Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RETORT
HE SUFFERS FROM DIARRHEA OF THE MOUTH AND
CONSTIPATION OF IDEAS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
INDIAN EXPRESSION
AFTER AN INDIAN HAS MADE A BOAST AND HAS BEEN
PROVEN TO HAVE NO ABILITY IN HIS BRAG. THE RETORT GIVEN
BY HIS SKEPTICS WOULD BE, "OH, YES, AND THE GROUND WAS
UNEVEN."
Submitter comment:
THIS COMES FROM AN OLD STORY OF A PROSTITUTE. IN
ORDER TO TANTILIZE THE PROSPECTS, SHE WOULD DANCE AND
GYRATE HOPING TO GAIN A CUSTOMER. ONE SUCH GIRL WAS
NOT TALENTED AT THE DANCING AND THE EXCUSE SHE GAVE
WAS THAT THE GROUND WAS NOT SMOOTH, BUT RATHER
UNEVEN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-29-1968
THIS NONSENSE RIDDLE CONTINUES UNTIL THE SECOND PERSON
REALIZES THE JOKE:
1ST PERSON: PETE AND REPEAT WERE WALKING OVER A BRIDGE.
PETE FELL IN THE RIVER. WHO WAS LEFT?
2ND PERSON: REPEAT.
1ST PERSON: PETE AND REPEAT WERE....ETC.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A SAYING USED WHEN SPEAKING OF A DECEASED FRIEND:
"HE'S DEAD AND IN HEAVEN, SO THE HELL WITH HIM."
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
YOU THINK YOU'RE WORKING TOO HARD?
THERE ARE NOT AS MANY PEOPLE WORKING TODAY AS YOU MAY
HAVE THOUGHT. AT LEAST NOT ACCORDING TO A RECENT
SURVEY:
THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTRY IS 160 MILLION, BUT THERE
ARE 62 MILLION OVER 6 YEARS OF AGE, LEAVING 98 MILLION
TO DO THE WORK. THE PEOPLE UNDER 21 TOTAL 54 MILLION,
WHICH LEAVES 44 MILLION TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE WORK.
THEN THERE ARE 21 MILLION WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE
GOVERNMENT, AND THAT LEAVES ONLY 23 MILLION TO DO
THE REST OF THE WORK. TEN MILLION OF THESE ARE IN THE
ARMED FORCES, LEAVING 13 MILLION TO DO THE WORK.
DEDUCT 12,800,000 THE NUMBER IN STATE AND CITY OFFICES,
AND THAT LEAVES 200 THOUSAND TO DO THE REALLY HARD
WORK. THERE ARE 126 THOUSAND PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS,
INSANE ASYLUMS, ETC., AND THAT LEAVES 74 THOUSANDS WHO
ARE ABLE AND FREE TO WORK.
BUT 62 THOUSAND OF THESE ARE BUMS OR OTHERS WHO WILL NOT
WORK, SO THAT LEAVES 12 THOUSAND TO GET THE WORK DONE.
NOW IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE 11,998
PEOPLE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW, SO THAT LEAVES JUST
TWO PEOPLE TO DO ALL THE WORK. AND THAT MEANS YOU
AND ME, BROTHER, AND I'M GETTING TIRED DOING
EVERYTHING MYSELF.
Data entry tech comment: I'M SURE I'VE READ THIS THESIS SOMEWHERE BEFORE, AND
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
EVIL EYE
MY MOTHER TELLS ME HER MOTHER, WHO WAS IRISH, WAS VERY
SUSPICIOUS OF PEOPLE WHOM SHE CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE
EVIL EYE. MY MOTHER'S SISTER WAS PRACTICALLY ENGAGED
BUT HER MOTHER WOULDN'T GIVE HER CONSENT BECAUSE SHE
CLAIMED HE HAD THE EVIL EYE. WHEN THE BOY COULDN'T
MARRY MY MOTHER'S SISTER, HE HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
OR SOMETHING, BUT IN ANY EVENT, HE CAME AFTER MY
GRANDMOTHER WITH A KNIFE. DRESSED ONLY IN A BATHROBE,
HE WAITED OUTSIDE AND WAS GOING TO KILL HER, WHEN SHE
LEFT THE HOUSE. HE DIDN'T KNOW THEN SHE WAS AT CHURCH,
BUT WAS ARRESTED BEFORE HE GOT IN. MY GRANDMOTHER
BELIEVED HE WAS POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL AND COULD NOT
HAVE ENTERED THE CHURCH IF HE HAD WANTED TO.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
AMONG GERMAN IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY, IT WAS CUSTOMARY
FOR A COIN WITH THE DATE OF ENTRY TO BE PASSED DOWN
AMONG THE OLDEST MALE IN THE FAMILY. THE INFORMANT
DID NOT REMEMBER THE BELIEF BEHIND THIS CUSTOM.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle |
Date learned: 02-15-1971
AT UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT GRADUATION EXERCISES, THE
LENGTHY LINE OF STUDENTS RECEIVING DIPLOMAS PRODUCES
FIRST CLASS BOREDOM, SO PRIOR TO THE EXERCISES, THE
STUDENT BODY SELECTS SEVERAL NAMES FROM AMONG THE
PROSPECTIVE GRADUATES. WHEN THESE NAMES ARE CALLED
DURING THE CEREMONY, THE STUDENTS STAND AND CHEER.
THIS HELPS RELIEVE THE MONOTONY.
Submitter comment: SISTER WAS TOLD THIS BY UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT STUDENTS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
STANDING FOR THE ALMA MATER OF YOUR SCHOOL.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IT WHEN I WENT TO A GAME.
Data entry tech comment: SCHOOL SONG?
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MR. MURPHY WAS WARNED NEVER TO GO ADVENTURING IN THE WILD
TOWN OF HURLEY, WISCONSIN., WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER. MANY
STORIES WENT AROUND, NONE OF WHICH HE CAN REMEMBER
EXPLICITLY, BUT HE DOES REMEMBER MANY TIMES HEARING
OF THE LUMBERJACKS THAT WENT THERE, GOT DRUNK, WENT
TO A "CAT HOUSE" AND WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE STREET, BROKE AND HALF FROZEN. HE ALSO
HEARD MANY TALES OF MEN WHO HAD GOTTEN INTO FIGHTS
AND BEEN KILLED AND WHOSE BODIES WEREN'T FOUND UNTIL THE
SPRING THAW, BECAUSE THEY HAD JUST BEEN TAKEN OUT AND
DUMPED IN THE DEEP SNOW.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): HOUSE OF ILL REPUTE ; PROSTITUTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 05-22-1965
DRUNK JOKE
A DRUNK WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF A PEANUT MACHINE,
PUTTING IN DIME AFTER DIME. FINALLY, THE BARTENDER
CAME UP AND SAID, "DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD QUIT?"
"WHAT," YELLED THE DRUNK, "IN THE MIDDLE OF A
WINNING STREAK?"
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
PAT AND MIKEY
TWO IMMIGRANTS, PAT AND MIKEY, CAME FROM EUROPE AND
LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE. ONE DAY, THEY DECIDED
TO GO FOR A WALK AND CAME UPON AN AIRPORT WHICH HAD
AIRPLANE RIDES FOR $1.00. SO MIKEY WENT UP FOR A
RIDE, AND PAT STARTED WORRYING ABOUT THE KEY TO THE
HOUSE, WHICH MIKEY HAD. SO PAT BEGAN SHOUTING,
"THROW MY KEY DOWN!" THE PILOT THREW DOWN
MIKEY.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-18-1967
Entry filtered.
FATHER: WHY AT YOUR AGE, GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS
ALREADY A FULL-FLEDGED SURVEYOR!
SON: AND AT YOUR'S, HE WAS PRESIDENT!
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time |
Date learned: 11-20-1968
CORN
IF YOU PLANT CORN IN THE OLD OF THE MOON, IT WILL EAR OUT BETTER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE FARMING NATURE
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE IMPLIED ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-09-1968
GRAFFITI
GOD SEES ALL
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): RELIGION NUTSHELL NARRATIVE
James Callow Keyword(s): GOD AS OMNISCENT, ALL-SEEING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 11-18-1968
POPE PAUL'S GOT RHYTHM.
Data entry tech comment:
THIS VERSE COULD REFER TO A POPULAR SONG OR IT COULD
DEAL WITH THE METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CHURCH.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): RELIGION PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): CATHOLICISM ; I'VE GOT RHYTHM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 11-20-1968
COUNTING OUT
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATOES, THREE POTATOES, FOUR.
FIVE POTATOES, SIX POTATOES, SEVEN POTATOES, OR.
ALL WHO WERE GOING TO PLAY THE GAME, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE,
EXTENDED TWO FISTS INTO A CIRCLE AND ONE PERSON DID THE
COUNTING OUT. THE LAST PERSON LEFT WITH A HAND IN THE
CIRCLE WAS "IT." (FEET CAN BE COUNTED INSTEAD OF
HANDS.)
Submitter comment: NEIGHBORHOOD FORMULA
Where learned: ROYAL OAK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NIGHT BLESSING
GOOD NIGHT
SLEEP TIGHT
WAKE UP BRIGHT
IN THE MORNING LIGHT
TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT
WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT.
James Callow comment: BEGINS AS MONOMETER, SHIFTS TO DIMETER
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): RELIGION PRAYER RHYME
James Callow Keyword(s): COMMANDS INSTRUCTIONS
Date learned: 00-00-1964
BED CHARM
MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN
BLESS THE BED THAT I LIE ON
FOUR CORNERS TO MY BED
FOUR ANGELS ROUND MY HEAD
ONE AT HEAD AND ONE AT FEET
AND TWO TO GUARD MY SOUL ASLEEP.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): RHYME: AABBCC PRAYER
James Callow Keyword(s): FOUR EVANGELISTS
Date learned: 00-00-1965