Submitter comment: SEE DORSON: BUYING THE WIND NO. 351
PAGE 138
EACH ONE MUST EAT SEVEN POUNDS OF DIRT AND A HANK OF TOW PER YEAR.
I HAVE HEARD THIS PROVERB FROM MY MOTHER AND OTHER PEOPLE SINCE
DHILDHOOD.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INEVITABILITY ; OBSERVATION ; UNCLEANLINESS

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 08-00-1964

View just this record

PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

NEVER SOIL YOUR OWN NEST

Submitter comment: FROM UNCERTAIN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Keyword(s): SCATOLOGICAL

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; CLEANLINESS ; DEFICATION

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

View just this record

BELIEF ABOUT CLEFT IN CHIN

IF YOU HAVE A CLEFT IN YOUR CHIN-
YOU ARE HONEST, CLEAN CUT, AND ALL AMERICAN.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; CLEAN CUT ; HONESTY

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear

Date learned: 02-20-1972

View just this record

A SIGN OF BAD LUCK

IT IS BAD LUCK IN THE JAPANESE CULTURE TO CLEAN THE HOUSE ON THE
FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR. THE HOUSE IS CLEANED THOROUGHLY THE DAY BEFORE
THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOUSECLEANING

Subject headings:

686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-11-1969

View just this record

Entry filtered.

POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHO DISCOVERED POLAND? THE ROTO ROOTER MAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): ROTO ROOTER IS A SEWER CLEANING COMPANY

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 02-00-1980

View just this record

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

View just this record

COMET. IT MAKES YOUR BREATH SO CLEAN.
COMET. IT TASTES LIKE KEROSENE.
COMET. IT MAKES YOU VOMIT,
SO BUY SOME COMET AND VOMIT TODAY!

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMET IS A BATHROOM CLEANSER.

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music

Date learned: 00-00-1975

View just this record

SONG

COMET, IT MAKES YOUR TEETH TURN GREEN.
COMET, IT TASTES LIKE LISTERINE.
COMET, WILL MAKE YOUR VOMIT.
SO GET SOME COMET
AND VOMIT TODAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS SONG FROM A FRIEND IN SCHOOL. A FRIEND
OF HERS IS THE ONE WHO WROTE IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMET IS A BATHROOM CLEANSER

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 00001978CA

View just this record

IF YOU CLEAN OUT YOUR PLATE THE SUN WILL SHINE THE
NEXT DAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID HE (SIC) PARENTS TOLD HER THIS DURING
HER CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): CLEAN OUT MEANS CLEAN UP.

Subject headings:

Prediction / Divination
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Eating
BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection P892.28

Date learned: 09-24-1970

View just this record

Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

I HAD OBSERVED THAT THE PUERTO RICAN PEASANTRY (JIBAROS) WERE
VERY (UNDERLINED) CLEAN PEOPLE. THEIR SHACKS, WHILE
REFLECTING AN EXTREME LEVEL OF POVERTY, WERE SPOTLESS. THE
CHILDREN WERE DRESSED IN CLOTHES WHICH SHOWED THAT SOMEBODY
CARED. THEY WERE STARCHED AND IRONED WITH GREAT CARE. THE
BOYS INVARIABLY WORE LITTLE SPORT SHIRTS WHICH LOOKED NEW, AND
MUST HAVE COST A LARGE PORTION OF THE FAMILY'S INCOME. KNOWING
HOW THESE PEOPLE VALUED THEIR MALE CHILDREN, I COULDN'T HELP
WONDERING WHY THE LITTLE BOYS (UNDER FOUR) ALWAYS RAN AROUND
IN THEIR IMMACULATE SHIRTS--ONLY. NEVER DID THEY WEAR ANY
GARMENT ON THE LOWER PART OF THE BODY. WHY--IF THEY COULD
AFFORD SHIRTS, WHY NOT PANTS?
IT IS THE BELIEF THAT A BOY WILL BE MACHO (VIRILE) IF THE
SUN IS ALLOWED TO SHINE ON HIS GENITALIA AS MUCH OF THE TIME
AS POSSIBLE WHILE HE IS LITTLE. LITTLE GIRLS ARE ALWAYS
COVERED UP.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PUERTO RICO ; SANTURCE

Keyword(s): Genitalia ; Machismo ; MASCULINITY ; Peasants ; Poor ; Puerto Rico ; Sunshine

James Callow Keyword(s): CLEANLINESS ; SEX

Subject headings:

ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs
BELIEF -- P566

Date learned: 00001963 ca.

View just this record

CASINO WORKERS USE GESTURES: FINGERTIPS TOUCHING
TABLE MEANS "THERE'S A CHISLER HERE;" A FINGER BEHIND
THE EAR IS A DISTRESS CALL FOR THE HEAD MAN; CROSSED
INDEX AND THIRD FINGER MEANS "PLEASE TAKE OVER;"
PALM AND FINGERS EXTENDED DOWNWARD MEANS "THEY ARE
CLEANED OUT."

Where learned: BOOK

Keyword(s): SLANG: CLEANED OUT: OUT OF MONEY.

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
SPEECH -- Underworld
SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: 00-00-1965

View just this record

Play on Words

Sermon Using Names of Soaps and Detergents

Are you SOFT SOAPING God? DUZ you DRIFT along with the TIDE? VEL now is the time to CHEER up. If you want real JOY, the TREND is to BREEZE to church regularly on Sunday mornings. But too many WOODBURY their heads in a pillow and remain in bed or work in their yard to make it sparkle, forgetting that the Lord's Day is made for LESTOIL.

But where the Lord is given foremost consideration a DOVE will never have to send an S.O.S.. Don't trust LUX chances by neglecting our worship together.

Maybe we ought to DIAL you and remind you of those IVORY palaces up yonder. This is not just silly BAB-O. Worship is intended to add to your LIFEBOUY, so why not be faithful and WISK yourself out of bed early Sunday. Dress up SPIC'N'SPAN, DASH like a COMET to God's house of prayer. DRAISE to God, you'll get a wonderful KLENZER for your soul. PLEDGE yourself and PRIDE of conscience will be yours. Life will be full of ZEST.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B644, B667] crossed out and replaced with S570.

Original title [STORY Using Names of Soaps and Detergents] is modified to read SERMON Using Names of Soaps and Detergents.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ADVERTISING ; Anecdote ; Cleanser ; Consumerism ; Domesticity ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; HOUSECLEANING ; PARODY ; Sermon ; Soap