Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SHOES
ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
FAIRY BELIEF
IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
BELIEF
IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
LEGEND BELIEF
WHILE LIVING IN GUAM, MY MOTHER WONDERED WHY THE GUAMANIAN PEOPLE
LIVED IN HOUSES ON STILTS, AND SO SHE ASKED A GUAMANIAN FRIEND
OF OUR FAMILY, AND HE TOLD HER THAT HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, THE
PEOPLE WERE VERY PAGAN (BEFORE THE SPANISH BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO
GUAM). BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN MANY GODS AND EVIL SPIRITS AND THE
SUCH THEY BUILT THEIR HOUSES ON STILTS TO KEEP THE EVIL SPIRITS
FROM ENTERING THEIR HOMES. OF COURSE, THE PRACTICE ALSO KEEPS THE
INSECTS OUT OF THE HOUSES AND THE DAMPNESS AND , SO IT IS A
VERY PRACTICAL PRACTICE, ALSO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PRACTICALITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 03-30-1968
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT MUST BE DONE TO HAVE SOFT HANDS?
A: NOTHING.
Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; LITERAL ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) HANDS
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
Q: WHAT IS A FOUR LETTER WORD FOR INTERCOURSE?
A: TALK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATION (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-00-1971
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE?
A: WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; CATCH ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; PERSONS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-20-1968
TRUE RIDDLE
Q: JOHN IS IN THE OTHER ROOM SLEEPING. MARY IS ON THE FLOOR DEAD.
THERE IS WATER ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. THERE IS ALSO BROKEN GLASS
ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. MARY DID NOT DIE OF ANY WOUNDS.
HOW DID MARY DIE?
A: JOHN IS A CAT. MARY IS A FISH. JOHN KNOCKED THE FISH BOWL OFF
THE STAND AND IT BROKE AND MARY DIED OF SUFFICATION (SUFFOCATION).
Submitter comment:
YES AND NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIDDLE ARE ASKED OF THE RIDDLER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A)
James Callow Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD ITEM (Q) ; NAMES FOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-26-1969
MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE
Q: KAS JUODAS NEDAZYTAS? - WHAT IS BLACK AND UNPAINTED?
A: VARNA. - A CROW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL ; STATE OF BEING (Q) AND COLOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 03-08-1968
RIDDLE
Q: IF YOU HAVE A DUCK BEFORE 2 DUCKS AND A DUCK BEHIND 2 DUCKS,
AND A DUCK IN THE MIDDLE , HOW MANY DUCKS DO YOU HAVE?
A: 3 DUCKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; ANIMAL (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; PUZZLE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: WHO ALWAYS GOES TO BED WITH HIS SHOES ON?
A: A HORSE
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; WEARABLE (Q) ; WISDOM
James Callow Keyword(s): HORSESHOES
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT GOES AROUND ALL DAY GRUNTING WITHOUT BEING SICK,
AND IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING LOST ANYTHING?
A: A PIG.
Submitter comment: DIRECTLY TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMAL (A) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITIONAL ; WISDOM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
RIDDLE
Q: IF YOU LIVED IN A HOUSE, ALL FOUR SIDES OF WHICH HAD A SOUTHERN
EXPOSURE. WHAT COLOR WOULD BE THE BEAR WHICH WALKED BY?
A: WHITE - HE WOULD BE A POLAR BEAR AT THE NORTH POLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; ANIMAL AND BUILDING (Q) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITONAL
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THOUGHT TEASER
Q: IF YOU ARE IN A ONE ROOM HOUSE WHICH HAS ONE WINDOW ON EACH
WALL AND EACH WINDOW HAS A SOUTHERN EXPOSURE. AS YOU LOOK OUT ONE
OF THE WINDOWS AND SEE A BEAR OUTSIDE, WHAT COLOR IS THE BEAR?
A: IT IS WHITE! IT'S A POLAR BEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BATTLE CREEK
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; HARD WARE (Q) ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
TRUE RIDDLE
Q: IT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER.
A: AN EMBARRASSED ZEBRA.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL LOBBY
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) COLOR
James Callow Keyword(s): NEWSPAPER RIDDLE, VARIAN OF ; SPELLING: RED FOR READ
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-01-1968
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT WHEN YOU GO IN THE FRONT YOU ARE AT THE BACK?
A: A CHURCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL ; BUILDING (A) ; PARTICULAR AREA - CHURCH (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-14-1968
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT BEGINS WITH P AND ENDS WITH E AND HAS MORE THAN 200 LETTERS
IN IT?
A: POST OFFICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUILDING (A) ; COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (Q) ; LITERAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS ALWAYS BROKEN BEFORE IT IS USED?
A: AN EGG.
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: THERE IS A ROOM - IT HAS NO WALLS. IT HAS NO DOORS.
IT HAS NO FLOOR. WHAT KIND OF A ROOM IS THAT?
A: A MUSHROOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PRIVATIONAL OPPOSITION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN