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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK RHYME

IF IN HEAVEN WE DON'T MEET, TOGETHER WE CAN STAND THE HEAT
AND IF IT GETS REALLY HOT, PEPSI COLA HITS THE SPOT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): INDIRECTION FOR HELL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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CLOSED MOUTH

IN A CLOSED MOUTH ENTERS NO FLIES.

Submitter comment: LEARNED: THROUGH HIS STUDY OF SPANISH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE THROUGH INDIRECTION ; SILENCE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 10-05-1967

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GOOD LUCK

ELEPHANTS WITH THEIR TRUNKS RAISED ARE GOOD LUCK. HOWEVER, THEY
ARE NOT IF THEIR TRUNK IS DOWN. THE INFORMANT HAS MANY PIECES OF
ELEPHANT JEWELRY AND ALL HAVE THEIR TRUNKS UP.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD OF THIS GOOD LUCK CHARM IN THE YEAR 1970.
SHE SEEMED TO FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THIS, BUT OFFERED NO CONSEQUENCES
TO HAVING AN ELEPHANT WITH ITS TRUNK DOWN AS GOOD LUCK. PERHAPS
IT IS GOOD LUCK SINCE AN ELEPHANT WITH ITS TRUNK DOWN IS SEEN MORE
OFTEN, MAKING THE OPPOSITE MORE NOVEL AND RARE.
HERE THE POSITION OF THE TRUNK DETERMINES THE DIRECTION OF THE
LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 00-00-1970

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COURTSHIP CUSTOM

THE OLDEST DAUGHTER PUTS THE DOG OUTSIDE. HER FUTURE BOYFRIEND
WILL COME FROM THE DIRECTION THE DOG RUNS.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS IN POLAND AROUND 1910. THIS IS A
COURTSHIP CUSTOM AND SUPERSTITION WITH ELEMENTS OF PREDICTION
INVOLVED. IT SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THE DOG HAS SOME TYPE OF POWER
SINCE HE IS THE INSTRUMENT USED TO FORETELL THE FUTURE.
THIS IS A POSITION DIRECTION INDICATOR OF THE FUTURE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910

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LUCK

ABLACK CAT CROSSING YOUR PATH IN FRONT OF YOU IS BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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LUCK

IF YOU SPILL SALT THROW SOME OVER YOUR LEFT SCHOULDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 00001960S

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IF A CAT CROSSES TO THE LEFT OF YOU IN THE DARK, IT MEANS BAD LUCK

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITOIN DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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IF A BLACK CAT RUNS ACROSS YOUR PATH, WALK BACKWARDS TO THE POINT IN
WHICH IT CROSSED YOU TO UNCROSS THE BAD LUCK SPELL

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 682 682.4
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Bad luck
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 11-14-1980

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WHEN YOU CARRY YOUR BABY HIGH IT WILL BE A BOY AND WHEN YOU CARRY IT
LOW IT WILL BE A GIRL

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEXISM

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 11-14-1980

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FLORIDA SUPERSTITION

"IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH, YOU SHOULD WALK THE OTHER WAY
TO PREVENT BAD LUCK".

Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S

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ALABAMA SUPERSTITION

"IF YOU SPILL SALT, YOU SHOULD THROW SOME OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER
TO BRING GOOD LUCK".

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS ITEM AS A CHILD IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
FROM HIS MOTHER, CIRCA 1928. SHE FIRST LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER
IN ALABAMA CIRCA 1900.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; DETROIT ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 11-22-1980 ; 00-00-1928 ; 00-00-1900

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SUPERSTITIONS

THE OPEN END OF A PILLOWCASE HAD TO BE ON THE OUTSIDE. IT WAS BAD
LUCK IF OTHERWISE.

Submitter comment: I WAS VERY INTRIGUED BY THIS SUPERSTITION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1980

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IN DETERMINING THE SEX OF A CHILD, THE GREEKS SPRINKLE SALT ON THE
BACK OF A WOMAN'S HEAD, IF SHE SCRATCHES THE LEFT SIDE, THEN SHE
WILL HAVE A GIRL. IF SHE SCRATCHES THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER HEAD,
THEN SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.

Submitter comment: I WAS ENTHRALLED BY THIS TECHNIQUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 00-00-1980

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AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURE

WHEN THE LEAVES OF YOUR ALBUM
ARE YELLOW WITH AGE,
AND THE NAME I WROTE ON THIS PAGE IS DIM,
STILL THINK OF ME KINDLY AND DO NOT FORGET,
THAT WHEREVER I AM,
I REMEMBER YOU YET.

Where learned: NORTH DAKOTA

Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; INDIRECTION ; PROMISE OF REMEMBRANCE ; REMEMBRANCE ; SERIOUSNESS ; SINCERITY

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; INSTRUCTIONS ; METER: ANAPESTS ; METER: IAMBS ; RHYME:

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me

Date learned: 00-00-1929

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VERSE

ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLACK
YOU WOULD LOOK BETTER
WITH A KNIFE IN YOUR BACK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; FLOWERS ; HOSTILITY ; INDIRECTION ; INSULT ; KNIVES ; METER: ANAPESTS ; METER: IAMBS ; METER: TROCHEES ; QUATRAIN ; RESENTMENT ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations

Date learned: 11-22-1968

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AUTOGRAPH ON FRIENDSHIP

IN CENTRAL PARK THERE IS A ROCK
AND ON IT SAYS FORGET-ME-NOT.
AND FARTHER ON THERE IS A TREE
AND ON IT'S CARVED REMEMBER ME.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT NOT AWARE OF NAME OR RESIDENCE OF MESSAGE WRITER.

Data entry tech comment: "ITS" CHANGED TO "IT'S"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CAMP METAMORA ; METAMORA

Keyword(s): "INDIRECTION" ; CENTRAL PARK ; CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK ASSUMED ; COMMENT ON REMEMBRANCE ; INFORMATIVE ; METER: IAMBS ; QUATRAIN ; REMEMBRANCE ; RHYME: AABB ; RHYME: SLANT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL

REMEMBER THE GIRL FROM THE CITY
REMEMBER THE GIRL FROM THE TOWN
BUT REMEMBER THE GIRL WHO SPOILED THIS BOOK
BY WRITING UPSIDE DOWN.

Where learned: HOME ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): BOAST ; FRIENDSHIP ; HUMOR ; INDIRECTION ; QUATRAIN ; REMEMBRANCE

James Callow Keyword(s): AMPHIMACERS IN FIRST LINE ; METER: ANAPESTIC ; TYPOGRAPHICAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Reading or writing backwards, upside down

Date learned: 10-22-1968

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

IF YOU EVER PASS A CHESTNUT TREE
LOOK AT A NUT AND THINK OF ME}
IF YOU EVER PASS A CHESTNUT TREE

Submitter comment: BOOK NOT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN (1959-1960)

Where learned: NONE GIVEN

Keyword(s): COUPLET ; HUMOR ; INDIRECTION ; METER: TROCHEES ; NUT ; REMEMBRANCE ; RETORT ; RHYME: AA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me

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THE NEW MOON AND LUCK

WHEN YOU SEE THE NEW MOON FOR THE FIRST TIME EACH MONTH, YOU CLOSE
YOUR EYES AND MAKE A WISH. PEOPLE THINK THAT SUCH A WISH WILL
COME TRUE. BUT IF YOU ARE REALLY LUCKY, THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE
YOU LIKE VERY MUCH NEAR YOU SO THAT WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR EYES, YOU
WILL FIRST LOOK ON HIS OR HER FACE, THEN YOU WILL BE LUCKY FOR
THE REST OF THE MONTH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ASTRONOMY ; FRIENDSHIP

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Measure of time Month
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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LUCK

IF YOU HAVE A HORSESHOE ON THE WALL MAKE SURE THE OPEN END IS AT
THE TOP SO THAT ALL YOUR LUCK WILL STAY AND NOT LEAVE.

Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL: HORSESHOE AS LUCKY CHARM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.12
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.12

Date learned: 03-10-1970

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