Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LOCAL HAUNTED HOUSE STORY
THERE WAS AN OLD HOUSE NEAR HERE, BUT THIS WAS QUITE A FEW YEARS
AGO, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS HAUNTED BECAUSE THEY WOULD HEAR
NOISES COMING FROM IT AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A HORRIBLE SMELL
WOULD COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. FINALLY, THEY FOUND AN OLD WOMAN
IN THE BASEMENT WHO HAD BEEN LIVING THERE AND EATING THE RATS
TO KEEP ALIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 09-19-1967
IN POLAND, ON A CHILD'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, YOU PUT
FIVE OBJECTS IN FRONT OF HIM OR HER. THESE OBJECTS
ARE: A BOOK, A ROSARY, A WINE GLASS, A PAIR OF
SCISSORS, AND CIGARETTES. IF A CHILD CHOOSES
THE BOOK, HE WILL BE INTELLIGENT. IF HE CHOOSES
THE ROSARY, HE WILL BE A PRIEST OR NUN. IF HE
CHOOSES THE WINE GLASS, HE WILL BE AN ALCOHOLIC.
IF THE CIGARETTES, HE'LL BE A TRAMP. IF A CHILD
CHOOSES THE SCISSORS, SHE'LL BE A GOOD HOUSEWIFE.
ON MY FIRST BIRTHDAY (THERESA) I CHOSE THE
SCISSORS AND I CAN SEW AND COOK QUITE WELL..
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining future of young |
Date learned: 02-01-1972
WILL IT BE A BOY OR GIRL?
IF A MOTHER KNITS GIRLISH THINGS DURING HER PREGNANCY,
SHE WILL GET A GIRL. IF SHE LOOKS AT BOYISH THINGS
AND MAKES THEM, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
DR. THORDEN SAID THIS ONE DAY WHEN A BOY ASKED HER
IF YOU CAN TELL BEFOREHAND IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE A
BOY OR A GIRL. WE WERE STUDYING REPRODUCTION AT THIS
TIME. SHE SAID THIS AS A PASSING THING, NOT AS THE
REAL ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 11-14-1969
SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER ( COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; GOOD LUCK; SALT ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )
FOR GOOD LUCK YOU THROW SALT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17 |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
NARRATIVE
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY A LADY LIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA (1934). SHE
WAS 16 AT THE TIME AND PREGNANT WITH HER FIRST CHILD. CHILDREN
IN THOSE DAYS WERE DELIVERED AT HOME. NEXT DOOR TO HER LIVED A
MRS. FLORENTINE MCADAMS. SHE WAS THE TOWN MIDWIFE WHO ASSISTED
THE HICK DOCTOR, DOCTOR DICKINSON. USUALLY SHE WENT TO ALL
DELIVERIES, BUT HIS LADY DIDN'T WANT HER AROUND. HER MOTHER HELPED
HER INSTEAD, AND THE BABY WAS BORN PREMATURELY, WEIGHING THREE
POUNDS. HER MOTHER AND HUSBAND TOOK CARE OF THE CHILD TO KEEP HIM
ALIVE. THIS LADY SAID THAT AFTER THE BABY WAS BORN, EACH TIME SHE
LAID IN BED, THE HEAD PART PRESSED DOWN AND SHE FELT AS IF SHE'D
FALL OUT OF BED. HER MOTHER CAME IN WHEN SHE CALLED, BUT SHE SAID
SHE SAW NO ONE IN THE HOUSE. AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES,
THEY PROPPED EACH CORNER OF HER BED UP WITH PILLOWS ON A HUGE
MAHOGANY CHAIR, BUT STILL IT SAGGED. WHEN HER MOTHER SLEPT WITH
HER, SHE FELT THE SAME THING. THE NEXT NIGHT THEY PUT RAZOR BLADES
ABOVE THE BEDROOM DOOR. IT NEVER HAPPENED AFTER THAT. A FEW DAYS
LATER, MR. MCADAMS TOLD MR. SASNOWSKI THAT MRS. MCADAMS WAS VERY
ANGRY BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T ASSIST HIS WIFE IN HER BIRTH. BOTH MEN
HAD SEEN HER TURN FROZEN STIFF IN A TRANCE. SHE WAS FROZEN SOLID
AND HAD NO FOOD OR MOVEMENT FOR THREE DAYS. THIS ALWAYS WAS DONE
WHEN SHE WANTED SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. SHE WENT INTO THIS TRANCE
WHEN SHE WAS TOLD SHE COULDN'T ASSIST THE DOCTOR AND SHE CAME OUT
OF THIS ONLY AFTER THE RAZOR BLADES WERE PUT ABOVE THE DOORS. MRS.
SASNOWSKI BELIEVES THAT THE EVIL SPIRITS HAD MADE HER BED SAG AFTER
MRS. MCADAMS WENT INTO THIS TRANCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHITE SPOTS
THERE IS A SUEPRSTITION REGARDING WHITE SPOTS ON ONE'S
FINGERNAILS. EACH SPOT HAS A MEANING:
FRIEND FOE LETTER BOW JOURNEY
THUMB INDEX MIDDLE RING LITTLE
Submitter comment:
SHE READ THIS WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 18 YRS. OLD IN AN OLD BOOK
ON SUPERSTITIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 07-23-1964
THEY'RE CHANGING THE NAME OF OLD MARINER'S CHURCH TO
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY SHOTGUN
WEDDINGS THERE.
Submitter comment:
SHE LEARNED IT FROM A NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET
FROM HER, WHOSE NAME IS MRS. PAUL HIRZEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CARPOOL ; EAST SIDE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 04-04-1967
SCARED BABY
A YOUNG MAN, SOON TO BE A FATHER, WALKED INTO THE HOUSE ONE
EVENING WITH A LARGE GREAT DANE. THIS SCARED HIS YOUNG WIFE
A GREAT DEAL AS SHE HAD NOT EXPECTED EITHER HE OR THE DOG.
A FEW MONTHS LATER WHEN THE WOMAN WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO DELIVER
HER CHILD, SHE TOOK ALONG HER MOTHER. THE MOTHER CAME INTO THE
DELIVERY ROOM WITH HER, PREPARED TO DO WHAT SHE MUST. IF THE
CHILD WAS BORN WITH ANY MARKS, SHE WOULD RUB THESE WITH THE
PLACENTA TO ERASE THEM. BOTH MOTHER AND DAUGHTER BELIEVED THAT
THE BABY WOULD BE MARKED OR SCARRED BECAUSE THE MOTHER HAD BEEN
SCARED DURING HER PREGNANCY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-10-1967
FIGURE OF SPEECH
MARY SLOAN IS NOT THE BIGGEST CATFISH IN MY SEA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DETROIT ZOO
James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR ; PERSONAL NAME
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 08-20-1967
Entry filtered.
PROVERB
OLD CHINESE PROVERB IS THERE IS GOLD IN BOOKS
Submitter comment: TOLD DURING A LECTURE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-28-1971
PROVERB
OLD CHINESE PROVERB IS THERE IS GOLD IN BOOKS
Submitter comment: TOLD DURING A LECTURE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WEALTH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-28-1971
PROVERB
OF ALL THE SLAVES THE LOWEST IS HE WHO IS A SLAVE TO HIS PASSIONS
Submitter comment: FROM CICERO
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; HEDONISM ; OBSERVATION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 12-00-1963
Entry filtered.
NONE
THE TERM DUTCH TREAT COMES FROM HOLLAND WHERE THE GIRLS PAY FOR
THE GUYS' WAY, OR THEY EACH PAY THEIR OWN, WHILE ON A DATE. ALSO,
THE GIRLS WILL FREQUENTLY ASK THE GUYS OUT.
Submitter comment: NONE
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: CA03001974
THE OLD AGE PENSION CHECK
WHEN OUR OLD AGE PENSION CHECK
COMES TO THE DOOR, WE WON'T HAVE TO DREAD THE POOR HOUSE ANYMORE,
THO' WE'RE OLD AND GREY, GOOD TIMES WILL BE BACK TO STAY, WHEN
OUR OLD AGE PENSION CHECK COMES TO THE DOOR. WHEN OUR OLD AGE
PENSION CHECK COMES TO THE DOOR, DEAR OLD GRAMMA WON'T BE
LONESOME ANYMORE, SHE'LL BE WAITING AT THE GATE, EVERYNIGHT
SHE'LL HAVE A DATE, WHEN OUR OLD AGE PENSION CHECK COMES TO THE
DOOR. GROW A FLOWING LONG WHITE BEARD AND USE A CANE, 'CAUSE
YOU'RE IN YOUR SECOND CHILDHOOD DON'T COMPLAIN. LIFE WILL JUST
BEGIN AT SIXTY AND WE'LL ALL BE VERY FRISKY, WHEN OUR OLD AGE
PENSION CHECK COMES TO THE DOOR. POWER AND PAINT WILL BE
ABOLISHED ON THAT DAY, AND HOOP SKIRTS THEN WILL BE BROUGHT BACK
INTO PLAY. FADED CHECKS WILL BE RAGE AND OLD MAIDS WILL TELL THEIR
AGE WHEN OUR OLD AGE PENSION CHECK COMES TO THE DOOR. ALL THE
DRUG STORES WILL GO BANKRUPT ON THAT DAY, FOR COSMETICS THEN WILL
ALL BE PUT AWAY. I'LL PUT FLAPPERS ON THE SHELVES, AND GET A
GRANDMA FOR MYSELF, WHEN OUR OLD AGE PENSION CHECK COMES TO THE
DOOR. THERE'S A MAN WHO TURNED THIS COUNTRY UPSIDE DOWN, WITH HIS
OLD AGE RUMORS GOING 'ROUND, IF YOU WANT IN ON THE FUN, SEND YOUR
DIME TO WASHINGTON, AND THE OLD AGE PENSION MAN WILL BE AROUND.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
Date learned: CA00001973
WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU
YOU LEFT ME AND YOU WENT AWAY, YOU
SAID YOU'LD BE BACK IN JUST A DAY, YOU'VE BROKEN EVERY PROMISE YOU
LEFT ME ALL ALONE, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DID DEAR, BUT I DO KNOW
THAT YOU'RE GONE. (CHORUS) I'M WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU, I CAN'T
SLEEP A WINK, THAT IS TRUE, I'M HOPING AND I'M PRAYING AS MY
HEART BREAKS RIGHT IN TWO, WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU. NOW
DARLING, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU WELL, LOVE YOU MORE THAN I COULD
EVER TELL, I THOUGHT THAT YOU WANTED ME AND ALWAYS WOULD BE MINE,
BUT YOU WENT AND LEFT ME HERE WITH TROUBLES ON MY MIND.
(REPEAT CHORUS) SOMEDAY YOU MAY BE LONESOME TOO, WALKING THE
FLOOR IS GOOD FOR YOU, JUST KEEP RIGHT ON A-WALKING AND IT WON'T
HURT YOU TO CRY, REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YOU AND I WILL UNTIL I DIE.
(REPEAT CHORUS)
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
Date learned: CA00001973
TOM DOOLEY
HANG YOUR HEAD TOM DOOLEY, HANG YOUR HEAD AND CRY, KILLED POOR LAURA
FOSTER, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DIE. YOU TOOK HER BY THE HILLSIDE AS
GOD ALMIGHTY KNOWS, YOU TOOK HER BY THE HILLSIDE AND THERE YOU HID
HER CLOTHES. YOU TOOK HER BY THE ROADSIDE WHERE YOU BEGGED TO BE
EXCUSED, YOU TOOK HER BY THE ROADSIDE AND THERE YOU TOOK HER SHOES.
(REFRAIN) (FIRST SENTENCE) WELL PICK UP MY OLD VIOLIN AND PLAY IT
ALL YOU PLEASE, BY THIS TIME TOMORROW IT'LL BE NO GOOD TO ME.
(REFRAIN)
I DUG A HOLE FOUR FEET WIDE, I DUG IT THREE FOOT DEEP, THREW THE
COLD CLAY OVER HER AND TROMPED HER WITH MY FEET.(REFRAIN) WELL PICK
UP MY OLD VIOLIN AND PLAY IT ALL YOU PLEASE, BY THIS TIME TOMORROW
I'LL BE HANGIN' FROM A WIDE OAK TREE. THIS WORLD AND ONE MORE THEN,
WHERE DO YOU RECKON I'D BE? IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR GRAYSON I'D
A-BEEN IN TENNESSEE. (REFRAIN)
Submitter comment:
IT WAS REMARKED BY JEF THAT DOOLEY'S REAL NAME WAS DOLITTLE.
ALSO, THE SONG TAKES PLACE SHORTLY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. GRAYSON
IS OBVIOUSLY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF SOME SORT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
Date learned: CA03001974
"SHINEYMAN"
THE SHINEYMAN WAS A JUNKMAN, NO, CAN'T SAY THAT CAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE SAME. HE WAS MORE OF A CELEBRITY. HE ALWAYS WORE A FUNNY OLD HAT. HE HAD LARGE TRINKETS AND USED BROOMS HANGING FROM HIS WAGON. HE ALWAYS TOOTED A FUNNY HORN. I THOUGHT HE WAS A KIDNAPPER BECAUSE HE WAS UGLY, DIRTY, AND SMELLY. HE WAS A REGULAR AND HAD HIS OWN ROUTE. EVERYDAY HE WOULD COME UP AND DOWN GRANDMA'S ALLEY AND PICK UP OLD CARPETS, AND OTHER USED OBJECTS WHICH PEOPLE HAD DISCARDED I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT HIS TITLE BUT WE JUST CALLED HIM THE SHINEYMAN, AND NEVER ASKED WHY.
APPARENTLY, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAD ITS OWN SHINEYMAN.
Submitter comment: PRONOUNCED "SHEE-NEE"
Where learned: DETROIT ; MOTHERS GRANDMOTHERS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): SHEENY MAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 00001940S
SIX NIGHTS DRUNK
I CAME HOME THE OTHER NIGHT AS DRUNK AS I COULD BE, AND I
SAW A HORSE IN THE STABLE WHERE MY HORSE OUGHT TO BE. SO I SAID TO
MY WIFE, MY PRETTY LITTLE WIFE, "WON'T YOU TELL ME PLEASE,, WHAT'S
THIS HORSE A'DOIN' WHERE MY HORSE OUGHT TO BE?" SHE SAID, "YOU
BLIND FOOL, YOU DRUNKEN FOOL, CAN'T YOU NEVER SEE? THAT'S
NOTHIN' BUT A MILKCOW YOUR MOTHER GAVE TO ME." WELL I'VE
TRAVELED THIS WIDE WORLD OVER AND SOME MIGHTY STRANGE THINGS I'VE
SAW, BUT A SADDLE ON A MILK COW I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I CAME HOME THE OTHER NIGHT AS DRUNK AS I COULD BE, AND I SAW A
HAT ON THE TABLE WHERE MY HAT OUGHT TO BE. SO I SAID TO MY WIFE,
MY PRETTY LITTLE WIFE, "WON'T YOU TELL ME PLEASE, WHAT'S THIS HAT
A'DOIN' WHERE MY HAT OUGHT TO BE?" SHE SAID, "YOU BLIND FOOL, YOU
DRUNKEN FOOL, AIN'T IT PLAIN TO SEE, THAT'S NOTHING BUT A
CHAMBER POT YOUR MOTHER GIVE TO ME. WELL I'VE TRAVELED THIS WIDE
WORLD OVER, AND SOME CRAZY THINGS I'VE SAW, BUT A CHAMBER POT MARKED
7 AND 3/4 I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I CAME HOME THE OTHER NIGHT
AS DRUNK AS I COULD BE, AND I SAW SOME PANTS ON THE BEDPOST WHERE
MY PANTS OUGHT TO BE. SO I SAID TO MY WIFE, MY PRETTY LITTLE
WIFE, "WON'T YOU TELL ME PLEASE? WHAT'S THESE PANTS A'DOIN' WHERE
MY PANTS OUGHT TO BE?" SHE SAID, "YOU BLIND FOOL, YOU DRUNKEN FOOL,
CAN'T YOU NEVER SEE? IT'S NOTHING BUT A TABLE CLOTH YOUR MOTHER
GIVE TO ME." WELL I'VE TRAVELLED THIS WIDE WORLD OVER AND SOME
CRAZY THINGS I'VE SAW, BUT A TABLE CLOTH WITH A ZIPPER I AIN'T
NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I CAME HOME THE OTHER NIGHT AS DRUNK AS I COULD
BE, AND I SAW A HEAD ON MY PILLOW WHERE MY HEAD OUGHT TO BE. SO I
SAID TO MY WIFE, MY PRETTY LITTLE WIFE, "WON'T YOU TELL ME PLEASE,
WHAT'S THIS HEAD A'DOIN' WHERE MY HEAD OUGHT TO BE?" SHE SAID,
"YOU BLIND FOOL, YOU DRUNKEN FOOL, AIN'T IT PLAIN TO SEE? THAT'S
NOTHING BUT A CABBAGE HEAD YOUR MOTHER GIVE TO ME." WELL I'VE
TRAVELLED THIS WIDE WORLD OVER AND SOME MIGHTY CRAZY THINGS I'VE SAW,
BUT A CABBAGE HEAD WITH A MUSTACHE I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I
CAME HOME THE OTHER NIGHT AS DRUNK AS I COULD BE, AND I SAW AN ASS
ON MY MATTRESS WHERE MY ASS OUGHT TO BE. SO I SAID TO MY WIFE, MY
PRETTY LITTLE WIFE, "NOW WON'T YOU TELL ME PLEASE? WHAT'S THIS ASS
A'DOIN' WHERE MY ASS OUGHT TO BE?" SHE SAID, "YOU BLIND FOOL, YOU
DRUNKEN FOOL, AIN'T IT PLAIN TO SEE? THAT'S NOTHING BUT A PUMPKIN
YOUR MOTHER GIVE TO ME." WELL, I'VE TRAVELLED THIS WIDE WORLD OVER
SOME CRAZY THINGS I'VE SAW, BUT A PUMPKIN WITH AN ASS-HOLE I AIN'T
NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I CAME HOME THE OTHER NIGHT AS DRUNK AS I COULD
BE, AND I SAW A COCK A'LAYIN' WHERE MY COCK OUGHT TO BE. SO I SAID
TO MY WIFE, MY PRETTY LITTLE WIFE, "WON'T YOU TELL ME PLEASE? WHAT'S
THIS COCK A'DOIN' WHERE MY COCK OUGHT TO BE?" SHE SAID, "YOU BLIND
FOOL, YOU DRUNKEN FOOL, AIN'T IT PLAIN TO SEE? THAT'S NOTHING BUT A
CANDLE STICK YOUR MOTHER GIVE TO ME. WELL I'VE TRAVELLED THIS WIDE
WORLD OVER AND SOME CRAZY THINGS I'VE SAW, BUT A CANDLE STICK WITH
BOLLOCHS I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Submitter comment: USUALLY ONLY FIVE VERSES ARE SUNG IN PUBLIC.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
Date learned: CA03001974