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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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RIDDLE

WHAT HAS A CRANK UP FRONT AND A BUNCH OF LITTLE
NUTS IN THE BACK?
A CLASSROOM

Submitter comment: TOLD TO HER BY A FRIEND IN SCHOOL

Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): ANTI-TEACHER ; PUN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-09-1967

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE, BLACK AND WHITE, BLACK AND WHITE, ECT.?
A NUN ROLLING DOWN A HILL.

Submitter comment: TOLD TO HER BY A FRIEND IN SCHOOL

Data entry tech comment: TO BE FOLLOWED BY THIS RIDDLE:

Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): CHAIN SERIES ; COLOR ; RELIGION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-09-1967

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS MANY EYES BUT CANNOT SEE?
A: A POTATOE.

Data entry tech comment: 4 DUPLICATES IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL

James Callow Keyword(s): VEGETABLE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

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BELIEF BIRTH

WEAR AN AFRICAN FERTILITY DOLL FOR NINE ENTIRE MONTHS AND IN THE
NEXT NINE YOU WILL HAVE A BABY.

Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD IN ; SOUTH AFRICA

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
686 Ninths / Nine
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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LIMERICK

THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY
WHO CASUALLY SAT IN A DOORWAY.
WHEN THE DOOR SQUEEZED HER FLAT
SHE EXCLAIMED, "WHAT OF THAT?"
THIS COURAGEOUS YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY.

Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): IMPUSSIBLE SPEECH ; RHYME: AABBA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

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KRAKOWIAK (POLISH DANCE)

LIKE THE AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE.

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; NOT GIVEN ; HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; OHIO ; NEW JERSEY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; GROSSE POINTE ; HARPER WOODS ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; WARREN ; JAPAN ; RUSSIA ; GRAND RAPIDS ; SHIPLE HALL ; GARDEN CITY ; ROYAL OAK ; TOLEDO ; TRENTON ; FARMINGTON ; KALAMAZOO ; CANADA ; ONTARIO ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT ; MAIL ; INDIANA ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT HOME ; FERNDALE ; SOUTHFIELD ; TENNESSEE ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ; HAMTRAMCK ; DEARBORN ; MINNESOTA ; ILLINOIS ; NEW YORK ; FLORIDA ; KOREA ; WISCONSIN ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; STUDENT UNION ; READING ; AUSTRALIA ; Sylvania ; Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; OAK PARK ; SOUTHGATE ; STURGEON LAKE ; REDFORD ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; ROSEVILLE ; LINCOLN PARK ; TRAVERSE CITY ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; PONTIAC ; TROY ; PORT CHESTER ; SOUTH AMERICA ; BROOKVILLE ; MONTREAL ; SEOUL ; NORTH OLMSTED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; ERIE ; University of Notre Dame ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TORONTO ; TOLD AT ; TOLD BY ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON ; MONROE ; GLENVIEW ; MOSCOW ; GULLEY ; FINLAND ; HARBOR BEACH ; HOUGHTON LAKE ; Hudson Lake ; INDIANAPOLIS ; JONESBORO ; KANSASVILLE ; LEXINGTON ; MASSILLON ; MAUCH CHUNK ; MELVINDALE ; MILFORD ; NEW ROCHELLE ; NIAGARA FALLS ; PANAMA CITY ; PATAGONIA ; ARGENTINA ; RESIDENCE HALL ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT HONORS HOUSE ; AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance

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APOTHEGM

HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER THAT THY DAYS MAY BE LONG UPON THE
LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVEHT THEE.

Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD BY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 02-19-1972

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

DO THE BEST YOU CAN TODAY AND TOMORROW YOU CAN DO BETTER.

Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD BY

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; PERSISTENCE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 02-19-1972

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DANCES IN 1910

IF A FIGHT STARTED OUTSIDE THE MAIN DOOR OF THE DANCE
HALL, FIRST THE MOTHERS WOULD FAINT AND I WOULD PICK
THEM UP AND SET THEM ON THE BENCH (SOME WERE PRETTY
HEAVY), AND I WOULD MISS THE FUN. IT PAYED OFF,
THOUGH, SINCE IT'S BETTER TO KEEP ON THE GOOD SIDE
OF THE MOMMA. THAT MEANT A REAL MEAL SUNDAY NIGHT.

Where learned: MIDDLE STATE ILLINOIS ; BY LETTER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 02-01-1971

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SMASHED

AS FLAT AS A PANCAKE

Where learned: LETTER

Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; FOOD

James Callow Keyword(s): SHAPE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

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OAK

AS THE TWIG IS BENT, SO IS THE OAK INCLINED.

Submitter comment: REFERS TO CHILD RAISING, THE TWIG BEING THE CHILD, THE OAK, THE
ADULT.

Where learned: SENT BY LETTER

Keyword(s): PLANT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; ENVIRONMENT ; EXAMPLE ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-06-1970

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PROVERB

DON'T PROMISE PEARS ON A WEEPING WILLOW TREE. (TRANSLATION)
GRUSZKI NA UREIZBIE OBIECYWAI. (POLISH)

Where learned: COLLECTED BY LETTER

Keyword(s): FOOD ; PLANT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 03-08-1970

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WATER

DON'T THROW OUT THE DIRTY WATER UNTIL YOU GET SOME CLEAN.

Submitter comment: SAID PRIMARILY IN REFERENCE TO DISH WATER AND SAVING IN TIME OF
POVERTY. SHE SAYS IT ALSO APPLIES TO RADICALS AND HIPPIES TODAY.

Where learned: GIVEN BY LETTER

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; FRUGALITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-06-1970

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PRETTY BORING

DULL AS A HOE

Where learned: LETTER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 10-23-1969

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SHREWD CHARACTER

DUMB LIKE A FOX

Where learned: LETTER

Keyword(s): ANIMAL

James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

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DRINK

HE'S ALWAYS AT THE BOTTLE

Submitter comment: HE ALWAYS DRINKS.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; WRITTEN IN A LETTER

Keyword(s): METONYMY: CONTAINER FOR THE CONTAINED. ; PHRASE METAPHOR DRINKING HABITS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

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PAR FOR THE COURSE

BE YOURSELF...IF YOU CANT DO ANY BETTER.

Where learned: LETTER

James Callow Keyword(s): OF ; PAR IS A GOLF TERM MEANING "AVERAGE" OR USUAL NUMBER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-23-1969

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ROLY-POLY

BIG AS A BARREL.

Where learned: LETTER

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION

James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 10-23-1969

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Entry filtered.

POLISH AMERICAN JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS 1776 AND 1492 HAVE IN COMMON?
THEY ARE THE ADJOINING ROOMS AT THE WARSAW HILTON.
BUT WHO OWNS THE HOTEL?
THE AMERICANS.

Where learned: THROUGH LETTERS ; TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 11-00-1977

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NITWIT

HE HAS BATS IN HIS BELFREY.

Where learned: LETTER

Keyword(s): ANIMAL METAPHOR ; INSANITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 10-23-1969

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