Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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O ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, THY SHINING FACE
THAT SPEAKS THY MIGHTY POWER
IN MY POCKET, FIND A RESTING PLACE,
FOR I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.
AMEN.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE MONOLOGUE QUATRAIN ; INDIRECTION SATIRE MONEY ; METER: IAMBIC, ANAPESTIC ; MOCK-PIOUS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT, ABAB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH, BUT GRIEVIOUS
WORDS STIR UP ANGER.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; MACKENZIE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-12-1965
LITTLE MISS MUFFET SAT ON A TUFFET,
EATING HER CURDS AND WHEY.
ALONG CAME A SPIDER AND SAT DOWN BESIDE HER,
AND SHE BEAT IT TO DEATH WITH HER SPOON.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A FRIEND IN CLASS.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
IF YOUR EARS ARE RINGING, IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS
TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | 842 Ringing ears / buzzing / hot, burning Observation |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
IF YOUR EAR ITCHES, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU OR
MENTIONING YOUR NAME IN CONVERSATION.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching ear |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
IF YOU ARE TALKING TO SOMEONE AND YOU CALL THEM
ANOTHER NAME--JANE FOR INSTANCE--(BY MISTAKE) THEN THAT
PERSON (JANE) IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- P580 |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
PROVERBIAL MAXIM
AN ABLE ORGANIZER SURROUNDS HIMSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE
ABLE THAN HE IS.
Where learned: SCHOOL
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
PROVERBIAL MAXIM
DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU.
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
PROVERB
DON'T LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.
James Callow comment: AGE OF HORSES IS DETERMINED BY CONDITION OF TEETH
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): ANIMAL
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
LOVE CHARM
IF A PAIR OF LOVERS PLUCK A LAUREL TWIG AND BREAK IT IN HALF, EACH
KEEPING A PIECE THEY WILL REMAIN LOVERS. ON ST. VALENTINE ( ' ) S
DAY, PLACE TWO LEAVES ON YOUR PILLOW AND YOU WILL DREAM OF LOVE.
I REMEMBER SOME OF THE GIRLS TALKING LIKE THIS AT SCHOOL ONE DAY.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 14 Valentine's Day |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
TALKATIVE
HE HAS THE GIFT OF GAB.
Submitter comment:
BOB TOLD ME THIS ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE AT SCHOOL AND WE WERE LISTENING
TO THIS BOY TALK QUITE A BIT.
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): SLANG ; SPEECH METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
BELIEF (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; BAD LUCK: NUMBERS (CLASSIFIERS TITLE)
THIRTEEN IS AN UNLUCKY NUMBER. THERE IS NEVER A 13TH FLOOR
IN A HOTEL OR A ROOM NUMBER 13.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.5 |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
KNOCK- KNOCK STREET
THERE IS A STORY THAT ONE DAY ON A STREET IN DETROIT, A LITTLE GIRL
WAS HIT BY A SPEEDING DRIVER. THE LITTLE GIRL DID NOT DIE IMMEDIATELY
BUT WAS HANGING ON THE BUMPER, KNOCKING ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR TRYING
TO GET THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION. NOW, THE LEGEND GOES, WHENEVER A
PERSON DRIVES DOWN THE STREET, IT IS SAID ONE CAN HEAR THE LITTLE
GIRL KNOCKING ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR WARNING PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN.
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): AUTO ACCIDENT ; KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-00-1967
CUSTOM DEATH
PUSHING UP DAISIES
SOMETIMES YOU REFER TO DYING AS PUSHING UP DAISIES.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PLANT ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
SUPERSTITION
A ROOSTER CROWING AT MIDNIGHT IS THE SIGN OF DEATH OF A RELATIVE.
Submitter comment: MANY ROOSTERS HAVE THEIR HEADS CUT OFF IN THE MORNING.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
Entry filtered.
JOHN: I HEARD SOMETHING THAT OPENED MY EYES THIS
MORNING.
JANE: WHAT'S THAT?
JOHN: THE ALARM CLOCK.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
A MAN HAD TWO HORSES AND COULDN'T TELL THEM APART,
SO HE ASKED A FRIEND WHAT TO DO. THE FRIEND SAID
TO CUT OFF THE TAIL OF ONE OF THEM. HE DID, BUT
IT GREW BACK. SO HE CUT OFF THE MANE OF THE OTHER
ONE, BUT IT GREW BACK. SO HE ASKED THE FRIEND
AGAIN, AND THE FRIEND SAID, "WHY NOT MEASURE THEM."
HE DID AND HE FOUND OUT THAT THE BROWN HORSE WAS
TWO INCHES TALLER THAN THE WHITE ONE.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PINK-POLKA DOT PING PONG TABLE
THE BOY REACHED HIS 6TH BIRTHDAY AND HIS FATHER WAS SO
HAPPY THAT HE WOULD NOW BE OLD ENOUGH TO GO TO SCHOOL,
THAT AT THE PARTY HE SAID, "SON, THIS IS A BIG YEAR
FOR YOU. YOU WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND I
WANT YOU TO DO WELL. AS AN INCENTIVE TO DO WELL IN
SCHOOL, I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT FOR
YOUR BIRTHDAY. YOU NAME IT, IT'S YOURS." "DAD,
I'D LIKE A PINK POLKA DOT PING PONG TABLE FOR MY
BIRTHDAY." THE FATHER IS ASTOUNDED AND ASKS WHY,
THE SON REFUSES TO TELL AND SAYS HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER
GIFT. THE FATHER GIVES HIM NOTHING. THIS OCCURS AT
EVERY BIG OCCASION IN THE SON'S LIFE, AND IT'S ALWAYS
THE SAME; THE FATHER SAYS HE WILL GIVE IT TO HIM IF THE
BOY WILL ONLY TELL HIM WHY HE WANTS IT, BUT THE SON
ALWAYS REFUSES TO TELL. FINALLY, ON THE SON'S
DEATH-BED HE SAYS, "DAD, THE REASON I'VE ALWAYS
WANTED A PINK POLKA DOT PING PONG TABLE IS BECAUSE
--UGH--." AND HE DIED.
Submitter comment: BILL DOESN'T REMEMBER WHERE HE FIRST HEARD IT.
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
BREAKING THE PINATA IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF EVERY
MEXICAN CHILD'S PARTY. A PINATA IS A CLAY COVERED
JAR COVERED WITH COLORFUL CREPE PAPER, IN THE SHAPE
OF SOME ANIMAL, BIRD, FLOWER, OR ANYTHING ATTRACTIVE.
THE PINATA IS FILLED WITH CANDY, POPCORN, MONEY, ETC.
THE PINATA IS SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING AND LOWERED TO
THE PLAYERS' REACH. THE PLAYER CHOSEN TO BREAK THE
PINATA IS BLINDFOLDED. HE RECEIVES TWO CHANCES, BUT
JUST AS HE IS READY TO STRIKE THE PINATA, IT IS PULLED
UP AND OUT OF HIS REACH. EACH PLAYER IN TURN GETS
TWO STRIKES AT THE PINATA, BUT USUALLY THE HOST
OR HOSTESS BREAKS IT. WHEN IT BREAKS, EACH PLAYER
SCRAMBLES TO GET ALL THAT HE CAN.
Data entry tech comment: PRONOUNCED "PINYATA"
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN