Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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(CLIMAX OF HORRORS)
THEN THERE WAS THE STORY ABOUT THE SOUTHERNER WHO
FINALLY RETURNED TO HIS PLANTATION AFTER DESERTING
HIS WIFE YEARS AGO. HE RAN INTO HIS HEAD SERVANT,
AN OLD NEGRO, AT THE GATE TO THE HOUSE AND ASKED IF
ANYTHING HAD CHANGED SINCE HE HAD LEFT. "NO SIR,"
THE SERVANT REPLIED, "EVERYTHING JUST ABOUT THE SAME."
"OH, SIR, YOUR DOG DIED FROM EATIN' THE BAD HORSE
MEAT."
MASTER: WHERE DID HE GET THE BAD HORSE MEAT?
SERVANT: IT CAME FROM THE DEAD HORSES IN THE BARN THAT
BURNT.
MASTER: HOW DID THE BARN BURN?
SERVANT: IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE FLAMES FROM THE HOUSE.
MASTER: HOW DID THE HORSE CATCH ON FIRE?
SERVANT: IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE FLAMES FROM THE CANDLES
THAT LIT THE CURTAINS.
MASTER: WHAT WERE THE CANDLES FOR?
SERVANT: THEY WAS FOR YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL.
MASTER: HOW DID MY GRANDMOTHER DIE?
SERVANT: SHE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK WHEN YOUR WIFE
RAN OFF WITH MY SON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A MAN HAS A SON WITH NO LEGS, ARMS OR TRUNKS ONLY A
HEAD. HE AND HIS SON (THE HEAD) GO TO BAR TO CELEBRATE
THE SON'S 21ST BIRTHDAY. THE FATHER ORDERS TWO BEERS
AND THEY BOTH DRINK UP. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SON
SPROUTS LEGS, ARMS AND A TRUNK. TO CELEBRATE THIS
MIRACLE, FATHER AND SON DRINK ANOTHER BEER. THEN
THE SON SHRIVELS UP AND DISAPPEARS. THE MORAL OF THE
STORY IS "BE HAPPY WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): PUN AHEAD=A HEAD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 03-06-1971
MEXICAN PROVERB
IT IS HARD FOR A MAN TO BE BRAVE WHEN HE KNOWS HE IS GOING
TO MEET THE DEVIL AT FOUR O'CLOCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
A POLISH PROVERB
IT'S BETTER TO LOSE WITH A WISE PERSON THAN TO
DISCOVER WITH A STUPID ONE.
Submitter comment:
POLISH: LEPIEJ Z MADRYM ZGUBIC NIZ Z GLUPIM ZNALEJC.
THIS SAYING IMPLIES THAT IF ONE HAS THE CHOICE IT IS
BETTER TO DEAL WITH WISE PEOPLE RATHER THAN STUPID
PEOPLE. MY MOTHER KNOWS THIS PROVERB FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-27-1067
POLISH PROVERB
THE MOUNTAINS WOULD NOT COME TO THE MAHOMET,
MAHOMET WENT TO THE MOUNTAIN.
TRANSLATION OF:
NIE PRZYSZTA GORA DO MAHOMETA,
MAHOMET PRZYSZEDTA DO GORY.
Submitter comment: MY FATHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): CHIASMUS ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
POLISH PROVERB
THE MOUNTAIN BROUGHT FORTH A MOUSE.
TRANSLATION OF:
GORA PORODZITA MYSZ.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED WHEN THE RESULTS ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN EXPECTED.
MY FATHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
A POLISH PROVERB
A MIRACLE HAPPENED ONCE WHEN THE OLD MAN SPOKE TO THE PORTRAIT,
AND THE PORTRAIT SAID NOTHING.
TRANSLATION OF:
STAT SIE CUD PEWNEGO RAZU,
PRZEMOWIT DZIAD DO ABRAZU,
A OBRAZ DO NIEGO NIC.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POPULAR SAYING WHEN ONE TALKS AND IS NOT HEARD.
MY FATHER OFTEN USES THIS. HE KNOWS IT FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): REBUKE TO INATTENTIVE PERSON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-17-1967
PROVERB
MEN MAKE HOUSES, BUT WOMEN MAKE HOMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION FOR CONTRAST ; CONTRASTS ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
POLISH PROVERB
MARTIN WAS TEACHING LITTLE MARTIN, BUT HE HIMSELF
WAS AS STUPID AS A PIG.
TRANSLATION OF:
ULCZYT MARCIN MARCINN, A PAM GTUPI JAK S'IVINIA.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS USED IN REFERENCE TO SOMEONE WHO TRIES TO IMPRESS OTHERS
WITH SOMETHING HE KNOWS LITTLE ABOUT.
MY GRANDMOTHER KNOWS IT FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVANCE ; PERSONAL NAME
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
THE REASON WHY THE IRISH AND SWEDES WERE NOT IN
WORLD WAR II?
PEACEFUL IRISH AND COWARDLY SWEDES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
RESPONSIBLITY IS LIKE CHARITY; IT BEGINS AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
POLISH PROVERB
TRANSLATION: LONELY AS A FINGER IN THE SOUP.
POLISH: SAMATNY JAK POLEC W ZUPIIE.
Submitter comment:
THIS EXPRESSION REFERS TO THE FACT THAT WHEN
CARRYING A BOWL OF SOUP, ONLY ONE FINGER IS
ON THE SIDE.
MY FATHER REMEMBERS THIS EXPRESSION FROM POLAND.
THE FIRST TIME HE REMEMBERS HEARING IT WAS FROM A JEW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
POLISH PROVERB
TRANSLATION: LONG AGO THE THIEF WAS ON THE CROSS,
NOW THE CROSS IS ON THE THIEF.
POLISH: DAWNIE TATR NA KRZUZU, KRZYZ NA TATRZE.
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
PROVERB: UGLY
ANOTHER WAY TO SAY THAT A THING IS UGLY IS TO SAY THAT
IT "LOOKS LIKE THE WRATH OF GOD!"
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER FRIENDS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
SAINT BARBARA REMEMBERS THOSE WHO DEPEND ON THE WATER.
POLISH: BARBARA SEVIETA A EVODNYCH PAMIETA.
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS THIS FROM POLAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
POLISH PROVERB
SHE'S GETTING READY LIKE MISS {SLOW POKE} GUZDRALSKA FOR
HER WEDDING.
TOYBIERA SIE JAK PANNA GUZDRALSKA DO SLUBU (POLISH)
Submitter comment:
THE NAME MISS GUZDRALSKA CAN BE TRANSLATED AS MISS SLOW-
POKE AND THIS CHARACTER IS KNOWN IN POLISH LITERATURE
AS A YOUNG MAIDEN WHO'S ONLY BAD TRAIT WAS HER TARDINESS.
I KNOW THIS FROM HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
A SMILE OF WELCOME IS LIKE A BEACON LIGHTING THE
DARKEST NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): HOSPITALITY KINDNESS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- V700 |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
VERSE PROVERB
THERE'S A LITTLE BAD IN THE BEST OF US
AND A LITTLE GOOD IN THE WORST OF US,
SO IT LITTLE BECOMES ANY OF US
TO FIND FAULT WITH THE REST OF US.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
TEASE VERSE
A THOUSAND SWEDES RAN THROUGH THE WEEDS, CHASED BY
ONE NORWEGIAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.400 |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
TO BUY A CAT IN SACK
KOTA WEWORKU KUPIC {POLISH}
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED IN REFERENCE TO GETTING SOMETHING YOU'RE
NOT EVEN SURE OF. MY GRANDMOTHER KNOWS IT FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 11-21-1967