Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RIDDLE
WHY DID TEXAS SHORTEN ITS NAME TO TEX?
BECAUSE THE ASS IS IN WASHINGTON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POLITICS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL "ARITHMETIC", THE NUNS USED TO SAY THINK OF
THIS SAYING- A RAT IN THE HOUSE MAY EAT THE ICE CREAM. TAKE THE
FIRST LETTER FROM EACH WORD AND YOU HAVE "ARITHMETIC".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
USED FOR REMEMBERING EARTH'S PLANETS IN ORDER- MARY'S VIOLET
EYES MAKE JOHN STAY UP NIGHTS PERHAPS. (MERCURY, VENUS, EARTH
MARS, JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS, NEPTUNE, PLUTO)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
TO REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THE GREAT LAKES, REMEMBER THE WORD HOMES.
H-HURON, 0-ONTARIO, M-MICHIGAN, E-ERIE, S-SUPERIOR.
Submitter comment: THIS IS HOW I REMEMBERED MY GREAT LAKES' NAMES IN 4TH GRADE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
IN ALGEBRA, TO SOLVE AN EQUATION YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE CONSECUTIVE
STEPS: MULTIPLY, DIVIDE, ADD, SUBTRACT. REMEMBERED BY THE
SENTENCE: MY DOG ATE SOUP.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; BATAVIA
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
TO REMEMBER THE ELEMENTS IN MAKEUP OF THE HUMAN BODY- HOPKINS CAFE.
HYDROGEN , OXYGEN, PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM, IODINE, NITROGEN, SULPHUR,
CALCIUM, IRON. ALL ARE THE CHEMICAL SYMBOLS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; BATAVIA
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
HOMES- TO REMEMBER GREAT LAKES NAMES. H-HERON, O-ONTARIO,
M-MICHIGAN, E-ERIE, S-SUPERIOR.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RUSSIAN POLITICIAN AND AN
AMERICAN POLITICIAN? ONE OF THEM RUNS FOR OFFICE WHILE THE
OTHER RUNS FOR THE BORDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POLITICS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
WHY IS A TEACHER DIFFERENT FROM A TRAIN? A TRAIN PULLS AND A
TEACHER PUSHES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
RIDDLE
WHAT IS FILLED EVERY MORNING AND EMPTIED EVERY NIGHT
EXCEPT ONCE A YEAR WHEN IT IS FILLED AT NIGHT AND
EMPTIED IN THE MORNING?
-- A STOCKING WHEN WEARING IT AND AT CHRISTMAS.
Keyword(s): holiday
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT'S A VOLCANO?
A MONTAIN WITH HICCUPS.
Where learned: TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): GEOLOGY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
WHAT HAS A MOUTH AND A FORK, BUT NEVER EATS?
-- A RIVER.
Where learned: TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): GEOLOGY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
Potus Sack
In Ireland, people wear potus sacks around their neck to ward off illness.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Holistic ; ILLNESS ; IRELAND ; MEDICINE ; Potus
James Callow Keyword(s): ILLNESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Remedy: Animal
Whoever carries the right eye of a wolf fastened inside his right sleeve, remains free from all injury.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by T.R. Davidson
Where learned: INDIANA ; VEEDERSBURG
Keyword(s): "NATURAL" REMEDY ; ANIMAL ; CLOTHING ; PREVENTION ; REMEDY ; Wolf
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Numerology
If you are not sure of a true or false answer on a test, take the number of the question, divide it by 2 (drop the fraction if there is one), and add 7 to that number. If the final answer is even, then the answer to the question is true, and if odd, the answer is false.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif submitted by TRD.
Where learned: APARTMENT
Keyword(s): Cheat ; MATHEMATICS ; NUMEROLOGY ; TEST ; True or False
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMEROLOGY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Custom
The family of the deceased attends mass for six consecutive weeks. Each week the family brings fruit, candy, or fruit for the entire parish. At the end of the six week period an entire mass is said in memory of the deceased . The family brings wine, three large raisin breads, fruit, and boiled wheat for the parish. This is done to celebrate the first stage of the deceased's ascention into Heaven. The ritual is repeated at six months to celebrate the second stage. After a person has been dead for a period of one year, the ritual is repeated for the last time. This stage signifies that the deceased has ascended into Heaven.
Submitter comment:
Despite revisions in the Orthodox mass, this custom has been preserved. It is considered an important and beautiful ritual. This custom is so old that no one knows how it exactly originated.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Self
Keyword(s): BURIAL ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; FOOD ; Funeral ; RELIGION ; SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
After a funeral the best friend of the deceased is given a bowl of boiled wheat, a glass, and silverware. This little ceremony transfers the worldly goods of the deceased to the living.
Submitter comment:
Informant noted that this custom is not as popular as it used to be but it is still practiced.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): DEATH ; Deceased ; FRIENDSHIP ; GLASS ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; RITUAL ; Silverware ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; SYMBOLISM ; UTENSILS ; Wheat
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Scare Stories
44
1) Teenage Couple driving in the country, run out of gas.
2) Hear drip, drip, drip - its blood.
28
1) Next door neighbors in love.
2) Girl wore a yellow ribbon around her neck that she wouldn't take off.
3) She untied it, her head fell off.
1
1) Two children home alon eon Halloween see a ghost.
2) Turns out to be their uncle in costume
Data entry tech comment:
No information listed on card. Omitted: Collector data, informant date.
Unknown meaning of numbers preceeding each story.
Bogg Number added by TRD
James Callow comment:
18400 Praire
Corner of Pickford and Praire
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Car ; Costume ; Drip ; Fable ; HALLOWEEN ; Ribbon ; Scary ; Stories ; SYMBOLISM ; Urban Legends ; Yellow Ribbon
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative |
Story
The recruit would go around the base in a constant search looking for a piece of paper. He would go through elaborate to attract attention [sic]. He would turn over rocks, pick up other pieces of paper or what have you. After each act he would exclaim "no, that's not it!" Finally he got the attention of the camp doctors who then had him confined. Finally the doctors deemed him unfit for service and gave him a medical discharge. Then the guy said he finally found the right piece of paper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Bogg Number [B600] crossed out and replaced with B646
Keyword(s): Discharge ; FEIGNED INSANITY TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE. ; Fool ; INSANITY ; INSANITY ; Mental Disorder ; MILITARY ; Parable ; Recruit ; Sanity ; Wise Fool
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
A woman was in church praying to the Blessed Mother. Suddenly she heard a voice say, "My name is Jesus." The woman did not answer, but only prayed harder. Again the voice sounded. The woman turned around, looked, and continued praying. Again in happened. The woman was then very angry and said "Keep Quiet! Can't you see I am talking to your mother?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs entered by TRD
Where learned: SCHOOL ; Myself
Keyword(s): Catholic ; CATHOLICISM ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |