Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Rag returned 48 results.
DIVINATION OF DESTINY
WHEN A BABY IS VERY YOUNG PLACE A COIN, BEER AND A ROSARY WITHIN THE
REACH OF THE BABY. IF THE BABY FIRST REACHES FOR THE COIN, IT WILL
ALWAYS HAVE MONEY. IF IT REACHES FOR THE BEER IT WILL FAVOR THE
DRINK. IF IT FIRST REACHES FOR THE ROSARY THE BABY IS DESTINED TO
BECOME RELIGIOUS.
Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS GIVEN TO MRS. CHESNEY BY MATILDA MELLON, HER MOTHER, WHO WAS AN IRISH IMMIGRANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; SYMBOLS ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 09-16-1975
THE FOLLOWING IS A SONG THAT IS SUNG WHILE DRINKING BEER:
"IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER,
THAT'S WHY WE DRINK IT HERE.
AND WHEN WE ARE GONE FROM HERE
OUR FRIENDS WILL BE DRINKING ALL THE BEER."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; CHIASMUS ; DRINKING SONG ; RHYME: AAAA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
THE FOLLOWING IS A VERSE THE RESPONDENT LEARNED FROM A CUSTOMER WHO
SAID IT WAS AN OLD MEXICAN SAYING:
"HE WHO DRINKS GETS DRUNK;
HE WHO GETS DRUNK GOES TO SLEEP;
HE WHO GOES TO SLEEP DOES NOT SIN;
HE WHO DOES NOT SIN GOES TO HEAVEN;
SO LETS ALL DRINK AND GO TO HEAVEN."
Where learned: DETROIT ; PAT SULLIVANS TAVERN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; CUMULATIVE FORMULA ; RATIONALIZATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Food Drink C855.447 |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
THE FOLLOWING VERSE IS INSCRIBED ON A SIGN AT THE ENTRANCE OF PAT
SULLIVAN'S TAVERN:
"COME TARRY HERE
AND WELCOME BE
AND QUAFF THE
FOAMING BREW.
A FRIENDLY WORD,
A SMILE, A SONG,
WILL CHEER THE
HEART OF YOU."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PAT SULLIVANS TAVERN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; COMARADERIE ; IRREGULAR RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Food Drink C855.447 |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
IN A BAR, IF A CUSTOMER PUTS HIS EMPTY GLASS ALONGSIDE THE WOODEN
EDGE OF THE COUNTER IT SIGNALS TO THE BARTENDER THAT HE WILL HAVE
ANOTHER OF WHAT HE HAS BEEN DRINKING. THE BARTENDER WILL
AUTOMATICALLY BRING THE DRINK, VERBAL TRANSACTIONS ARE NOT NECESSARY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PAT SULLIVANS TAVERN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion Food Drink -- MenuService Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
DRINKING STROHS BEER, MORE SO THAN INBIBING ANY OTHER BREW, WILL
RESULT IN THE PERSON GETTING A HANGOVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; PROPAGANDA
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
"BAR TIME" IS THE TIME ON CLOCKS IN BARS AND LOUNGES. IT IS ALWAYS
FAST, USUALLY TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES SO. THIS IS TO PROVIDE
INSURANCE THAT THE BARTENDER DOES NOT SERVE ANY DRINKS AFTER THE
TIME SPECIFIED BY THE LIQUOR LAWS OF THE LOCALE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PAT SULLIVANS TAVERN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS NOT ALLOWED ENTRANCE INTO A DRINKING
ESTABLISHMENT BECAUSE OF SOME PREVIOUS MISDOINGS IS SAID TO BE
"BARRED" FROM THE PREMISES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PAT SULLIVANS TAVERN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; SLANG
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
A "SHELL" IS A GLASS OF DRAFT BEER. WHEN DRAFT BEER IS POURED IN
LARGER GOBLET LIKE GLASSES IT IS CALLED A "BOOMBA."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PAT SULLIVANS TAVERN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; SLANG
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
GOOD DEEDS
"GOOD DEEDS SPEAK OF THEMSELVES. THE TONGUE ONLY INTERRUPTS THEIR
ELOQUENCE."
Submitter comment: SEMINARY PROVERB.
Where learned: SAINT JOSAPHAT SEMINARY ; WASHINGTON DC
Keyword(s): BRAGGING
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
PROVERB
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED TRY, TRY AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DISCOURAGEMENT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
It was the custom of young Cuban boys who were trying
to prove their manhood to dive into the waters of Havana
Harbor,near the old prison, and ride the sharks. It was
said that the sharks frequented the harbor because political
prisoners were placed in an underwater dungeon to be eaten
by the sharks.
Submitter comment:
This need to confront death and danger in order to establish
"machismo" is also seen in such activities as bullfighting.
This story was told to Carmen by her father, Gustavo Sebastian
Albore', who was very proud that he had been brave enough to
ride the sharks. Gustavo was proud also of his Castillian
Spanish parents, since in his mind, to be "Cuban"
meant to be black. He always, therefore, referred to himself
as "Castillian" whenever someone asked him his nationality.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NEW ROCHELLE
Keyword(s): Courage, test, Hispanic, rite-of-passage
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: 00001930S
Fish trap don make noise, but it do good work.
Submitter comment:
A person's effectiveness is not measured by the amount of
noise he makes but by his accomplishments.
Where learned: VIRGIN ISLANDS ; Saint Thomas
Keyword(s): don = don't
James Callow Keyword(s): BRAGGING ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
You must avoid stepping on cracks in the ground and sidewalk or
you'll break your mother's back.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Tragedy
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950S
I was told that when you can smell watermelon and there's none
around it usually means a snake is near.
Submitter comment: My mother had this scary look on her face.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): Fragrances
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEW YORK STATE, A YOUNG ENGINEER
WAS TRYING TO PURCHASE AN OLD TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE.
THE OWNER TOLD HIM THAT THE PLANE HAD BEEN BURNT
DOWN TO THE SKELETON OF THE PLANE YEARS BEFORE.
THE PLANE BURNT QUICK BECAUSE IT WAS A FABRIC-
COVERED PLANE. THE ENGINEER STARTED THE PLANE UP WITH
THE HELP OF THE OWNER AND THEN HE SAT ALONE IN THE
COCKPIT READING THE GAUGES. SUDDENLY, A MAN WITH AN
OLD BROWN FLIGHT JACKET AND LEATHER HELMET TAPPED
HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, "GET OUT QUICK, PLANE'S
ON FIRE!" THE ENGINEER JUMPED OUT AND RAN FROM THE
PLANE. WHEN HE TURNED AROUND NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE
SMOLDERING SKELETON.
WHEN THE OWNER ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN HE
RETURNED, THE ENGINEER TOLD THE WHOLE STORY AND
DESCRIBED THE MAN WHO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THE
OWNER REPLIED, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BROTHER." THE
ENGINEER THEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. THE OWNER
THEN SAID, "HE DIED WHEN THE PLANE BURNT THE FIRST
TIME YEARS BEFORE!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): REPEATED TRAGEDY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEW YORK STATE, A YOUNG ENGINEER
WAS TRYING TO PURCHASE AN OLD TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE.
THE OWNER TOLD HIM THAT THE PLANE HAD BEEN BURNT
DOWN TO THE SKELETON OF THE PLANE YEARS BEFORE.
THE PLANE BURNT QUICK BECAUSE IT WAS A FABRIC-
COVERED PLANE. THE ENGINEER STARTED THE PLANE UP WITH
THE HELP OF THE OWNER AND THEN HE SAT ALONE IN THE
COCKPIT READING THE GAUGES. SUDDENLY, A MAN WITH AN
OLD BROWN FLIGHT JACKET AND LEATHER HELMET TAPPED
HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, "GET OUT QUICK, PLANE'S
ON FIRE!" THE ENGINEER JUMPED OUT AND RAN FROM THE
PLANE. WHEN HE TURNED AROUND NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE
SMOLDERING SKELETON.
WHEN THE OWNER ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN HE
RETURNED, THE ENGINEER TOLD THE WHOLE STORY AND
DESCRIBED THE MAN WHO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THE
OWNER REPLIED, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BROTHER." THE
ENGINEER THEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. THE OWNER
THEN SAID, "HE DIED WHEN THE PLANE BURNT THE FIRST
TIME YEARS BEFORE!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): REPEATED TRAGEDY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A GREAT MAN. ITS {SIC} JUST AN ORDINARY
MAN PUT INTO AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION.
Keyword(s): COURAGE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-30-1967
RETORT
WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU IF YOU HAVE A MATCH, YOU CHEERILY ANSWER BACK:
"YEAH, DAFFY DUCK AND SPIRO AGNEW." OR "SURE -- ME AND SUPERMAN."
Submitter comment: I OBTAINED THIS ONE WITHOUT EVEN ASKING FOR IT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT
James Callow Keyword(s): BRAG BOAST ; CARTOON CHARACTER DAFFY DUCK ANIMAL ; VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: SPIRO AGNEW
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Draft beer not students.
Submitter comment:
Sit-ins.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Common saying at sit-ins and picket lines.]
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
KW:5ZM
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; BEER ; Beverages ; COLLEGE ; DRINK ; DRINKING ; Picket Line ; Protest ; Sit-In ; Students
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |