Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WART CURE
CUT A RAW POTATO IN HALF. APPLY BOTH HALVES OF THE MEAT OF THE
POTATO TO THE WART. GO OUTSIDE AND DIG A BIG HOLE. BURY THE
POTATO IN THIS HOLE. WHEN THE POTATO ROTS, THE WART WILL BE GONE.
Submitter comment:
THIS CURE WAS DISCOVERED AT A TIME WHEN THE COMMON MAN COULD NOT
AFFORD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT. BASED ON PAST RESULTS, MY
AUNT BELIEVES THAT THIS CURE WORKS.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
STY CURE
BOIL TEA. REMOVE THE HOT TEA BAG OR, IF USING TEA LEAVES, MAKE A
POULTICE FROM USED TEA LEAVES. CLOSE THE AFFLICTED EYE AND APPLY
THE TEA BAG OR POULTICE.
Submitter comment:
SUPPOSEDLY, TEA DRAWS OUT INFECTION. WHATEVER THE REASON, THE
CURE IS USUALLY EFFECTIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
STY CURE
CLOSE THE AFFLICTED EYE. RUB A GOLD WEDDING BAND ACROSS THE
LID OF THE AFFLICTED EYE.
Submitter comment:
IT IS BELIEVED THAT GOLD HAS THE POWER TO DRAW OUT INFECTIONS.
THOUGH THE INFORMANT HAS NEVER PRACTICED THIS CURE, HER RELATIVES
WHO ARE ALSO OF POLISH DECENT, HAVE ADMINISTERED THIS CURE.
I AM FAMILIAR WITH MEXICAN-AMERICANS WHO CLAIM THAT THE WEDDING
BAND STY CURE IS EXCLUSIVELY MEXICAN.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
STY CURE
GRATE A RAW PEELED POTATO. MAKE A POULTICE FROM THE GRATED
POTATO. APPLY THE POULTICE TO THE AFFLICTED EYE.
Submitter comment:
POTATOES ARE BELIEVED TO BE ABLE TO DRAW OUT AN INFECTION OR TO
DRAW OUT A FEVER.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
PIOLON, THE POLISH STOMACH ACHE CURE
PIOLON, A STOMACH ACHE CURE, IS A COMBINATION OF WHISKEY AND
BITTERS. THE MIXTURE IS AGED UNTIL THE LEAVES OF THE BITTERS
BECOME DISCOLORED AND ARE PENETRATED BY THE WHISKEY.
Submitter comment:
AS A GENERAL RULE, THE OLDER THE PIOLON, THE MORE POTENT AND THE
MORE EFFECTIVE IT IS. PIOLON IS FOUL SMELLING AND FOULD TASTING.
PERSONALLY, I FIND PIOLON TO BE A CURE FAR WORSE THAN THE DISEASE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
BOIL CURE
BABKA LEAVES APPLIED TO BOILS DRAWS OUT INFECTIONS.
Submitter comment:
BABKA LEAVES ARE FOUND IN BACKYARDS AMONG THE GRASS. THEY ARE WIDE
(ABOUT 2 INCHES AROUND) AND SIMILAR TO THE LEAVES OF A DELPHINIUM.
BABKA LEAVES COME IN CLUSTERS. THERE ARE USUALLY THREE TO FOUR
LEAVES IN A CLUMP. YOU MUST WASH THE LEAVES BEFORE USING THEM.
SUPPOSEDLY, THIS CURE WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
"BABKA" IS A POLISH WORD.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
CURE FOR BUMPS ON THE HEAD
BEFORE ICE WAS A HOUSEHOLD ITEM, THE STEEL BLADE OF A BUTCHER KNIFE
WAS APPLIED TO RECENTLY RECEIVED BUMPS ON HEADS.
Submitter comment:
THIS CURE WAS BELIEVED EFFECTIVE EVEN AFTER 'ICE BOXES' WERE
COMMON. I (THE COLLECTOR) REMEMBER, WHEN I WAS A CHILD, EVERY
TIME I BUMPED MY HEAD, ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD COME AT ME
WITH BUTCHER KNIVES. IT IS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE STEEL IN THE
BLADE OR THE COLDNESS OF THE BLADE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REDUCING
THE SWELLING OF BUMPS ON THE HEAD.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
SORE THROAT CURE
IF YOU HAVE A SORE THROAT, GARGLE WITH HERRING JUICE.
Submitter comment:
THIS CURE IS BASED ON THE MEDICINAL POWERS OF SALT. (HERRING
JUICE IS MOSTLY SALT.) THIS CURE IS CONSIDERED VILE, BUT EFFECTIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
HOW TO REMOVE A FOREIGN OBJECT FROM YOUR EYE.
WHEN A FOREIGN OBJECT ENTERS YOUR EYE, PULL THE UPPER EYE LID
OF THE AFFLICTED EYE RAPIDLY AND REPEATEDLY. WHILE PULLING THE
EYE LID, SPIT CONTINUOUSLY. THIS PROCEDURE ALLOWS YOU TO SPIT
THE FOREIGN OBJECT FROM YOUR EYE.
Submitter comment:
AS A CHILD, THE INFORMANT BELIEVED THAT THIS CURE WAS EFFECTIVE.
NOW, BOTH THE INFORMANT AND I REGARD THIS CURE AS AN EXAMPLE OF
IMAGINATION.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SPITTLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
DAISY, DAISY WHAT YA THINK I DID?
I UPSIDE A CRADLE AND I NEARLY KILLED A KID.
THE KID BEGAN TO HOLLER.
I PULLED HIM BY THE COLLAR.
THE COLLAR GOT LOOSE.
AND I GOT THE DEUCE. MM
'DEUCE' IS A SYNONYM FOR 'GETTING YELLED AT.'
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS THE JUMP-ROPE RHYME IN THE LATE 1920'S AND 1930'S.
BUT THE ORIGINAL DATE OF THIS RHYME IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE USERS
AS MUCH OLDER THAN 1920.
THIS IS STILL RECITED IN 1980.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
ICE CREAM SODA
GINGER ALE POP
TELL ME THE INITIALS
OF YOUR SWEETHEART. MM
JUMP YOUR WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A JUMP-ROPE RHYME WHICH HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN
THROUGH GENERATIONS OF JUMP-ROPERS AND IS STILL RECITED IN 1980.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse BELIEF -- Use of Object Jumprope rhymes (rhymes themselves are C750.560) |
Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
CINDERELLA
DRESSED IN YELLA
WENT DOWNTOWN
TO MEET A FELLA
HOW MANY FELLAS DID SHE MEET? MM
COUNT BY TENS AS YOU JUMP. THE ROPE IS TURNED FASTER AND FASTER.
Submitter comment:
EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS JUMP-ROPE RHYME. IT'S AS COMMON AS ANTS
AT A PICNIC.
THIS IS STILL RECITED IN 1980.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980
PREDICTION
WHEN YOU HEAR A DOG HOWL, SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU WILL DIE. IF,
AFTER THE DOG HAS HOWLED, YOU LOOK BETWEEN ITS EARS, YOU WILL SEE
THE IMAGE OF THE PERSON THAT WILL DIE.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH HE NEVER WITNESSED IT, THIS PHENOMENON SCARED THE INFORMANT
WHEN HE WAS A CHILD. AS AN ADULT THE INFORMANT, LIKE MYSELF,
DISREGARDS THIS SUPERSTITION. THE INFORMANT WAS FIRST INTRO-
DUCED TO THIS PREDICTION BY HIS FATHER IN DETROIT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980
SUPERSTITION
NEVER GIVE YOURSELF A MANICURE ON SUNDAY. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL
HAVE A WEEK OF BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
SOME OLD LADY TOLD THIS SUPERSTITION TO MY MOTHER YEARS AGO.
MY MOTHER RELAYED THIS SUPERSTITION TO MY SISTER AND ME. MY
SISTER BELIEVES THE SUPERSTITION. I ONLY BELIEVE IT IF I DO
MY NAILS ON SUNDAY AND HAVE A WEEK OF BAD LUCK.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GROOMING ; SABBATARIANISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980
BLESSING OF THE CHALK: EPIPHANY
ON THE EPIPHANY OF JESUS, POLISH CHURCHES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
FAITH BLESS CHALK. PARISHIONERS THEN TAKE A PIECE OF BLESSED
CHALK HOME. USING THE BLESSED CHALK, THE PARISHIONER MARKS THE
DOORWAYS OF HIS HOME WITH "KMB."
Submitter comment:
'KMB' IS THE INITIALS OF THE THREE WISE MEN--KASPAR, MELCHIOR,
AND BALTHAZAR. THE DOORS ARE MARKED TO KEEP THE FAMILY SAFE AND
HEALTHY. THE INFORMANT NO LONGER PRACTICES THIS.
THE INFORMANT LEARNT THIS IN DETROIT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany |
Date learned: CA00001890S ; 01-13-1980
PREDICTION
DROPPING SILVERWARE WHILE AT THE DINNER TABLE PREDICTS THAT
COMPANY WILL VISIT AND THE TYPE OF COMPANY. IF A FORK DROPS, A
WOMAN WILL VISIT. A YOUNG PERSON OR CHILD WILL VISIT IF A SPOON
DROPS. A DROPPED KNIFE DENOTES A MAN WHILE A DROPPED TABLESPOON
INDICATES A WHOLE FAMILY OF VISITORS.
Submitter comment:
THOUGH I DON'T THINK THIS IS BELIEVED, IT IS REFERRED TO AT LEAST
ONCE A WEEK.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Use of Object Domestic object, wax, needle, dishware |
Date learned: 01-13-1980
PROVERB
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T TAKE BATHS IN THE
DAYTIME.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A REVISION OF A PROVERB. I FIND THIS PROVERB MORE
INTERESTING THAN THE ORIGINAL BECAUSE THE REVISION PLACES GREATER
EMPHASIS ON THE BARE FACT.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR PARODY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-13-1980
PROVERB
TOO THICK DON'T STICK.
Submitter comment:
THE TENOR OF THIS METAPHOR IS A FRIEND; THE VEHICLE IS WALL PAPER
PASTE. IF WALL PAPER PASTE IS TOO THICK, IT LOSES ITS ADHESIVE
QUALITIES. JUST LIKE PASTE, FRIENDS THAT ARE TOO CLOSE (TOO THICK),
OFTEN BECOME ENEMIES. THIS WAS A FAVORITE SAYING OF MY GRANDMOTHER.
NEITHER THE INFORMANT NOR THE COLLECTOR KNOWS IF THIS WAS
ORIGINALLY IN POLISH.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: CA00001890S ; 01-13-1980
PROVERB
TOO FAST DON'T LAST
Submitter comment:
I'M SURE THIS PROVERB, ANOTHER OF MY GRANDMOTHER'S FAVORITES,
IS A METAPHOR. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS LOST. LIKE ITS TWIN
PROVERB (SQ 771820-33), THIS PROVERB REFERS TO FRIENDS. IF YOU
STRIKE UP A FRIENDSHIP QUICKLY, CHANCES ARE THAT IT WILL NOT BE
AN ENDURING ONE.
I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS PROVERB WAS ORIGINALLY IN POLISH.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: CA00001890S ; 01-13-1980
PROVERB
SHARP ENDS MAKE BAD FRIENDS.
Submitter comment:
THIS PROVERB HAS A DOUBLE-MEANING: FIRST, YOU COULD HURT YOURSELF
ON A SHARP OBJECT, SO A SHARP OBJECT IS A BAD FRIEND. IF YOU GIVE
A PERSON A PIN OR A GIFT WHICH IS A SHARP OBJECT, YOUR FRIENDSHIP
WILL DETERIORATE. IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THIS DILEMMA, THE RECEIVER
OF THE GIFT MUST PAY THE GIVER A PENNY. BY PAYING A PENNY, THE
RECEIVER BUYS THE GIFT AND COUNTERACTS MAKING A BAD FRIEND.
THE INFORMANT DOES NOT RECALL HEARING THAT THE GIVER MUST
GIVE A PENNY WITH THE SHARP GIFT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: CA00001890S ; 01-13-1980