Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
THIS IS A LOVELY LITTLE SPOT.
I'LL WRITE THE WORDS FORGET ME NOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1933
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
HAPPY HAVE WE MET
HAPPY HAVE WE BEEN,
HAPPY MAY WE PART,
AND HAPPY MAY WE MEET AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; MEDIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABCB ; SLANT RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1933
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
I'VE LOOKED THE PAGES OVER
TO SEE WHAT OTHERS WROTE BEFORE.
BUT IN THIS LOVELY SPOT
I'LL NOW INSCRIBE FORGET-ME-NOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1933
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
ABOVE IT ALL
THE BEST IS YOU
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; FLOWERS ; PRAISE ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1933
JOKE
SAM WAS SITTING IN A BAR ONE DAY WHEN THE MAYOR CAME ON TV.
"HE'S A JERK," SAID SAM.
"DON'T EVER SAY THAT," SAID THE MAN SITTING NEXT TO HIM, "THE
MAYOR'S THE NICEST GUY YOU'D EVER WANT TO MEET."
"DON'T GET EXCITED," SAID SAM, "YOU'D THINK HE WAS A FRIEND OF
YOURS OR SOMETHING."
"FRIEND?" SAID THE MAN, "WHY ME AND THE MAYOR USED TO PLAY
FOOTBALL TOGETHER WHEN WE WERE KIDS."
"LISTEN, WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS," SAID SAM, "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU
KNOW THE MAYOR."
"MY NAME IS CECIL, SAID THE MAN, "AND I'LL PROVE TO YOU THAT
ME AND THE MAYOR ARE BUDDIES."
CECIL TOOK SAM TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WHEN THE SECRETARY TOLD
THEM THE MAYOR WAS IN A MEETING, CECIL TOLD HER TO CALL HIM AND
TELL HIM THAT CECIL WAS HERE. AS SOON AS SHE CALLED HIM, THE
MAYOR CAME RUSHING OUT OF HIS OFFICE AND THREW HIS ARMS AROUND
CECIL. HE TOLD HIM HOW HAPPY HE WAS TO SEE HIM AND MADE HIM
PROMISE TO HAVE LUNCH WITH HIM THE NEXT DAY.
"WELL, NOW WHAT DO YOU SAY?" ASKED CECIL AS THEY WERE LEAVING
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE."
"OKAY," SAID SAM, "YOU PROVED IT." MM
THE NEXT WEEK, SAM WAS IN THE BAR READING THE PAPER AND COMPLAINING
ABOUT STATE TAXES GOING UP WHEN CECIL OVERHEARD HIM.
"HEY, THE GOVERNOR DOES THE BEST HE CAN," SAID CECIL.
"OH, I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW HIM TOO," SAID SAM.
"KNOW HIM?" SAID CECIL, "ME AND HIM ARE ALMOST LIKE BROTHERS."
"BET YOU FIVE BUCKS HE'S NEVER HEARD OF YOU," SAID SAM.
SO CECIL TOOK SAM TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION. THE GOVERNOR WAS
SO HAPPY TO SEE CECIL, HE THREW HIS ARMS AROUND HIM AND INSISTED
THAT THE TWO MEN STAY FOR DINNER.
WHEN THEY LEFT, SAM GAVE CECIL THE FIVE BUCKS AND TOLD HIM HOW
IMPRESSED HE WAS. MM
THE NEXT WEEK, SAM WAS SITTING IN THE BAR COMPLAINING ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT. CECIL WALKED UP TO HIM BUT BEFORE HE COULD SAY ANYTHING,
SAM SAID, "DON'T TELL ME, DON'T TELL ME! YOU AND THE PRESIDENT
WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER."
"WHY, NO, I MET HIM IN THE ARMY," SAID CECIL, "BOY WE HAD SOME GOOD
TIMES TOGETHER."
"THIS IS TOO MUCH, CECIL," SAID SAM. "THE MAYOR, OK...THE
GOVERNOR, OK...BUT THE PRESIDENT, NO WAY! TEN TO ONE YOU DON'T KNOW
THE PRESIDENT."
SOON SAM AND CECIL WERE ON THEIR WAY TO WASHINGTON. WHEN THEY
GOT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT RAN OUT AND THREW HIS ARMS
AROUND CECIL AND INSISTED THE TWO MEN SPEND THE WEEK-END. AFTER
THEY LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE, SAM GAVE CECIL HIS MONEY AND TOLD HIM
NOTHING WOULD SURPRISE HIM ANYMORE.
"NEXT THING I KNOW," SAID SAM, "YOU'LL BE TELLING ME YOU KNOW THE
POPE."
"KNOW HIM?" SAID CECIL, HE'S PROBABLY THE BEST FRIEND I EVER HAD." MM
SOON SAM AND CECIL WERE HEADED FOR VATICAN CITY. WHEN THEY GOT
THERE, IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNING AND A HUGE CROWD WAS GATHERED OUTSIDE
THE VATICAN.
"LOOK, SAM," SAID CECIL, "I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GET PAST ALL THE GUARDS. THE POPE'S DUE TO COME OUT ON THAT
BALCONY IN A FEW MINUTES. YOU STAND UP HERE IN THE FRONT AND
WATCH. IF YOU SEE ME WALK OUT WITH THE POPE, WILL YOU BELIEVE
I KNOW HIM?"
"SURE," SAID SAM, "TO GET THAT FAR YOU'D HAVE TO KNOW HIM."
IN A FEW MINUTES CECIL WALKED OUT ON THE BALCONY WITH HIS ARM
AROUND THE POPE'S SHOULDER. THE CROWD WAS CHEERING AND YELLING.
CECIL RAISED HIS ARM TO WAVE TO SAM, BUT WHEN HE LOOKED DOWN HE
SAW SAM FALL TO THE GROUND. HE EXCUSED HIMSELF TO THE POPE AND RAN
DOWN TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
"SAM, SAM! HE SAID, "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"
"I THINK SO," SAID SAM OPENING HIS EYES, "I GUESS I MUST HAVE
FAINTED. CECIL, I DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU KNEW THE MAYOR, BUT YOU DID.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU KNEW THE GOVERNOR, BUT YOU DID. I REALLY
DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU KNEW THE PRESIDENT, BUT YOU DID. I HAVE TO
ADMIT I WAS SURPRISED WHEN YOU WALKED OUT ON THE BALCONY WITH YOUR
ARM AROUND THE POPE. BUT WHEN THE CROWD STARTED YELLING,
"WHO'S THAT MAN WITH CECIL?" I JUST COULDN'T TAKE ANYMORE."
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS JOKE AT A PARTY IN 1980.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): HARRY GARRETT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK-KNOCK.
WHO'S THERE?
JO.
JOE WHO?
JO MAMA!
Submitter comment:
THIS JOKE WAS POPULAR WITH MY SON AND HIS FRIENDS.
JO MAMA STOOD FOR YOUR MAMA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
EXPRESSIONS
HORSETURD!
OH BUG!
DON'T GET WISE, BEE-BEE EYES.
THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT.
ALRIGHTEE.
BUG-A-BUG.
I'M EMBARRASED.
BROTHER!
SUGAR
OH, YOU DEVIL!
GET OFF MY BACK.
THAT HELPS.
JEEZE-O-MAN.
YOU MOLE.
CRAZY-MAN-CRAZY.
STINKIE-SCHWINKIE, YOU'RE REAL GONE.
CRAZY-MAN, CRAZY.
YOU'RE BERSERK!
YOU'RE NUTS.
DUMB BUNNY.
OH FISH
WOW! WHAT A CAT.
HI, REPULSIVE.
KILL IT! DON'T LET IT LIVE.
CITY SLICKERS ARE SUCKERS.
MAN, IS THAT COOL!
GADZOOKS!
GET OUT
OH, PHOOEY.
WHAT SAY, HOOD?
DADGUM IT.
YOU CAN'T FIND OUT 'TIL YOU EXPERIMENT. MM
HE WHO WANTS THE NUT
MUST CRACK THE KERNEL
Submitter comment:
THIS LIST OF EXPRESSIONS COMMONLY USED BY THE STUDENTS WAS
PRINTED IN THE SALINA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NINTH GRADE YEARBOOK
IN 1954. SALINA IS IN DEARBORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
NICKNAMES
BOOTS
DODDLES
CURLY
BIRDLEGS
HOOD
DIMPLES
LIVERLIPS
THE CREEP
CROCK
FLAT TOP
CRISCO
TOOT-TOOT
PORKEY
MOUSEY
ICKY
DUCK
TEA BONES
CAT
Submitter comment:
THIS LIST OF STUDENTS' NICKNAMES WAS PRINTED IN THE SALINA
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NINTH-GRADE YEARBOOK IN 1955. THE REAL NAMES
OF THE STUDENTS WERE LISTED NEXT TO THEIR NICKNAMES.
SALINA IS IN DEARBORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
A MAN WENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF A COMPANY AND TOLD
THE SECRETARY HE WANTED TO APPLY FOR A JOB. THE SECRETARY WAS
EXPLAINING THAT THE COMPANY WAS NOT HIRING WHEN THE BOSS CAME
WALKING IN.
"ANY MESSAGES?" HE ASKED.
"SIR," SAID THE MAN, "I WOULD LIKE A JOB WITH YOUR COMPANY."
"WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?" ASKED THE BOSS.
"YALE," SAID THE MAN.
"REALLY?" ASKED THE BOSS.
"YES, SIR," SAID THE MAN, "AND I LEARNED A LOT WHILE I WAS THERE."
"WELL, WE REALLY AREN'T HIRING JUST NOW, BUT WITH YOUR CREDENTIALS,
COME INTO MY OFFICE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO."
THE MAN SAID, "I SURE APPRECIATE THIS, SIR."
"NOTHING TO APPRECIATE," SAID THE BOSS, "THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR
BRIGHT YOUNG MEN, BUT TELL ME MR. - UH - I DON'T BELIEVE I CAUGHT
YOUR NAME."
"YIM YONES, SIR," SAID THE MAN.
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS JOKE IN 1981.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
EVIL EYE
WHEN MY BROTHER WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, OUR FAMILY WENT TO VISIT
SOME RELATIVES IN CANADA. WE STOPPED AT A SMALL GROCERY STORE
IN CANADA. THE OLD MAN IN THE STORE KEPT SAYING WHAT A
BEAUTIFUL BABY MY BROTHER WAS. MY FATHER HURRIED US ALONG.
WHEN WE GOT IN THE CAR, HE SAID HE DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY THE
MAN LOOKED AT MY BROTHER AND WAS WORRIED THAT THE MAN HAD
AN "EVIL EYE."
AFTER WE CAME HOME THAT NIGHT, BY BROTHER BECAME VERY ILL WITH
DIARRHEA. BY THE NEXT DAY, HE WAS DEHYDRATING AND HAD TO BE
HOSPITALIZED. HE ALMOST DIED. HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR
ALMOST A MONTH. MM
A FEW MONTHS LATER HE PICKED UP A BOTTLE OF LIQUID FURNITURE
POLISH WHILE MY SISTER WAS CLEANING HOUSE AND DRANK IT. HE
HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED AND HAVE HIS STOMACH PUMPED. MM
A FEW MONTHS LATER, MY BROTHER CAME DOWN WITH TONSILLITIS AND
WAS GIVEN A PRESCRIPTION FOR PENICILLIN. HE TURNED OUT TO BE
ALLERGIC TO THE PENICILLIN AND ENDED UP BEING RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL
AGAIN. MM
THROUGHOUT THIS TIME, MY FATHER SWORE THAT THE MAN IN THAT STORE
HAD GIVEN MY BROTHER THE "EVIL EYE" AND THAT THE ONLY THING THAT HAD
SAVED HIS LIFE WAS MY FATHER'S CONSTANT PRAYING. I DON'T BUY
THE EVIL-EYE THEORY, BUT I DID AT THE TIME.
Submitter comment:
MY FATHER WAS BORN IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA IN 1909 WHILE HIS
PARENTS WERE VISITING THE UNITED STATES. THEY ALL WENT BACK TO
LEBANON A YEAR LATER. HIS MOTHER AND THREE BROTHERS DIED IN AN
EPIDEMIC WHEN HE WAS 3 YEARS OLD, AND HE WAS RAISED BY HIS
GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS VERY SUPERSTITIOUS.
MY FATHER'S NAME WAS SHERIFF MAHSSNEY. HE DIED IN 1980.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
TATTOO
MY FATHER, WHO GREW UP IN LEBANON, HAD A CLOVER-LIKE TATTOO ON EACH
OF HIS TEMPLES. HE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN HE WAS A CHILD, HE HAD VERY
POOR EYESIGHT AND WAS BELIEVED TO BE GOING BLIND. HIS GRANDMOTHER
TOOK HIM TO A MAN WHO GAVE HIM THE TATTOOS. HE SWORE HIS VISION WAS
RETURNED TO NORMAL. HE NEVER WORE GLASSES UNTIL HE WAS ABOUT
50 YEARS OLD.
Submitter comment:
MY FATHER WAS BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT LIVED IN LEBANON
FROM THE TIME HE WAS A YEAR OLD UNTIL HE WAS TWENTY AND CAME TO THE
U.S. HE DIED IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN IN 1980.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Human or animal body Tattoo BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
THE EYES ARE MUCH REVERED IN LEBANESE CULTURE. PEOPLE OFTEN SWEAR
ON THEIR MOTHER'S EYES, THEIR BABY'S EYES, ETC., TO CONVINCE
PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE TELLING THE TRUTH. MM
LEBANESE PEOPLE ALSO REFER TO THE EYES WHEN PROFESSING GREAT LOVE.
"I LOVE YOU MORE THAN MY EYES," IS A COMMONLY HEARD EXPRESSION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): ASSERVATIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00001950S
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY FATHER USED TO TELL ME THAT I SHOULD
ALWAYS BE HONEST, DO GOOD THINGS, AND BE NICE TO PEOPLE. HE
SAID THAT GOD KNEW EVERYTHING WE DID. HE SAID THERE WAS A LITTLE
ANGEL SITTING ON EACH OF OUR SHOULDERS AND THAT EVERY TIME WE DID
SOMETHING GOOD, THE ANGEL ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER WOULD WRITE IT
DOWN. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN WE DID SOMETHING BAD, THE ANGEL ON THE
LEFT SHOULDER WOULD RECORD IT. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
CAME, GOD WOULD CHECK TO SEE WHICH LIST WAS LONGER. IT WASN'T
ENOUGH TO JUST TRY NOT TO BE BAD BECAUSE THE ANGEL ON THE RIGHT
SHOULDER ONLY WROTE DOWN GOOD DEEDS--NOT NO DEEDS AT ALL.
Submitter comment:
MY FATHER WAS RAISED IN LEBANON. HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES
IN 1929 WHEN HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND LIVED HERE UNTIL HIS DEATH
IN 1982.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT ; RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight |
Date learned: 00001950S
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, WE WERE TOLD THAT IF WE DROPPED A PIECE OF
BREAD OR OTHER SOLID-TYPE FOOD, WE SHOULD PICK IT UP QUICKLY,
KISS IT, AND PUT IT TO OUR FOREHEADS AND GOD WOULD BLESS IT AND MAKE
IT CLEAN FOR US TO EAT. (THIS WAS ONLY TRUE IN OUR OWN HOUSE.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Body part Senses Forehead SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001950S
PICKLE
YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST THREE PLAYERS FOR THIS GAME. TWO PEOPLE WITH
MITTS ARE CATCHERS. THEY THROW THE BALL BACK AND FORTH LIKE
THEY'RE PLAYING CATCH. WHILE THEY'RE THROWING IT, THE RUNNERS
TRY TO RUN FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER BEFORE THE CATCHERS CAN
CATCH THE BALL AND TAG THEM. THE FIRST RUNNER TO TAG BASE THE
NUMBER OF TIMES DECIDED UPON AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME
(USUALLY 25 TO 35) GETS TO BE THE NEW CATCHER AND CHOOSE WHOMEVER HE
WANTS TO BE THE OTHER CATCHER. MM
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY RUNNERS THERE ARE. THEY CAN ALL RUN AT
THE SAME TIME, BUT THE MORE THERE ARE THE EASIER IT IS FOR THE
CATCHERS TO TAG SOMEONE. A RUNNER IS OUT WHEN HE HAS BEEN TAGGED
THREE TIMES. MM
THE GAME IS CALLED "PICKLE" BECAUSE RUNNERS OFTEN GET CAUGHT IN THE
MIDDLE AND MUST TRY RUNNING EACH WAY MANY TIMES UNTIL ONE OF THE
CATCHERS EITHER TAGS THEM OR MISSES THE BALL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS
THE RUNNER IS SAID TO BE IN A "PICKLE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
GRAFFITO
SOME BABIES ARE BORN TO BE GREAT,
OTHERS ARE BORN BOYS}
Submitter comment:
THIS MESSAGE WAS WRITTEN ON THE WALL OF A WOMEN'S RESTROOM AT
HENRY FORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C850- |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
It is extremely bad luck for a bride-to-be to sew
even one stitch in her own wedding dress.
Submitter comment:
Elaine first heard this warning as a young woman, when her
friend was sewing her own wedding gown. The bride's relatives
(Polish) warned her not to, as it would surely bring trouble.
They dismissed it as an "old-wives tale." Later, however,
her best friend died an unexpected and premature death.
She now believes this to be true.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Superstition, advice, tabu
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 00001950S
When a horse rolls on the ground, it means that a
bad storm is coming.
Submitter comment:
Elaine heard this from her maternal grandmother (who was
French - Canadian and lived near Escanaba, Michigan).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Prediction, rain, unnatural occurrences
Date learned: 00001972CA
To find water that is hidden below ground, hold two willow
branches (or two coat hangers which have been straightened
and then bent into an "L" shape) loosely in your hands. As
you pass over water, the sticks/wires will cross over one
another. When you move past the water, the sticks/wires will
uncross.
Submitter comment:
Elaine swears that her father has been able to discover
water by this method many times. She herself, being skeptical,
tried it and the procedure worked. Elaine has so much faith
in her father's ability, that she plans to have him locate a
new spot to drill a second well on her northern Michigan
property, since the well she has now is sluggish.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): DIVINATION ; dowsing ; PREDICTION ; WATER WITCHING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001972CA
For generations the Welty family has told the story of
how Levi Welty (1825-1902) had gone "Pikes Peak or bust
in a covered wagon." In the mid 1970's, an acquaintance
of the family familiar with these stories became injured
while skiing in Colorado. During her recuperative time
there, she came across a book recounting the history of
the area, and found a story about the naming of
Cripple Creek by a Levi Welty. The names of some of the sons
mentioned coincided with the family's genealogy, and it
is, therefore, quite likely that Terry's ancestor was
responsible for Cripple Creek's naming.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): pioneer
James Callow Keyword(s): Eudora Welty ; Pike's Peak
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 PROSE NARRATIVE -- B479 BELIEF -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 00001977CA