Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THERE IS A LEGEND THAT SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS IN
COUNTY SLIGO, IRELAND HAS A LUMP IN THE MIDDLE AND THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT ONE DAY THE DEVIL TOOK A BITE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPIT
IT AT CASHEL.
Submitter comment:
KATHY HEARD THIS FROM AN IRISHMAN WHILE HITCH-HIKING FROM CORK
TO LIMERICK IN IRELAND. CASHEL IS A ROCK ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET
HIGH WITH A RUIN OF A CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL ON IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS
ONCE THE SEAT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS BUT AM NOT SURE. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THE MAN WHO TOLD KATHY BELIEVED IT BUT KATHY DOESN'T.
Data entry tech comment:
Additional (non-numbered) Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Please make a copy. Label it B472] - handwritten at the bottom of the card.
The original Boggs Number [P400] is crossed out and B425 and B472 are written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PARTY
Keyword(s): Castle ; Cathedral ; DEVIL ; GEOLOGY ; IRELAND ; IRISH BELIEF ; MOUNTAIN ; NATURE ; Pagan ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS LEGEND ; Rock ; Rock Formation
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
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 ; Catholocism ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: |
Goats Feet
There was a girl who liked to dance and socialize very often. Her parents objected so she used to sneak out of the house. One day her mother caught her and put a curse on her. If she went out of the house to go dancing again her feet would turn to goat's ffet. She didn't believe her mother. Next time she went out her beau picked her up and off they went. When she went to get out of the car, she looked down and her feet had turned to goat's feet. The moral is: listen to your parents.
Submitter comment:
Polish Tale (Written across the top of the card)
Co - Feet of girl turned into feet of goat when/after she is cursed by her mother for dancing. (written on an attached card that listed motifs. Signed by M. Butzen
Data entry tech comment:
Non-numbered motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B600] crossed out and B642 written nest to it.
Collector's note of Polish Tale is crossed out.
Why Polish is written at the bottom of the card, then crossed out and followed by: B. Fagan says this is a Polish FolkTale.
A separate card is attached with motif numbers listed. Bottom of card is signed by an M. Butzen.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Dancing ; DATING ; Fable ; FAMILY ; FEET ; Goat ; Moral ; PARENTAL RESPECT ; PARENTS ; POLISH ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; Teenager ; YOUTH
James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
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 |
Mnemonic Device
When one is having problems spelling the word arithmetic, just remember the sentence: "A Rat In The House May Eat The Ice Cream."
Submitter comment:
Informant's teacher told this to him when he was in third grade in 1956 at St. Francis D'Assisi School in Detroit, MI.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
BN V300 used due to previous entries/classifications using the same mnemonic device.
James Callow comment:
Mnemonic Device; Spelling
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; MATHEMATICS ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; SCHOOL ; SPELLING
James Callow Keyword(s): Mnemonic Device ; SPELLING
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Mnemonic Device
The following sentence has been used in grade schools in aiding the memory of spelling arithmetic: A Rat In The House May Eat The Ice Cream.
Submitter comment:
During the informant's grade school years (1961-3) at Beard School in Detroit this mnemonic device was used.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
BN V300 was chosen because of previous entries and classifications with this exact mnemonic device.
James Callow comment:
The original BN [C534] is crossed out and the word Mnemonic is written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; MATHEMATICS ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device ; SCHOOL ; SPELLING
James Callow Keyword(s): Mnemonic Device ; SPELLING
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Caught
Three men: a Catholic, Jew and Protestant; were digging a ditch in front of a house of inequity. They looked up and saw the Rabbi coming down the street. The Rabbi stopped in front of the house, looked both ways and ran up the steps. When this happened the Catholic and Protestant really gave it to the Jew. A little later, the Protestant minister came down the street, stopped in front of the house, looked both ways and ran up the steps. Well now it was the Protestant's turn to be razzed. A little later the three saw a Catholic priest walk up to the front of the house, look both ways and run up the steps. The Catholic man yelled "There must be somebody sick in there!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO PROSTITUTION ; Catholic ; HUMOR ; Jewish ; JOKE ; PROSTITUTION ; Protestant ; RELIGION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Entry filtered.
Mnemonic Device
-Vibgyor-
One of my art teachers tried to make it easier for us to remember colors and their place on the color wheel so she introduced to us -vibgyor-pronounced vib-gee-or.
Submitter comment:
This method works every time - I now remember them (the colors).
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile labeled To Be Classified.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ART ; COLOR ; EDUCATION ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Maxim
If you think you can be happy letting the government take care of you, just remember what happened to the American Indian.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B660] crossed out. Nothing replaces it.
Submission card located in pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; Government ; Native American ; POLITICS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Maxim
Christopher Columbus set an example the Government's never forgotten. He didn't know where he was going, he didn't know where he was when he got there, and he did it all on borrowed money.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B660] crossed out. Nothing replaces it.
Submission card located in pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; Christopher Columbus ; Government ; Jest, Anecdote, Pun, Joke, Irony ; JOKE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Custom
Buddhists wear miniature images of buddha around their necks. When displaying the image of the Lord Buddha in the homes or elsewhere, the Thai are careful to place the image high enough so that no human can be at a higher level or walk above the image.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F538] crossed out. Not replaced with anything.
Submission card was located in pile labeled To Be Classified
Where learned: WHILE STATIONED IN THAILAND
Keyword(s): BUDDHA ; Buddhism ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM ; SYMBOL ; THAILAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom BELIEF -- Use of Object Religious objects |
Custom
Greetings:
Offering salt and bread and flowers is a way of greeting a person who has arrived from a long trip. This custom is one which was performed commonly in S.E. Poland and in Ukraine many years ago (prior to WWI) at that time it was used to greet any traveler regardless of his social position. Now recently it is used only in greeting people like priests, bishops, government officials, etc.
Submitter comment:
Although informant mentioned that this custom is carried out in Europe, I myself have observed this several months ago when people in a Ukrainian church greeted a bishop which had just been released from prison by the Russians.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; FLOWERS ; GREETING ; POLAND ; Salt, Bread ; Social Class ; Ukraine
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Custom
Good Friday and Planting Custom:
Potatoe [sic] seeds should be planted, if at all possible, on Good Friday.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F663] has been crossed out and replaced with F535
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; HARVEST ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; POTATO ; Religious Holiday ; VEGETABLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Prank
Fletcher Tube:
The Fletcher Tube us a non-existent piece of equipment. When freshmen are having problems in lab, you tell them that a Fletcher Tube will do the trick. They go to the stockroom to check one out and are laughed at.
Submitter comment:
Informant said that he pulled this gag while he was a graduate student.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM ; CHEMISTRY BUILDING
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES ; Chemistry ; COLLEGE ; COLLEGE PRANK ; COLLEGE PRANK ; Entertainment ; Freshman ; Hazing ; JOKE ; Laboratory ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; Prank
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Belief: Children's Song
STEP ON A LINE,
BREAK YOUR FATHER'S SPINE.
STEP ON A CRACK,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
STEP ON A HOLE,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S SUGAR BOWL.
Submitter comment:
CHILDREN SING THIS SONG WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Domestic ; GAME ; Hole ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; Sugar ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-21-1968
Belief: Children's Song
(1) DON'T STEP ON A CRACK OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
(2) IF YOU STEP ON A LINE YOUR MOTHER DRINKS WINE.
Submitter comment:
MY BLACK NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOORS TOLD ME THESE TALES WHEN I WAS A KID.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE ; Wine
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001960S
Belief: Children's Song
WHEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET SOME CHILDREN WILL CAREFULLY WATCH
WHERE THEY STEP AND SAY, "IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK YOUR MOTHER'S
GOT A BROKEN BACK, AND IF YOU STEP ON A LINE YOUR FATHER DRINKS
WINE.
Submitter comment:
I USED TO PLAY THIS GAME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Father ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE ; Wine
James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING
Date learned: 00001958-00001966
Belief: Luck
If a ship has thirteen letters in its name the ship is doomed.
Submitter comment:
Read this in a book of sea lore.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Minor grammatical correction to submission card: changing had to has
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P686
Where learned: DORM ROOM ; BOOK
Keyword(s): Boat ; Lore ; NAME ; Nautical ; NUMBERS ; NUMEROLOGY ; Ocean ; Sailor ; SEA ; Ship ; Vessel
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number |
Belief: Weather
Red Sky in morning, sailors take warning, Red sky in evening, sailors' delight.
Submitter comment:
Believed-Usually holds true in our area.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P890 880 800] crossed out and replaced with C880.462
Keyword(s): COLOR ; NATURE ; Nautical ; Ocean ; PREDICTING WEATHER ; Sailor ; Sky ; WARNING ; WEATHER
James Callow Keyword(s): WEATHER
| Subject headings: | -- .C860462 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |