING}
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN ; HISTORICAL ; RIDDLING QUESTION
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
NUNS PRAY TO ST. PATRICK
WHEN NUNS ARE DRIVING IN A CAR AND WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE IN
A HURRY, THEY PRAY TO ST. PATRICK SO THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE
ALL THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS GREEN
Submitter comment:
THIS IS PRACTICED BY THE INFORMANT'S DAUGHTER, WHO IS A NUN,
AND SAID THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE AMONG NUNS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Nuns ; Patron ; Saint ; Saint Patrick ; Saint Patrick ; Traffic
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN