Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PROVERB
IF A MAN HAS NINE TRADES , HIS TENTH ONE WILL BE STARVATION
Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HONORS HOUSE
Keyword(s): JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
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NECKLACE SUPERSTITION
IF THE METAL ON YOUR NECKLACE TOUCHES THE LATCH MAKE A WISH AND
TURN THE LATCH TO THE BACK. THIS WILL MAKE YOUR WISH COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
FOLKLORE OF GOOD LUCK
IN JAPAN, BAMBOO IS HUNG IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOUSE TO GIVE ITS
STRENGTH TO WARD OFF SICKNESS AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP WORKING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Holistic ; Japan ; LUCK ; PLANT ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001935
GUY WHO HATES HIS JOB
I HATE THIS WORSE THAN A RACOON HATES AN AXE HANDLE.
Submitter comment: ARKANSAS ORIGIN?
Where learned: HOME ; NOT RECORDED
Keyword(s): DISSATISFACTION WITH AN UNPLEASANT JOB
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 10-01-1968
TOM SWIFTIE
I'M A PLUMBER HE PIPED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIS HOME ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): JOB
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ; SAID
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 10-08-1968
WELLERISM
BY GEORGE, SAID PAUL, WHILE SITTING ON THE JOHN. WHERE DID MY
RING GO?
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A WELLERISM-LIKE DEVICE SINCE THERE IS NO HUMOROUS
QUOTATION FOLLOWING. IT IS ALSO SIMILAR TO A TOM SWIFTIE, BUT
THERE IS NO ADVERBIAL PUN. THIS SAYING CONTAINS ALL FOUR OF THE
BEATLES' NAMES - GEORGE, PAUL, JOHN, RINGO - INCORPORATED IN ONE
SENTENCE. JOHN IS USED AS A SLANG FOR TOILET. GEORGE IS USED AS
A SIGN OF EXCLAMATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME (GEORGE) IN EXCLAMATION ; SLANG: JOHN FOR TOILET
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 10-00-1980
ITALIAN WOMEN
WHAT DO THEY CALL A BATHTUB FULL OF ITALIAN WOMEN?
THE BAY OF PIGS.
Submitter comment:
THE BAY OF PIGS HAS SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS JOKE, BECAUSE
THERE IS ACTUALLY A PLACE HAVING THAT NAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ATTEMPT TO OVERTHROW CUBA'S CASTRO. ; CUBA ; KENNEDY'S PRESIDENCY, ALLUDING TO FAILURE OF ; POLITICAL REFERENCE TO INCIDENT DURING JOHN F.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote ITAL |
TRAP METAPHOR
THERE ONCE WAS AN OLD BLACK MAN NAMED UNCLE WILLIE. NOW UNCLE
WILLIE LIVED A FAIRLY HAPPY LIFE ON A FARM DOWN SOUTH. ONE DAY,
HIS MASTER DECIDED TO SELL THE FARM, BUT WILLIE DIDN'T LIKE THAT
IDEA TOO MUCH, HE JUST PLAIN DID NOT WANT TO MOVE. SO WHEN THE
BUYERS CAME TO SEE THE FARM, WILLIE HAD A PLAN. NOW WILLIE KNEW
THESE FOLKS WERE INTELLIGENT, BUT, HE WASN'T NO DUMMY EITHER.
NOW, WHITES BACK IN THEM DAYS, THEY DIDN'T TRUST THE BLACKS
SO WILLIE KNEW THAT THEM BUYER FOLKS WOULD JUST DO THE OPPOSITE
OF WHAT HE SAID. WILLIE'S MASTER TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE FOLKS AROUND
SO HE DID. AFTER HE GOT OUT OF EARSHOT, HE SAID, "NOW, IF YOU
WANT MY OPINION, YOU WON'T BUY THIS FARM 'CAUSE THERE'S GHOSTS
HERE." THEN HE TOOK THEM TO SOME SCARY SPOTS AROUND THE FARM.
"NOW IF YOU WANT MY OPINION," WILLIE SAID, " YOU WON'T BUY THIS
FARM 'CAUSE THE PLACE IS A SHAMBLES, AND THE ORCHARDS ARE DRY."
THEN HE TOOK THEM TO SOME MESSY SPOTS. THEN WILLIE SAID, "NOW IF
YOU WANT MY OPINION, YOU WON'T BUY THIS FARM, 'CAUSE YOU'LL HAVE
TO CHAIN ME HERE 'CAUSE I WANT TO LEAVE POWERFUL BAD." WELL
THE BUYER'S WIFE, NOW SHE BELIEVED HIM AND SAID, "WE BETTER NOT
BUY THIS FARM." BUT THE HUSBAND THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, SOMETHING'S
UP, SO HE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND BUY THE FARM, AND WHAT'S MORE,
HE MADE A DEAL WITH THE MASTER TO KEEP WILLIE ON THE FARM.
SO, WILLIE, HE GOT TO STAY ON THE FARM, JUST LIKE HE WANTED,
AND HE GOT RID OF HIS NASTY OLD MASTER TO BOOT.
Submitter comment:
THE BASIC PRINCIPLE BEHIND TRAP METAPHOR AS BOB EXPLAINED TO ME,
IS THAT "BLACKS DON'T GET MAD, THEY GET EVEN." THIS IS EVIDENT
IN HOW UNCLE WILLIE GOT RID OF HIS OLD MASTER. AS I WAS LISTENING
TO THIS STORY, I WAS AMAZED AT HOW IT CONFORMS TO ALMOST ALL OF
ULRIK'S LAWS FOR FOLKTALES. SOME EXAMPLES ARE: THE LAW OF THREES
WHEN WILLIE GIVES THEM THREE REASONS FOR NOT BUYING THE FARM, ALSO,
THE LAW OF CONCENTRATION ON A LEADING CHARACTER IS CLEARLY
FULFILLED. THE MOST INTERESTING OF THE LAWS MANIFESTED IN THIS ST-
ORY IS THE LAW OF LOGIC. NORMALLY, WE WOULD NOT CONSIDER WILLIE'S
LOGIC USEFUL TO GAIN AN END, YET IN THIS STORY IT IS NOT ONLY
REAL, BUT IT IS FEASIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OL MASSA AND JOHN STORY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 11-26-1980
A POLITICAL JOKE
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE AJAX WHITE KNIGHT RODE THROUGH
TEXAS?
THEY ELECTED HIM GOVERNOR.
Submitter comment:
HEARD ON U. OF D.'S CAMPUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): REFERENCE TO AJAX CLEANING PRODUCTS TELEVISION COMMERCIAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
WHAT'S ON THE MENU?
ONE DAY A WOMAN SENT HER SON TO THE STORE TO BUY SOME LIVER.
ON THE WAY TO THE STORE THE BOY PASSED A CEMETERY. HE REMEMBERED
SOMEONE IN TOWN HAD RECENTLY DIED, SO BEING A LAZY BOY, HE
DECIDED NOT TO GO TO THE STORE BUT TO DIG UP THE GRAVE AND TAKE
THE MAN'S LIVER OUT. AFTER ALL WHO WOULD KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
HE TOOK THE LIVER HOME AND HIS MOTHER DIDN'T NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVER. SHE PREPARED IT FOR SUPPER AND THEN THEY BOTH ATE IT.
THAT NIGHT WHEN THE BOY WENT TO SLEEP HE HEARD A VOICE, "I'M COMING
UP ONE STAIR. I'M COMING UP TWO STAIRES (SIC). WHERE'S MY LIVER?"
THE BOY
FROZE IN HIS BED. HE COULDN'T MOVE A MUSCLE. "I'M COMING UP THREE
STAIRS, I'M IN THE HALLWAY." "I'M OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR, I WANT
MY LIVER." "I'M IN YOUR BEDROOM," SUDDENLY THE VOICE YELLED,
"I GOT YOU."
Submitter comment: SHE HEARD THIS STORY WHEN SHE WAS SMALL AT CAMP.
Data entry tech comment: GRABBING GESTURE ACCOMPANIES END OF STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): JUMP STORY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 10-20-1967
LIVING LEGEND
VINCE LOMBARDY IS REGARDED BY MANY FOOTBALL FANS AS A MIRACLE
MAN. NATURALLY, SINCE HE PERFORMS MIRACLES, IT IS LOGICAL THAT
HE WOULD BE LIKENED TO GOD. IT SEEMS THAT VINCE RETURNED HOME
ONE COLD NIGHT IN GREEN BAY. HIS WIFE HAD ALREADY RETIRED, SO HE
JUST CRAWLED INTO BED. HIS WIFE AWOKE AND EXCLAIMED "GOD ARE
YOUR FEET COLD." VINCE TURNED OVER AND SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT,
HONEY. WE'RE HOME NOW. YOU CAN CALL ME VINCE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOTBALL JOKE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
IRISH LEGEND
IN IRELAND, MY GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERED THIS STORY AS TOLD TO HER
FROM THE PULPIT BY THE PARISH PRIEST. MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO TELL
SUCH STORIES TO ME AND MY BROTHERS WHEN WE WERE SMALL CHILDREN AND
WE SLEPT WITH HER. A YOUNG BOY WAS WALKING DOWN THE ROAD ON A COLD
WINTER DAY. AT A CROSSROAD HE MET ANOTHER BOY, A BIT YOUNGER, WHO
LOOKED VERY POOR, HE HAD NO COAT TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE WIND
OR RAIN. THE FIRST BOY FELT SORRY FOR THE LITTLE ONE AND GAVE HIM
HIS NICE WARM COAT. UPON RETURNING HOME THE OLDER BOY WAS SCOLDED
BY HIS MOTHER AND PUNISHED FOR GIVING AWAY HIS COAT. BESIDES
HE BECAME ILL BECAUSE HE WAS ALL WET AND COLD. YEARS LATER THE
OLDER BOY BECAME A PRIEST. HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITNESSED HIS
FIRST MASS. AS HE LOOKED UP TO HEAVEN DURING THE MASS THERE WAS
A STRANGE LIGHT ABOVE THE ALTAR. THERE IN VIEW OF EVERY-BODY
APPEARED THE CHILD JESUS AND HE WAS SMILING AND WEARING THE SAME
LITTLE COAT WHICH THE PRIEST HAD GIVEN AWAY YEARS BEFORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHARITY ; VISION OF JESUS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1937
AN UNDERTAKING PROVERB
AN UNDERTAKER IS A FELLOW WHO NEVER SUCCEEDS IN BURYING HIMSELF
IN HIS WORK.
Submitter comment: HE HEARD IT IN SCHOOL.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): DEDICATION TO JOB ; DEFINITION ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 08-06-1964
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU LEAVE HOME AND DISCOVER THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING,
YOU MUST SIT STILL A MOMENT BEFORE RETURNING FOR IT, OR YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS OLD SUPERSTITION WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY AUNT WHEN SHE VISITED
HERE FROM JAMESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, IN OCTOBER OF 1963.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2 |
Date learned: 10-00-1963
COUNT TO TEN
IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING WHEN LEAVING YOUR HOUSE AND HAVE
TO GO BACK FOR IT, BE SURE TO SIT DOWN AND COUNT TO TEN BEFORE
YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE AGAIN, OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; NUMBERS: TEN ; SUPERNATURAL: COUNTING TO TEN ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
PRIEST AND LUCK
JAPANESE BELIEVE THAT A PERSON WILL HAVE BAD LUCK IF THE FIRST
PERSON HE MEETS ON THE STREET IS A BUDDIST (BUDDHIST) PRIEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): JAPANESE BELIEF
Date learned: 11-00-1968
GOOD LUCK
IN JAPAN, IT IS A VILLAGE BELIEF THAT WHEN STANDING ON A CERTAIN
ROCK FOUND ON A BEACH, ONE SEES THE EMPEROR, GOOD LUCK FOR ONE
YEAR WILL BE HIS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT DORMS
Keyword(s): JAPANESE BELIEF ; NUMBERS: ONE ; TIME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Formation BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2 |
Date learned: 11-13-1969