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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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HELEN KELLER JOKE

HOW DID HELEN KELLER BURN HER FINGERS?
TRYING TO READ THE WAFFLE IRON.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM FRIENDS AT SCHOOL

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): BRAILLE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-11-1967

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RIDDLE

WHAT'S BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?
A NEWSPAPER

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY FATHER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): COLOR ; PUN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 12-03-1967

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DYING

HE'S WALKING SLOW, BUT HE'S GOING FAST.

Submitter comment: WHEN A MAN IS IN THE HOSPITAL IS FAILING AND DYING FAST THE IRISH
SAY THIS.
JUDY LEARNED THIS FROM THE IRISH INTERNS WHEN SHE WAS WORKING AT
MOUNT CARMEL HOSPITAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): HEALTH ; METAPHOR PROVERBIAL PHRASE DEATH OBSERVATION

Subject headings: Favorites
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

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PROVERB

HE WHO DOESN'T WORK DOESN'T EAT.
CHI NON FATICA, NON MANGIA.

Submitter comment: ON THE WALL IN THE INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): PARALLELISM ; WORK

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 11-09-1972

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MEDICINE

ONE SHOULD CARRY A POTATOE IN HIS POCKET TO CURE ARTHRITIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 09-26-1965

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PA. DUTCH BELIEF

A MAMMY IS CALLED IN FOR SICKNESS-- ESPECIALLY BLEEDING OF
ANY SORT.
FOR AN ADULT: THE "POW-WOWER" OR MAMMY RECITES BIBLE
PHRASES TO HERSELF WHILE HOLDING THE SICK PERSON, AND IT CURES HIM.
FOR A CHILD: THE "POW-WOWER" PASSES THE CHILD AROUND A TABLE LEG
WHILE RECITING BIBLE PHRASES, AND THE CHILD WILL BE CURED.

Submitter comment: THIS IS CALLED "POW-WOWING" AND IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE PA. DUTCH
AREA. IT IS NECESSARY TO BELIEVE IN IT TO HAVE IT WORK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH (GERMAN) ; POWWOWING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 02-24-1968

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BELIEF

IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES YOU WILL SPEND SOME MONEY.
IF YOUR LEFT HAND ITCHES YOU WILL SAVE SOME MONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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NUMBER SUPERSTITION

IN VIETNAM, #9 IS THE LUCKIEST NUMBER.
THE NUMBER IN THE "HOUSE" IN THE GOVERNMENT IS 117 (1+1+7=9).
THERE WERE 9 ON THE BALLOT IN THE RECENT ELECTION BECAUSE
OF THIS BELIEF.
VIET SOLDIERS FELT SAFE IF THEY WERE ATTACHED TO AN OUTFIT WITH
WITH #9 IN
IT, OR MULTIPLES OF 9, OR NUMBERS ADDING UP TO 9.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: 686 Ninths / Nine
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 02-24-1968

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SUPERSTITION (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)

NEVER SIT 13 AT TABLE.
THE LAST ONE TO SIT DOWN WILL NOT LIVE TO MEET AGAIN
WITH ALL THE PEOPLE PRESENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: 686 Specific number by specific number being described
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 02-24-1968

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RIME

MOTHER MAY I GO OUT TO SWIM?
YES, MY DARLING DAUGHTER.
HANG YOUR CLOTHES ON A HICKORY LIMB
BUT DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): COMMAND ; DIALOGUE ; FAMILY ; FEMININE RHYME ; RHYME: ABAB

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

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CROUP

DRINK KEROSENE AND SUGAR FOR THE CROUP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 02-24-1968

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THE WISE COP

A COP NAMED DOOLY ARRESTED A GUY AND WAS HOLDNG HIM UNTIL THE
PIE-WAGON ARRIVED. THE GUY TOOK OFF HIS HAT AND TOSSED IT A FEW
YARDS AWAY, SAYING "LEMME GET MY HAT." BUT DOOLY SAID, "OH NO YA
DON'T, I AIN'T THAT DUMB. YOU STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE,
I'LL GET IT MYSELF."
DOOLEY LET THE GUY GO AND THE GUY PROMPTLY TOOK OFF, LAUGHING.

Submitter comment: JOHN L. CONROY LEARNED THIS STORY IN WATERBURY, CONN. AROUND 1916.
HE SAID THAT DOOLY WAS MENTIONED IN MANY STORIES AROUND WATERBURY,
BUT THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE HE COULD RECALL.

Data entry tech comment: THERE IS ONE MORE SIMILAR STORY IN THE 5X8 FILE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed

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AUTOGRAPH VERSE

THE ROSES ARE RED,/THE VIOLETS ARE DEAD,/THE SUGAR BOWL IS EMPTY,/
AND SO IS YOUR HEAD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): INSULT ; RHYME:AABA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 00-00-1961

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LEGEND AT ST. MARY'S COLLEGE

IT IS CLAIMED BY THE OLD NUNS AT ST. MARY'S COLLEGE, NOTRE DAME,
IND., THAT GENERAL GRANT SENT HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS THERE FOR
SAFETY'S SAKE DURING THE CIVIL WAR. ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS IS BURIED
THERE ON THE GROUNDS, BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW WHERE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): PRESERVATION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

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CHRISTMAS

AUSTRIAN CHILDREN PUT THEIR SHOES IN FRONT OF THE FIREPLACE ON
CHRISTMAS EVE. THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT TO FIND IN THEM ON
CHRISTMAS IS A PIECE OF CITRUS FRUIT, SINCE IT IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THIS COUNTRY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Stockings and shoes

Date learned: 03-00-1970

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THE NEW MOON

LOOK AT A NEW MOON OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER,
AND YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT, MRS. CONROY, LEARNED THIS BELIEF FROM HER MOTHER,
AS A CHILD, IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN (CIRCA 1920)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 12-30-1963

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THE PENNY AND THE MOON

NEVER LOOK AT A NEW MOON WITHOUT MONEY IN YOUR HAND.
THE INFORMANT, MRS. STOKES, LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER,

Submitter comment: MRS. HARRIET MALLINSON, AS A CHILD, IN GARY, INDIANA. (CIRCA 1925)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 12-25-1963

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU MOVE ON FRIDAY, YOU WILL MOVE AGAIN BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
Observation

Date learned: 02-07-1968

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PROVERBIAL COMPARISON

GOD'S HELP IS AS NEAR AS THE DOOR.

Submitter comment: JUDY LEARNED THIS FROM AN IRISH INTERN AT MOUNT CARMEL HOSPITAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-27-1965

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CUSTOM

IN ENGLAND, ONE FINDS MANY STATUES OF FAMOUS MEN RIDING ON HORSES.
IF THE HORSE IS STANDING ON ALL FOUR FEET, THE MAN WAS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE DIED A NATURAL DEATH. IF THE HORSE HAS ONE FOOT UP IN THE AIR,
THE MAN DIED IN COMBAT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: SPEECH -- To Be Seen

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