Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Sure returned 45 results.
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
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
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
Entry filtered.
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
RIDDLE
Q: HOW FAR CAN YOU GO INTO THE WOODS?
A: HALFWAY, BECAUSE THEN YOU START COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)
Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 |
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
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
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
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 |