THERE WAS A MAN WHO USED TO WORK FOR ONE OF THE POWER COMPANIES
IN PITTSBURGH. IT SEEMS THAT ONE DAY HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH A HIGH
TENSION WIRE AND WAS HORRIBLY DISFUGURED. THE SHOCK TURNED
HIS SKIN A GREEN COLOR AND GREATLY DISTORTED HIS FACE.
THIS MAN NOW LIVES BY HIMSELF IN A RAMSHACKLE HOUSE OUT IN
SOUTH PARK. HE IS KNOWN TO SCARE CHILDREN AND CHASE ANYONE
WHO GOES NEAR HIS PLACE AWAY. PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT HIM. TONY HAS NEVER SEEN THE MAN
BUT APPARENTLY HIS EXISTENCE IS ACCEPTED AS A FACT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DISFIGUREMENT

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face

Date learned: 11-08-1968

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CUSTOM

THIS IS A SCOTCH HARVEST CUSTOM KNOWN AS THE "OLD WOMAN." THE
FIRST FARMER WHO COMPLETES HIS HARVESTING MAKES AN "OLD WOMAN" OUT
OF THE LOOSE CORN CUT. THIS FIGURE IS PASSED TO EACH FARMER. THE
LAST FARMER TO COMPLETE HIS HARVESTING MUST KEEP THE FIGURE TILL
THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE FIGURE IS CARRIED ON A CART BY THE FARMERS.

Where learned: RESIDENCE

Keyword(s): EFFIGY

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving
BELIEF -- Number

Date learned: DATE NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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ADAM SONG

CHORUS
THE S STANDS FOR SIGMA, THE P FOR P-I, PI.
THE S STANDS FOR SIGMA, THE P FOR P-I, PI.
AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND YOU, OR GAZE INTO THE SKY.
YOU WILL SEE THAT NAUGHT IS WRITTEN, BUT THE NAME OF SIGMA PI.

ADAM WAS THE FIRST MAN TO WEAR A SIG PI PIN,
NOAH WAS THE SECOND, THEY HAD TO LET HIM IN,
MOSES WAS THE THIRD ONE, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN,
WHEN JULIUS CAESAR CAME ALONG, THEY PLEDGED THE SON OF A GUN.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO U. OF D., HE THOUGHT HE'D JOIN A FRAT,
HE THOUGHT HE'D TAKE A LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE HE WAS AT.
BECAUSE HE WAS A FELLOW WE KNEW HE'D BE ALL RIGHT,
THE COLORS THAT HE WORE NEXT DAY WERE LAVENDER AND WHITE.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO U OF D., HE THOUGHT HE'D JOIN A FRAT,
HE THOUGHT HE'D TAKE A LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE HE WAS AT.
BECAUSE HE WAS A FELLOW WE KNEW HE': BE ALL RIGHT,
THE COLORS THAT HE WORE NEXT DAY WERE LAVENDER AND WHITE.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED UP TO HEAVEN TO SEE WHO ALL WAS THERE,
HE FOUND A BUNCH A-HANGING AROUND THE FOOT OF THE GOLDEN STAIRS,
SOME WERE SMOKING CIGARETTES, THEY ALL WERE FEELING HIGH,
THEY ALL WERE DAMN GOOD FRIENDS OF HIS, THEY ALL WERE SIGMA PI'S.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO HADES TO SEE THE POOR LOST SOULS,
HE FOUND A BUNCH OF THETA XI'S A-ROASTING ON THE COALS,
FOR THE TEKES AMD THEATA TAUS THE SIZZLE HAD BEGUN,
WHILE SIGMA PI'S IN VELVET CHAIRS WERE WATCHING ALL THE FUN.
CHORUS
THEN IN CAME OLD BEELZEBUB, OF HELL HE WAS THE KING;
AND ALL THE LITTLE IMPS CAME IN AND THEY BEGAN TO SING.
THEY SAW THE GANG GIVE HIM A GRIP, AND THEN THEY HEARD THE CRY.
THAT HE'S A CHARTER MENBER AND A DAMN GOOD SIGMA PI.
CHORUS
NOW DON'T BE DISCONCERTED IF YOU MISS THE NARROW PATH.
OR IF YOU FLUNK YOUR MORALS LIKE YOU USED TO FLUNK YOUR MATH,
AND DON'T BE DISCONCERTED WHEN YOU HEAR THE FUNERAL KNELL,
FOR WE HAVE A STRONG ALUMNI IN THE VERY DEPTHS OF HELL.
CHORUS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): BIBLICAL FIGURES ; FRATERNITY SONG

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS THE GREATEST BUS IN THE WORLD?
COLUMBUS

Where learned: SAINT LEONARD SCHOOL ; DETROIT, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HISTORICAL ; NAME HISTORICAL FIGURE

Subject headings:

RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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SEPERATION OF FRIENDS

IF YOU ARE WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH SOMEONE AND YOU SEPERATE
TO GO AROUND A POLE OR OBSTACLE, YOU ARE GOING TO FIGHT.

Submitter comment: COULDN'T REMEMBER WHERE SHE HAD LEARNED THIS.

Data entry tech comment: THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS NO LONGER
SPEAKING TO ME BECAUSE OF A FIGHT. WE WERE SEPERATED BY A PARKED
CAR, AND THIS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE OF OUR FIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FIGHTS

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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GRAY DUCK

CIRCLE FORMATION. THE CHILD WHO IS "IT" WALKS
AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE. THE CHILDREN HE
TAPS (TO THEM) HE SAYS "DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK."
WHEN HE TOUCHES THE CHILD AND SAYS "GRAY DUCK" HE
STARTS TO RUN AND THE CHILD TAGGED FOLLOWS, TRYING
TO CATCH HIM. IF THE CAUGHT CHILD DOES NOT GET
BACK TO HIS SPOT IN THE CIRCLE IN TIME, HE MUST
SQUAT LIKE A DUCK IN THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE AND
THE GAME CONTINUES TILL ALL THE DUCKS ARE SQUATTING.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM KINDERGARDEN CHILDREN.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR: GRAY ; CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting
SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia

Date learned: 12-05-1966

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DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK

ALL CHILDREN (SQUAT POSITION) ARE IN A CIRCLE. ONE
PERSON WALKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE AND TAPS
EACH ONE ON THE HEAD, SAYING, "DUCK" ON EACH ONE.
WHEN HE HITS A HEAD AND SAYS "GRAY DUCK" THAT PERSON
MUST CHASE THE TAPPER. THE TAPPER MUST GET TO THE
OTHER CHILD'S POSITION IN THE CIRCLE AND SQUAT
BEFORE HE IS CAUGHT. IF HE IS CAUGHT, HE NOW TAKES
THE PLACE OF THE ONE OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE AND THE GAME
CONTINUES.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR: GRAY ; CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting

Date learned: 00001964-1965

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DRINKING GAME

THUMPER: A GAME PLAYED BY FOUR OR MORE AT A PARTY.
EVERYONE FORMS A CIRCLE, EACH PLAYER PICKS SOME
KIND OF A MANUAL SIGNAL TO BE HIS OWN. STARTER BEGINS
GAME BY CLLING OUT, "WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME?"
THE REST ANSWER, "THUMPER!" EVERYONE IS ALSO BEATING
ON THE FLOOR WITH THEIR HANDS. THE STARTER THEN GIVES
HIS SIGNAL FOLLOWED BY THAT OF ANOTHER PLAYER. THE
OTHER PLAYER MUST CATCH HIS SIGNAL, DO IT, AND THEN
GIVE SOMEONE ELSE'S. THE FIRST TO MISS MUST CHUG
A BEER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE ; DIALOGUE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory

Date learned: 03-00-1970

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BUZZ

BUZZ IS A COUNTING GAME. THE PEOPLE PLAYING SIT IN
A CIRCLE AND COUNT OFF. THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO
LARGE NUMBERS AND THE PLAING STOPS ONLY WHEN
SOMEONE MISSES. SEVEN AND MULTIPLES OF SEVEN ARE
REPLACED BY THE WORD BUZZ. EXAMPLE: ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE, SIX, BUZZ, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory

Date learned: 01-23-1971

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SAY "BREAD AND BUTTER" WHEN AN OBJECT COMES BETWEEN YOU
AND YOUR COMPANION OR YOU WILL HAVE AN ARGUMENT.

Where learned: MISSOURI ; KANSAS CITY

James Callow Keyword(s): FIGHT

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Human condition and activities
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00001950'S

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JOHNNY APPLESEED

JOHNNY APPLESEED WAS TO HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT
THEIR FARM HOUSE. FOR LETTING HIM SLEEP THERE, HE
PLANTED AN APPLE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. WHICH IS
STILL THERE TODAY.

Submitter comment: DERBY'S FARM HOUSE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THEM FROM
PAST GENERATIONS. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT TWO MILES
NORTHEAST FROM CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CARSONVILLE

Keyword(s): LEGENDARY FIGURE

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero

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JOHNNY APPLESEED

JOHNNY APPLESEED WAS TO HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT
THEIR FARM HOUSE. FOR LETTING HIM SLEEP THERE, HE
PLANTED AN APPLE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. WHICH IS
STILL THERE TODAY.

Submitter comment: DERBY'S FARM HOUSE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THEM FROM
PAST GENERATIONS. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT TWO MILES
NORTHEAST FROM CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CARSONVILLE

Keyword(s): LEGENDARY FIGURE

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero

Date learned: 05-00-1963

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