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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: KAS VAIKSCIAJA RYTAZ KETURIOMIS, DIENAZ DXAEM, O VAKARE TRIMYS
KOJOMIS? - WHAT WALKS ON FOUR LEGS IN THE MORNING, TWO DURING THE
DAY, AND ON THREE IN THE EVENING.
A: TMOGUS - A MAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PERSONS (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-07-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHO WALKS ON FOUR FEET IN THE MORNING, ON TWO FEET AT NOON,
AND ON THREE IN THE EVENING?
A: MAN. AS A CHILD HE CRAWLS ON ALL FOURS; AS AN ADULT HE WALKS ON
TWO; AND IN HIS OLD AGE HE WALKS LEANING ON A STICK.

Submitter comment: ORIGIN: FROM HIS NEIGHBOR MR. SOL FRIEDMAN

Data entry tech comment: 7 OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: FITZGERALD PLAYGROUND

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PARTS OF THE

James Callow Keyword(s): SOPHOCLES

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 07-29-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS 6 LEGS, FOUR EYES, AND ONE TAIL?
A: A MAN RIDING A HORSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Entry filtered.

TRUE RIDDLE

Q: A MAN TAKES AN ELEVATOR TO THE 5TH FLOOR OF A TALL BUILDING AND
THEN HE WALKS UP TO THE ELEVENTH FLOOR. WHEN HE FINISHED HIS BUSINESS
HE TAKES THE ELEVATOR DOWN'TO THE FIRST FLOOR. WHY DIDN T HE TAKE
THE ELEVATOR ALL THE WAY UP TO THE 11TH FLOOR?
A: THE MAN WAS A MIDGET AND COULD ONLY REACH THE 5TH FLOOR BUTTON.

Submitter comment:

YES AND NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIDDLE ARE ASKED OF THE RIDDLER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PARTICULAR AREAS

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-26-1969

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: WHAT WEIGHS 2 TONS, HAS 80 FEET, AND SCREAMS?
A: 40 WOMEN CAUGHT IN AN ELEVATOR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-00-1969

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RIDDLE

Q: HOW FAR CAN YOU GO INTO THE WOODS?
A: HALFWAY, BECAUSE THEN YOU START COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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Q: A GOOSE BETWEEN TWO GEESE,/ AND A GOOSE AHEAD OF TWO GEESE,/
AND A GOOSE BEHIND TWO GEESE?/ HOW MANY GEESE WERE THERE?
A: THREE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMALS (Q) ; NUMBERS ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH ; INITIAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 03-13-1968

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TWO, THREE, AND FOUR LEGS RIDDLE

Q: TWO LEGS SAT UPON THREE LEGS,/ WITH ONE LEG IN HIS LAP;/ IN COMES
FOUR LEGS,/ AND RUNS AWAY WITH ONE LEG./ UP JUMPS TWO LEGS,/ CATCHES
UP THREE LEGS,/ THROWS IT AFTER FOUR LEGS,/ AND MAKES HIM BRING BACK
ONE LEG.
A: TWO LEGS, A BOY; THREE LEGS, A STOOL; ONE LEG, A ROAST LEG OF
LAMB; FOUR LEGS, A DOG.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS IN AN OLD MOTHER GOOSE COLORING BOOK WHICH WAS IN THE
ATTIC. THE COVER AND SOME PAGES WERE MISSING. IT IS AT LEAST TEN
YEARS OLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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PORK

IF YOU WERE SENT TO THE STORE FOR A YARD OF
PORK, WHAT WOULD YOU BRING HOME?
THREE PIGS FEET.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE

Keyword(s): ANIMAL MEASUREMENT MAMMAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-22-1967

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VALUE OF SPICEY FOOD

IF YOU EAT HOT PEPPERS AND SPICEY FOODS YOU WON'T HAVE HEART
TROUBLE OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE- LIKE THE ITALIANS.

Submitter comment: BELIEF LEARNED IN HOLLISTER, OHIO FROM PARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD ; HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 05-11-1965

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TELL YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; GIRL CHANGING HER NAME (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)

TELL YOUR MOTHER TO HOLD HER TONGUE,/FOR SHE LIKED BOYS WHEN SHE
WAS YOUNG./ TELL YOUR FATHER TO DO THE SAME,/ FOR HE WAS THE ONE
WHO CHANGED HER NAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CENSURE OF PARENTS ; MARRIAGE ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Girl changing her name

Date learned: 11-03-1968

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SUPERSTITIONS

THERE IS AN ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND: WOODS ISLAND
( INSMARA ) LOCATED IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS THAT WAS A BASE FOR
PIRATES. EVERY YEAR THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO FINDS BURIED TREASURE.
IT IS REPORTED THAT THESE LUCKY PEOPLE USE THE ACTUAL MAPS. YOU
BETTER BE CAREFUL IF YOU GO THERE TO DIG FOR TREASURE BECAUSE THERE
ARE STILL THE GHOSTS OF PIRATES WALKING THE ISLAND- MANY OF THEM
WITH HEADS MISSING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BURIED TREASURE.

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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SUPERSTITION

IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU FIND THE END OF THE RAINBOW, YOU
WILL FIND A POT OF GOLD.

Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU

James Callow Keyword(s): TREASURE WEALTH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 00001970S

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UP NORTH, NEAR LAPEER, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A BESPECTACLED
PERSON COMES INTO A WARM HOUSE WALKING BACKWARDS AFTER BEING
OUT IN THE COLD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, HIS GLASSES WILL
NOT FOG UP. NO REASON FOR THIS BELIEF IS GIVEN.

Submitter comment: I HAVE TRIED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT HASN'T WORKED.
WHEN MY COUSIN WENT BACK UP NORTH, HE ASKED AROUND ABOUT
THIS, AND FOUND NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD WORK. HE DID
FIND OUT THAT MOST PEOPLE UP THERE BELIEVED IT. I, BEING
NEARSIGHTED, HAVE FOUND THAT THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO
FOGGED GLASSES IS CONTACT LENSES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH

Keyword(s): GLASSES ; PREVENTIVE MEASURE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-00-1985

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RIDDLE

WHAT DO WEEDS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?
IF YOU GIVE THEM AN INCH THEY WILL TAKE A YARD.

Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK

James Callow Keyword(s): GREED ; MEASUREMENT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 05-00-1990

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WHEN THE WAGERS FAMILY ARRIVED FROM FRANCE IN THE LATE
1700'S, THE TWO BROTHERS WHO IMMIGRATED BOUGHT LAND IN CENTRAL
KENTUCKY. THEY BUILT TWIN PLANTATION HOUSES. DURING THE CIVIL
WAR, A WARFORD DESCENDANT ALLEGEDLY FILLED A HUNTING HORN WITH
MONEY AND HID IT SOMEWHERE ON THE FAMILY'S LAND. NO ONE HAS YET
FOUND THE LEGENDARY MONEY HORN. THE LAND IS NO LONGER HELD BY THE
FAMILY.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER LEARNED OF THIS LEGEND THIS YEAR FROM HER ELDERLY
AUNTS AND AN UNCLE. WHEN SHE AND HER RELATIVES WENT TO VISIT THE
REMAINING HOUSE (THE OTHER BURNED DOWN), THEY WERE GREETED BY THE
CURRENT OWNER WITH "Y'ALL MUST BE WARFORDS!" WHEN MY MOTHER TOLD
ME OF THIS LEGEND SHE ADDED A COMMENT THAT "KNOWING THE LUCK OUR
FAMILY HAS, IF THERE REALLY IS A MONEY HORN, IT'S PROBABLY FILLED
WITH CONFEDERATE MONEY!"

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; IRVINE

Keyword(s): TREASURE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, YOUNGSTERS GREET RELATIVES WITH:
SUB HECK BULL HI, THENIS SPA HAEIA.
THEY GET PAID FOR THIS HOLIDAY GREETING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NOT TOO SURE OF THE SPELLING, DUE TO SLOPPY PRINTING.

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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DO YOU KNOW WHERE TIPPING CAME FROM? WELL, IN ENGLAND
A LONG TIME AGO, THEY HAD A PLATE BY THE DOORS OF
RESTAURANTS AND AS PEOPLE WENT IN, THEY PUT MONEY
IN IT TO INSURE PROMPTNESS. THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THE
MOST MONEY IN GOT THE BEST AND QUICKEST SERVICE.

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): TO INSURE PROMPTNESS--INITIALS=TIP

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Explanation of a name
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 08-06-1968

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JOKE

"HOW FAR CAN A DOG RUN INTO THE WOODS?"
-- "HALF WAY, BECAUSE THE OTHER HALF HE'S RUNNING OUT
OF THE WOODS."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS OLDER BROTHER WHO IS A
SCHOOL TEACHER AND LEARNED IT WHEN HE WAS STILL STUDYING
EDUCATION.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): DISTANCE MEASURE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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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

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