Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ANIMAL returned 508 results.
3,6,9,
The goose drank wine,
The monkey chewed tobacco on the street car line,
The line broke,
The monkey got choked,
And they all went to heaven in all little row boat.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Animal Drinking rhyme
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 02-00-1992
Dog Joke
There was a dog convention going on. The dogs were told to
check in and hang their rear-ends up on the wall for display. The
convention hall caught on fire! Dogs were yelling, "Fire! fire!,
everybody just grab a rear-end and escape!" That's why dogs go
around smelling each other's butts today, they're trying to locate
their own.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Co workers ; Michigan Consolidated Gas Company
James Callow Keyword(s): Origin of animal behavior
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00001980S
Superstition: Animals
Eating the chicken gizzard will make you beautiful.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Beautiful ; BIRD ; Chicken ; Eat ; FOOD ; FOWL ; Gizzard ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom |
PROVERB
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
A DOG NEVER BARKS WHEN IT SHITS.
Submitter comment:
IN OUR FAMILY WHICH WAS UNUSUALLY LARGE IT WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT
TO MAINTAIN SILENCE AT THE DINNER TABLE. MY POLISH GRANDMOTHER WAS
SUCCESSFUL WITH A PHRASE I DID NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND. YEARS LATER MY
MOTHER TRANSLATED FOR ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; FUNCTION ; SCATALOGICAL
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; DEFECATION ; FUNCTION ; OBSERVATION ; OBSERVATION ; OBSERVATION ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
THE SQUIRREL LADY
THIS OLD LADY HAS BEEN AROUND THE VANDY CAMPUS EVER
SINCE ANYONE CAN REMEMBER. SHE JUST COMES AROUND THREE
OR FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND FEEDS THE SQUIRRELS AND SHE HAS
NAMES FOR ALL OF THEM. SHE FIGHTS FOR THE SQUIRRELS
WHEN BUILDING IS GOING ON AND THEY START TEARING DOWN
THE TREES WHERE THE SQUIRRELS HAVE THEIR HOMES. OH
YES, SHE WALKS WITH A WALKER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ANIMAL-LOVER ; VANDY=VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 04-13-1969
THREE, SIX, NINE THE GOOSE DRANK WINE,
THE MONKEY CHEWED TOBACCO
ON THE STREETCAR LINE.
THE LINE BROKE,
THE MONKEY GOT CHOKE(ED)
AND THEY ALL WENT TO HEAVEN
IN A LITTLE ROWBOAT (CLAP, CLAP).
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; HUMOR COUNTING BY THREES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 12-05-1973
THE PITTSBURG ORANGUTAN
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A STORY GOING AROUND THE
HIGH SCHOOLS IN PITTSBURG ABOUT A FIGHTING ORANGUTAN.
THE ORANGUTAN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BROUGHT TO A NEARBY
SHOPPING CENTER WHERE A CONTEST WAS TO BE HELD.
ANYONE WHO COULD REMAIN IN THE CAGE WITH THE ORANGUTAN
FOR TEN SECONDS WOULD WIN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE
RUMOR SPREAD FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND THE DAY CAME FOR
THE CONTEST. SEVERAL HUNDRED YOUTHS SHOWED UP AT THE
SHOPPING CENTER, BUT THE ORANGUTAN NEVER MADE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 11-18-1968
LEGEND OF CHRIST
WHILE OUR LORD WAS BEING CRUCIFIED, TWO BIRDS WHO
WERE FLYING ACROSS CALVARY NOTICED HIM. AS THEY SAW
HIS TORMENT, THEY SWOOPED OVER TO HIS ARMS AND TRIED
TO REMOVE THE NAILS WITH THEIR BEAKS. AFTER THEY
TRIED FOR AWHILE, THEY LEFT, BEING UNABLE TO REMOVE
THEM. THEY AND THEIR OFFSPRING WERE REWARDED
FOR THEIR COMPASSION BECAUSE THE BLOOD FROM
CHRIST'S WRISTS STAINED THEIR BREASTS AND MADE THE
ROBIN EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): REASONS FOR ANIMAL CHARACTERISTICS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird |
Date learned: 03-16-1968
LEGEND OF THE BELLE ISLE GHOST
ONCE THERE WAS A LADY WHO WAS TAKING HER DOG FOR A
WALK ON BELLE ISLE. WHILE SHE WASN'T WATCHING HIM,
THE DOG RAN AWAY AND WAS DROWNED IN THE WATER. THE
LADY TRIED TO SAVE HIM AND WAS DROWNED HERSELF.
NOW, SOMETIMES AT MIDNIGHT, A LADY IS SEEN HOLDING
AN EMPTY DOG LEASH AND CALLING FOR HER DOG WHO
WAS DROWNED SO MANY YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BELLE ISLE
Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 06-00-1970
THE PITTSBURG ORANGUTAN
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A STORY GOING AROUND THE
HIGH SCHOOLS IN PITTSBURG ABOUT A FIGHTING ORANGUTAN.
THE ORANGUTAN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BROUGHT TO A NEARBY
SHOPPING CENTER WHERE A CONTEST WAS TO BE HELD.
ANYONE WHO COULD REMAIN IN THE CAGE WITH THE ORANGUTAN
FOR TEN SECONDS WOULD WIN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE
RUMOR SPREAD FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND THE DAY CAME FOR
THE CONTEST. SEVERAL HUNDRED YOUTHS SHOWED UP AT THE
SHOPPING CENTER, BUT THE ORANGUTAN NEVER MADE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 11-18-1968
LEGEND OF CHRIST
WHILE OUR LORD WAS BEING CRUCIFIED, TWO BIRDS WHO
WERE FLYING ACROSS CALVARY NOTICED HIM. AS THEY SAW
HIS TORMENT, THEY SWOOPED OVER TO HIS ARMS AND TRIED
TO REMOVE THE NAILS WITH THEIR BEAKS. AFTER THEY
TRIED FOR AWHILE, THEY LEFT, BEING UNABLE TO REMOVE
THEM. THEY AND THEIR OFFSPRING WERE REWARDED
FOR THEIR COMPASSION BECAUSE THE BLOOD FROM
CHRIST'S WRISTS STAINED THEIR BREASTS AND MADE THE
ROBIN EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): REASONS FOR ANIMAL CHARACTERISTICS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird |
Date learned: 03-16-1968
PIESTUPYS -- A LITHUANIAN FOREST
WHILE MY FATHER WAS A LITTLE BOY, HE HEARD VARIOUS TALES
TOLD ABOUT THIS FOREST. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HAUNTED;
FOR IN THERE, THE DUKE OF LITHUANIA (VYTAUTAS)
PUNISHED THE ENEMY OF LITHUANIA. IT IS TOLD THAT THE
GHOSTS OF THOSE KILLED BY HIM OR ANY OF THE SOULS THAT
AREN'T AT PEACE (SUCH AS SUICIDES, MURDERS, THOSE
MANGLED TO DEATH BY THE WOLVES AND THE WILD MAD DOGS)
HAUNT THIS FOREST AND TRY TO REVENGE THEIR DEATHS BY
SCARING THE PASSERSBY TO DEATH.
MY FATHER SPEAKING: {COLLECTOR'S FATHER} 1). ONE OF THE
TALES TOLD IS THAT FIERY PILLARS ROSE UP. THEY WALKED
DOWN A WAYS ON THE SHORE OF SVENTOJI (A RIVER IN
LITHUANIA) AND DISAPPEARED. ONE OF THE OLDER MEN IN
OUR VILLAGE SAID THAT IS THE ANCIENT GOLD AND
SILVER. AND WHERE THOSE POLES, PILLARS, RISE UP OR
DISAPPEAR, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE
BURIED.
ME: DO YOU THINK THIS IS TRUE?
FATHER: NO, IT COUL'VE BEEN ANYTHING; REFLECTIONS
OF SOME SORT OR EVEN THE RUSSIAN SPIES WITH THEIR
TORCHES. IT COULD'VE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS.
ME: ARE MOST OF THE STORIES REVOLVE ABOUT THINGS?
NOT PEOPLE OR ANIMALS?
FATHER: OH, THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE MANY STRANGE
THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT FOREST. FOR ONE, THERE WAS THE
TIME...
2) ONE OF THE MEN IN THE TOWN WENT TO THE MARKET TO SELL
HIS GOODS. AFTER BEING DELAYED IN TOWN, HE HAD TO COME
HOME LATE AT NIGHT AND TO CROSS THAT FOREST. MOREOVER,
THE MOON WAS OUT. HE WAS RIGHT BY WHERE THE BRIDGE
WAS SAINT JOHN'S CROSS...AND HE SEES: BY SAINT JOHN'S
CROSS, THERE WERE DANCING YOUNG GIRLS DRESSED IN WHITE
AND SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE FLOATING ON AIR. BUT THEN
HE LOOKED TO THE OTHER SIDE AND HE SAW A NAKED MAN
ROLLING AND LAUGHING IN THE SNOW. HE (THE FARMER)
SAID THAT EVERY HAIR ON HIS HEAD STOOD ON END AND SPED
HOME LIKE HE NEVER HAD BEFORE! HE WONDERED FOR A LONG
TIME AFTER THAT HOW HE MANAGED TO "ESCAPE" ALIVE THAT
NIGHT.
ME: DID YOU BELIEVE HIM?
FATHER: ALL US YOUNGER KIDS DID, WE WERE TOO YOUNG.
OF COURSE, IT COULD'VE BEEN HIS IMAGINATION.
ME: DID YOU HEAR ANY OTHER STORIES ABOUT PIESTUPYS?
FATHER: YES, BUT VERY VERY SHORT ONES.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE SAID THAT THEY SAW AND HEARD A
BLACK PONY RUNNING ALONG THE SLOPES OF THE FOREST.
OR SOMETIMES OTHERS SAY THAT THEY'VE SEEN A GRAY OLD
GOAT BLEETING {BLEATING} UNDER A TREE.
ME: BUT WHAT IS IT MAINLY THAT SCARED THE PEOPLE
SO MUCH?
FATHER: WELL, THERE IN THE FOREST, THREE THIEVES HUNG
THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE BURIED UNDER SOME PINE TREES
SIDE BY SIDE. AND THE PEOPLE USED TO SAY THAT THEY
STARTED ARGUING WHO ROBBED MORE PEOPLE AND WHO STOLE
THE MOST RICHES, AND AFTER A WHILE, THEY HAD RISEN ALL
THE OTHER DEAD AND TAKEN SIDES. BUT IT WAS REALLY OF
THOSE THREE THIEVES THAT EVERYONE WAS AFRAID OF.
ME: WERE YOU EVER IN THAT FOREST AND HAVE SOMETHING
HAPPEN TO YOU?
FATHER: YES, RIGHT BEFORE EASTER, MY YOUNGER SISTER
AND I HAD TO GET UP IN THE DARK TO GO TO RECOLLECTIONS.
AND FROM OUR VILLAGE TO THE TOWN AND CHURCH WAS TO GO
THROUGH THE FOREST. SO WE SET OUT...STILL DARK. I
HAD NEVER REALLY THOUGHT MUCH OF THOSE STORIES I HAD
HEARD, BUT NOW THEY ALL CAME BACK VIVIDLY. SO HALF
WAY THERE, I PICKED OUT LONG STRONG PIECES OF WOOD FOR
MY SISTER AND I TO PROTECT OURSELVES--MAINLY FROM THE
DOGS.
WE HAD PASSED HALF OF THE FOREST PEACEFULLY, BUT SUDDENLY
UP AHEAD, WE SAW A THING COMING--IT HAD A HUMAN SHAPE
AND WALKED LIKE A HUMAN. WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF
THE DEAD, SO WE BOTH SAT DOWN HUGGING EACH OTHER, HOPING
THAT THE THING WOULD PASS. SUDDENLY, I HEARD THE THING
REAL CLOSE BY AND SHUT MY EYES. BUT THEN IT GAVE US THE
LITHUANIAN GREETING: "MAY THE LORD BE WITH YOU." AND
MY SISTER ANSWERED! IT TURNED OUT TO BE A MIDDLE-AGED
WOMAN DRESSED IN A WHITE FUR COAT! SHE ASKED US IF WE
WERE GOING TO CHURCH AND THEN JUST WENT ON HER WAY.
ME: DIDN'T YOU THINK IT COULD'VE BEEN A SPIRIT?
FATHER: I WAS LITTLE THEN, BUT I KNEW A REAL PERSON
WHEN I SAW ONE! AFTER THAT, I WALKED ON AS BRAVELY
AS EVER AND WAS NEVER SCARED TO GO IN THERE AGAIN!
ME: WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE? DID YOU TELL THEM
WHAT HAPPENED?
FATHER: OH, SURE! BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T
USUALLY PICK ON LITTLE KIDS.
ME: WERE THERE ANY OTHER INCIDENTS ABOUT THAT FOREST?
FATHER: OH, SURE! I THINK SO-CALLED HAPPENINGS WERE
REPORTED ALL THE TIME UP TO THE TAKEOVER IN 1941. BUT
I DOUBT IT IF MANY OF THE PEOPLE BELIEVED THE STORIES
UP TILL THEN!
ME: DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE FOREST NOW?
FATHER: THE LAST I HEARD WAS THAT HALF OF IT IS
DESTROYED. BY BOMBINGS AND SHELLING AND THE RUSSIANS
DID CUT DOWN MANY, MANY TREES FOR THEIR OWN USE.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD ; LITHUANIA ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): TROUBLED SPIRITS ANIMALS WOODS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEGEND OF THE BELLE ISLE GHOST
ONCE THERE WAS A LADY WHO WAS TAKING HER DOG FOR A
WALK ON BELLE ISLE. WHILE SHE WASN'T WATCHING HIM,
THE DOG RAN AWAY AND WAS DROWNED IN THE WATER. THE
LADY TRIED TO SAVE HIM AND WAS DROWNED HERSELF.
NOW, SOMETIMES AT MIDNIGHT, A LADY IS SEEN HOLDING
AN EMPTY DOG LEASH AND CALLING FOR HER DOG WHO
WAS DROWNED SO MANY YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BELLE ISLE
Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 06-00-1970
I WON'T FATTEN FROG FOR SNAKE.
Submitter comment: (MEANING: I WON'T DRESS YOU UP SO OTHERS CAN ADMIRE YOU)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
IT'S THE ROVING BEE THAT GATHERS THE HONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT FOOD WORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
A FLEMISH SAYING AT HOME
THE MEANEST WEASELS GET THE EGGS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; OBSERVATION ; PESSIMISM: EVIL REWARDED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
A SHEEP WHO BLEATS LOSES MANY A MOUTHFUL.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER YOUTH.
Where learned: INDIANA ; Hudson Lake
Keyword(s): ANIMAL GOSSIP
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
SUNSHINE THE CALF.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SENT ALL TO ME ON REQUEST
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS COSMOS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-19-1971
MORAL PROVERB (PRIES ADSIAI)
SWALLOWING LIKE DOGS
Submitter comment: {TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN}
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; HONORS HOUSE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
SAYING
THE SWAN'S SON IS A SWIMMER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL BIRD WATER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |