Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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JOKE
IN THE OLD DAYS, IF AN ELDERLY LADY BOARDED A TRAIN
AROUND MIDNIGHT, SOME MAN WOULD ALWAYS GIVE BERTH
TO AN OLD LADY.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
DANCES 1910
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT DANCES IN MY DAY, IT'S A BIT
ONE-SIDED. IN ORDER TO RATE THE HORSE AND BUGGY
TO TAKE A GIRL, ALSO HAD TO TAKE ONE OF MY SISTERS.
I INVENTED THE IDEA OF ASKING A GIRL IF I COULD WALK
HER HOME. IF YOU STUTTERED A LITTLE, IT HELPED.
SHE WOULD FIGURE YOU WERE BASHFUL. ONE NIGHT I SAW
ANOTHER ONE I LIKED MUCH BETTER AFTER I ASKED THE
FIRST ONE. I HURRIED HER HOME AND RACED BACK. LO
AND BEHOLD, THE FIRST ONE WAS BACK AHEAD OF ME.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
PHRASES OF A MATH TEACHER
ASK ME THAT TOMORROW.
AT LEAST KEEP SILENCE DURING THE PRAYER.
Submitter comment: CORRECTIVE
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
FUNERALS
AS ME SAINTED MOTHER USED TO SAY, "WHEN YOU DIE I HOPE YOU
ARRIVE IN HEAVEN A HALF HOUR BEFORE THE DEVIL FINDS OUT
YOU ARE DEAD."
Where learned: LETTER ; FLORIDA ; LAUDERDALE
Keyword(s): DEATH
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-10-1970
GRANOLAS
GRANOLAS ARE A TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CLASSIFIED BY THE
LEVELS OF GRAINS (1-5). YOU MUST HAVE THE QUALITIES OF THE
PREVIOUS GRAINS TO GO ONTO THE NEXT LEVEL.
THE FIRST GRAIN WEARS HIPPIE-TYPE CLOTHES (BAGGY SKIRTS AND
LOTS OF PAISLEY), HAS LONG HAIR AND TALKS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL
PHILOSOPHY AND PEACE.
THE SECOND GRAIN IS SOMEONE WHO PLAYS "THE INSTRUMENT" (THE
GUITAR). OR RIDES A MOUNTAIN BIKE IN SUBZERO DEGREE WEATHER.
THE THIRD GRAIN IS ANYONE WHO IS IN A GREEN PEACE ORGANIZATION
SUCH AS GREEN PEACE.
THE FOURTH GRAIN IS SOMEONE WHO LIVES BY THEMSELF IN A SHACK
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
THE FIFTH GRAIN TALKS ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY THAT IS "OVER
THE HEAD" OF ANYONE OTHER THAN ANOTHER 5 GRAIN GRANOLA.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS REFERRED TO BY THE FRIEND AS "WESTERN SLANG."
Where learned: LETTER ; ALASKA ; FRIEND
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
ASHES FROM THE COAL STOVE WERE USED FOR SCOURING
POWDER; WE HAD NO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS FOR THAT
PURPOSE.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 02-11-1971
WEDDING CUSTOM
NANCY HONK'S HAS BEEN A LONG TIME GONE. AT HER
FOURTH WEDDING RECEPTION THE GROOM IN REMOVING THE
GARTER TO THROW TO THE MALE GUESTS, HE CAME UP WITH
A VARICOSE VEIN. THERE WAS NO HONEYMOON.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT IS HARD WHEN IT ENTERS A BATH,
BUT IMMEDIATELY BECOMES SOFT?
A: INSTANT JAPANESE NOODLES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LIVES IN JAPAN AND (HE) LEARNED ABOVE FROM HIS CHILDREN.
Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): PRETENDED OBSCENE?
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 07-28-1964
IT IS BAD LUCK TO MEET A LEFT-HANDED PERSON ON
TUESDAY.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Bodily characteristics |
Date learned: 02-19-1970
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT SOMETIMES APPEARS WHEN EVERYTHING DISAPPEARS?
A: A (SOLD OUT) NOTICE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LIVES IN JAPAN AND (HE) LEARNED ABOVE FROM HIS CHILDREN.
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (A) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 07-28-1964
PLANTING
PLANT CORN WHEN OAK LEAVES ARE AS BIG AS A SQUIRREL'S
EAR AND YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD CROP.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P663 |
Date learned: 01-30-1970
DEATHS COME IN THREES.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-20-1970
NEVER START SEWING A NEW GARMENT ON FRIDAY OR YOU'LL
NEVER FINISH IT.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 01-30-1970
EVERY STITCH YOU SEW ON SUNDAY YOU'LL HAVE TO RIP
OUT WITH YOUR NOSE.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 01-30-1970
IF YOU SWEEP UNDER SOMEONE'S FEET, THEY'LL NEVER GET
MARRIED.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 01-30-1970
AN OLD ITALIAN BELIEF STATES THAT IT IS UNLUCKY TO MARRY
DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY REGARDED
AS THE MONTH OF THE JACKASS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS THIS BELIEF IS NO LONGER GIVEN TOO MUCH
CONSIDERATION.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Marriage Time or day of ceremony |
Date learned: 02-19-1972
AT CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER, A CANDLE IS LIT. IF THE
SMOKE GOES UP, ALL THOSE SEATED AT THE TABLE WILL
BE BACK THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IF THE SMOKE GOES
TOWARD A DOOR, ONE OF THE GUESTS WILL DIE BEFORE
NEXT CHRISTMAS EVE.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Use of Object Occasions Events |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
IT'S DUCK SOUP
Submitter comment: ALL'S WELL
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-23-1969
WELL FORMED DESTINY
THE MILLS OF THE GODS GRIND SLOWLY BUT EXCEEDINGLY FINE.
THE MILLS OF GOD ARE GRINDING MORE SLOWLY THAN USUAL.
Where learned: LETTER
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-23-1969
PHRASES OF A MATH TEACHER: RESIDUE OF YOUR MEMORY.
Where learned: LETTER
James Callow Keyword(s): ?
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 12-04-1968