Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SWIMMING
YOU SHOULD NOT GO SWIMMING BEFORE
TRINITY SUNDAY. THERE IS LIKLY TO BE AN
ACCIDENT ,DROWNING,ETC, BEFORE THEN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form |
Date learned: 10-15-1968
GOOD TURN
ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001920S
BLACK CAT
NEVER CROSS A STREET IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES BEFORE YOU.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): STREET BLACK CAT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00001920S
SHOW BELIEF
IF YOU CAN PLAY TO ERIE, YOU CAN PLAY TO ANYONE. (LOCAL BELIEF)
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-15-1968
"SHIT HOUSE" 111
WHILE BOWLING, IF THE SCORE 111 COMES UP IT IS DRAWN TO REPRESENT
AN OUTHOUSE AND IS REFERRED TO AS THE SHIT HOUSE. IF GOTTEN
IN THE SEVENTH FRAME IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK; ANY OTHER FRAME IT IS
GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Date learned: 00-00-1965
DIMPLES
DIMPLES ARE WHERE THE ANGELS HAVE TOUCHED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Date learned: 10-15-1968
THE HEN-PECKED DEVIL
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE MAYOR OF HAMBURG, GERMANY,
CONTRACTED TO HAVE A BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE ELBE. THE CONTRACTOR
PROMISED TO HAVE THE JOB COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT,
BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE WAS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SINCE THE BUILDER KNEW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT FULFILL HIS END
OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE
SPRING FESTIVALS, HE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEVIL FOR ITS COMPLE-
TION. THE DEVIL WOULD COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN RETURN FOR THE
SOUL OF THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE.
WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED AND TO BE DEDICATED, THE MAYOR AND
BUILDER ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO
WALK ACROSS THE SPAN. THE MAYOR, SUSPECTING SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BECAUSE OF THE JOB'S RAPID COMPLETION, INSISTED THAT THE BUILDER
PROCEED FIRST. IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, THE BUILDER HAD TUCKED
A HEN UNDER HIS COAT. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE MIDWAY MARK OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE THE DEVIL WAS LURKING BEHIND A COLUMN, HE THREW THE
HEN OUT TO HIM. THE DEVIL SEIZED THE BIRD, BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT
HIS CATCH WAS ONLY A HEN, HE THREW IT DOWN IN DISGUST. THE
DEVIL'S ANGER WAS SUCH THAT THE HEN WENT CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE,
AND TO THIS DAY THERE IS A HOLD IN THE BRIDGE WHICH WILL NOT BE
FILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A GERMAN PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AT
GANNON COLLEGE, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE ; GANNON COLLEGE
Date learned: 10-23-1965
THE HEN-PECKED DEVIL
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE MAYOR OF HAMBURG, GERMANY,
CONTRACTED TO HAVE A BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE ELBE. THE CONTRACTOR
PROMISED TO HAVE THE JOB COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT,
BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE WAS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SINCE THE BUILDER KNEW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT FULFILL HIS END
OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE
SPRING FESTIVALS, HE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEVIL FOR ITS COMPLE-
TION. THE DEVIL WOULD COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN RETURN FOR THE
SOUL OF THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE.
WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED AND TO BE DEDICATED, THE MAYOR AND
BUILDER ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO
WALK ACROSS THE SPAN. THE MAYOR, SUSPECTING SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BECAUSE OF THE JOB'S RAPID COMPLETION, INSISTED THAT THE BUILDER
PROCEED FIRST. IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, THE BUILDER HAD TUCKED
A HEN UNDER HIS COAT. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE MIDWAY MARK OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE THE DEVIL WAS LURKING BEHIND A COLUMN, HE THREW THE
HEN OUT TO HIM. THE DEVIL SEIZED THE BIRD, BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT
HIS CATCH WAS ONLY A HEN, HE THREW IT DOWN IN DISGUST. THE
DEVIL'S ANGER WAS SUCH THAT THE HEN WENT CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE,
AND TO THIS DAY THERE IS A HOLD IN THE BRIDGE WHICH WILL NOT BE
FILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A GERMAN PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AT
GANNON COLLEGE, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE ; GANNON COLLEGE
Date learned: 10-23-1965
Sleep Johnny
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite, little Johnny wants to sleep tonight.
Submitter comment:
Informant learned this in the 1920s.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |