Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Wit returned 74 results.
WHEN YOU SEE TWO WHITE BUTTERFLYS, THEN YOU CAN GO BAREFOOT
IN THE SUMMER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): WITHOUT SHOES
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Measure of time Summer |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
ON MAY 1ST BEGIN GOING BAREFOOT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FRANKLIN
James Callow Keyword(s): WITHOUT SHOES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May 1 May Day BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
Date learned: 06-17-1973
WHITE LADY
AT BELLE ISLE {DETROIT, MICHIGAN} AT THE LOVER'S LANE,
THERE IS SAID TO BE A "WHITE LADY." SHE COMES OUT
DRESSED COMPLETELY IN WHITE. SHE TERRORIZES THE
PEOPLE THERE AT NIGHT. SHE IS SAID TO HAVE A HOOK
FOR ONE HAND. ONE NIGHT A COUPLE WAS JUST LEAVING
WHEN SHE CAME OUT. LATER ON THAT NIGHT, THEY FOUND
A HOOK ON THE CAR. IT WAS ON THE DOOR HANDLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOST WITH HOOK FOR HAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-00-1965
WHITE LADY
AT BELLE ISLE {DETROIT, MICHIGAN} AT THE LOVER'S LANE,
THERE IS SAID TO BE A "WHITE LADY." SHE COMES OUT
DRESSED COMPLETELY IN WHITE. SHE TERRORIZES THE
PEOPLE THERE AT NIGHT. SHE IS SAID TO HAVE A HOOK
FOR ONE HAND. ONE NIGHT A COUPLE WAS JUST LEAVING
WHEN SHE CAME OUT. LATER ON THAT NIGHT, THEY FOUND
A HOOK ON THE CAR. IT WAS ON THE DOOR HANDLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOST WITH HOOK FOR HAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-00-1965
PROVERB
THE TRIDS OF TRIDVILLE WERE CONSTANTLY BEING PLAGUED
BY A MEAN OGRE WHO KICKED THEM VICIOUSLY. ONE DAY,
A RABBI CAME TO THE OGRE AND SAID, "OGRE, PLEASE DON'T
KICK THE TRIDS ANYMORE, KICK ME." THE OGRE REPLIED,
"SILLY RABBI, KICKS ARE FOR TRIDS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
TEN ACRES OF SAND AND A RED-HEADED WIFE
IS UAUALLY {SIC} THE END OF A PINHEAD'S LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): THINKS, PINHEAD MEANS DULL-WITTED.} ; {MEANING? COLLECTOR DOESN'T KNOW. PROBABLY, SHE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
The Clever Chef
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
There once was a king who demanded that his chef prepare him a different type of meat for each principle meal. when the chef ran out of meats it would mean his death.
Quite naturally, the king soon ran out of chefs and volunteers for the job were few and far between. in fact, things got so bad that the king had to draft his subjects into the job. One of these peasants got drafted and day after day he prepared a different type of meat. However, as time went by, he began to run out of choices. Finally the day arrived when he had none. In desperation, he went to the palace barn at milking time and collected the cow manure as it was being expelled. That night he served it to the king. Upon tasting it, the king called for the chef in order that he might compliment him on the most delicious meat of all. When asked where it came from, the chef replied "it is that which hasn't fallen, your majesty."
Submitter comment:
This is translated from Polish and I feel it has lost its humor in translation.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
A grammatical correction was made to the Collector's spelling: Changing it's to its.
Original Boggs Number [B665] has been crossed out and B646 is written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Class ; COOKING ; Deception ; FECES ; Fool ; IGNORANCE ; King ; Peasant ; ROYALTY ; Scat ; SCATOLOGICAL ; Scatological Humor ; Social Class ; Trickery ; Wit
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Jokes
A man walked into a rest-room and seen a ten dollar bill laying on a table. As he picked it up and started to put it ini his pocket he heard a weird voice say: "I'm the ghost of Betty Grable and I say the ten dollar bill stays on the table." The man grew frightened, threw the ten dollar bill back on the table and ran out.
Another man walked in , picked up the ten dollar bill and started to walk out. Again the voice came and repeated the same line. The man laughed and put the ten dollar bill back on the table and walked out. A third man came in and picked up the ten dollar bill and put it in his pocket. As he was leaving he heard the haunting voice say: "I'm the ghost of Betty Grable and I say the ten dollar bill stays on the table." The man smiled, and said: "*I am the ghost of Davy Crockett, and I say the ten dollar bill stays in my pocket!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B667] crossed out and replaced with B660
Editing marks for spelling errors. ( crossed out an errant tin the word laughed).
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): Anecdote ; BATHROOM ; Betty Grable ; Davy Crockett ; GHOST ; GHOSTLY VOICES ; Jest ; MONEY ; Voice ; Wit
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Play on Words
Play on Words:
Paradox: Casey and Kildare...
(Pair of doc's)
Submitter comment:
Val Zelnick. Heard long ago in grade-school. It is a way of remembering the word and its meaning, besides being a play on words.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S300] crossed out. Nothing is written to replace it.
Submission card located in a pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Doctors ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device ; PARADOX ; SATIRE OF DOCTORS ; Wit ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech |
Proverb
Change Horses:
Don't change horses in the middle of a stream.
Submitter comment:
Read this in High School
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Keyword(s): Change ; DIRECTION ; HORSE ; Stream ; Switch
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Retort
If six turned out to be nine, then I don't mind.
Submitter comment:
Said in reply to ridiculous questions.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The question [When Said?] is written next to the collector's comment.
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Nine ; NUMBERS ; RETORT ; RHYME ; SARCASM ; Six ; Wisecrack ; Wit
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Don't change horses in the middle of the stream.
Submitter comment:
When you start something, finish it before jumping to something else.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Change ; HORSE ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Stream ; Switch ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Autograph Rhyme
Album Verse:
Your's till catfish have kittens.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AUTOGRAPH ; CAT ; Catfish ; FISH ; Kittens ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; Signature ; Witty ; WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN PICKS FRUIT FROM A TREE, THE TREE
WILL WITHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI ; Deovelente Road
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Die ; FOOD ; FRUIT ; HARVEST ; Kill ; Pick ; PREGNANCY ; Tree ; Wither
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 06-21-1973
BIRTHMARKS ARE DUE TO MOTHER WITNESSING UNPLEASANT OR
FRIGHTNING SIGHTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Birthmark ; Frighten ; Witness
Date learned: 10-13-1973
WHEN THE COWS GO DRY, THERE'S A WITCH IN THE VILLAGE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): Cows ; Dry ; SIGN ; Witch
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
IF THERE'S A WITCH IN THE VILLAGE, THE MILK WILL TURN
SOUR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): Milk ; OMEN ; SIGN ; Sour ; Village ; Witch
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
IF ONE IS GOOD, THE WITCH LEAVES CANDY, BUT IF ONE IS
BAD SHE WILL LEAVE ASHES AND SWITCHES.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM-ITALIAN
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Ashes ; CANDY ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Italian ; Switches ; Witch
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
SIGNS OF GHOSTS
IF A BLACK CAT WALKS ACROSS YOUR PATH IT IS EITHER A WITCH
OR A GHOST AND CAN PUT A SPELL ON YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Black ; CAT ; COLOR ; GHOST ; SIGN ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Witch
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-25-1969
CUSTOM
SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS CELEBRATE FOUR SABBATHS IN THE FOUR
DIFFERENT SECTIONS OR COVENS OF THE WORLD AROUND THE SAME TIME
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS SEASONAL CHANGES. HE ALSO
HAS ONE BIG CEREMONY CALLED THE BLOODY SABBATH.
ON THIS DAY ALL FOUR COVENS GET TOGETHER FOR A GOOD TIME OF
SACRIFICE (A YOUNG PERSON'S WARM BLOOD) AND PUNISHMENT FOR
ALL WHO HAVE BEEN DISOBEDIENT TO SATAN AND THE INSTALLMENT OF
NEW WITCHES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
Keyword(s): Coven ; DEVIL ; DEVIL WORSHIP ; holiday ; PUNISHMENT ; Sabbath ; Sacrifice ; SATAN ; WITCHES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN