Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TALE
WHILE HUNTING IN THE UPPER PENINSULA ONE SEASON, I CLIMBED A TREE
TO GET A BETTER VIEW OF THE TERRAIN. THE BRANCH I SAT ON BROKE
AND I FELL INTO WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A HOLLOW TREE WITH BEAR CUBS
IN IT. KNOWING THAT THE MOTHER BEAR WOULD SOON BE BACK, I TRIED
MY BEST TO CLIMB OUT OF THE TREE, TO NO AVAIL. SO I GRABBED MY
KNIFE AND WAITED FOR HER. JUST THEN, I HEARD HER SCRATCHING HER
WAY UP THE TREE. I SAW HER AT THE TOP OF THE TREE CLIMBING INTO
THE HOLE REAR FIRST, SO I GRABBED HER TAIL AND JABBED MY KNIFE
INTO HER BEHIND. SHE SHOT UP THE TREE, PULLING ME WITH HER. AS
SOON AS WE WERE OUT, I PICKED UP MY GUN AND SHOT HER.
Where learned: NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): SEE ROBERTS' SOUTH FROM HELL-FOR-SATAN, TALE 71.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 08-15-1969
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
INFORMANT STATED THAT, WHILE HE WAS A SEMINARIAN, HIS SPIRITUAL
DIRECTORS USED TO BELIEVE IN WHAT WAS CALLED A "CIRCLE OF PURITY,"
AND THEY ACTUALLY MADE THE SEMINARIANS UNDER THEIR DIRECTION ADHERE
TO THIS CUSTOM. THE CIRCLE OF PURITY MEANT TO STAY AN ARM'S LENGTH
AWAY FROM A MAN ON EVERY SIDE AND TWO ARMS' LENGTHS AWAY FROM WOMEN
ON EVERY SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
ITALIAN PROVERB
THE WOLF LOSES ITS HAIR, BUT NOT ITS HABITS.
IL LUPO PERDE IL PELO, MA NO IL VIZZIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Comic Book Title
Tracks in the Sand by Peter Dragon
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRCH RUN
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
Comic Book Title
Yellow River by I. P. Daily
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRCH RUN
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
TO GET RID OF THE HICCUPS YOU SHOULD SWALLOW THREE SPOONFULS
OF SUGAR FOLLOWED BY THREE GLASSES OF WATER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Mineral |
WILL IT BE A BOY OR GIRL?
IF A MOTHER KNITS GIRLISH THINGS DURING HER PREGNANCY,
SHE WILL GET A GIRL. IF SHE LOOKS AT BOYISH THINGS
AND MAKES THEM, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
DR. THORDEN SAID THIS ONE DAY WHEN A BOY ASKED HER
IF YOU CAN TELL BEFOREHAND IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE A
BOY OR A GIRL. WE WERE STUDYING REPRODUCTION AT THIS
TIME. SHE SAID THIS AS A PASSING THING, NOT AS THE
REAL ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 11-14-1969
NIGHT SWEATS
IF THE SKIN SURFACE OF THE BODY IS GIVEN A CUPPED-PALM HAND BATH
OF APPLE CIDER AT BEDTIME, THE NIGHT SWEATS WILL BE PREVENTED.
Where learned: APARTMENT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-08-1969
One night my little brother Mike, had the hick-ups.
Mike was only 8 years old at the time, so I liked
to pick on him. Knowing that he would do just
about anything, I told him that I could cure his
hick-ups as long as he did exactly what I said.
Mike agreed. First I told Mike to stand up. Then
I said to raise his left hand, then to raise his
right foot, then to place his right hand pinky
finger on his left nostril, then to close his
right eye, and then finally to jump up and down.
I was just making things up for him to do. It was
funny watching him. But to my whole family's
surprise, Mike's hick-ups were gone.
Since that day I have cured about 15 people with
hick-ups. It works almost always except when
the person is drunk. Then the success rate drops
below 50%.
Submitter comment:
I think the reason the cure works is because
the person has to concentrate so hard to keep
from falling down, that the hick-ups go away.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): Accidental Cure
James Callow Keyword(s): HICCUPS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
When my family and friends are sitting around the
house watching television, we have a saying when
you get up to go to the bathroom or get something
from the refrigerator. The saying is "Place back."
Saying "Place back" means that when you come back
you get your seat back. If you don't say "Place
back," anyone can take your seat from you. When
you come back and see that your seat is gone,
the person sitting in your chair must say,
"Move your meat, lose your seat" before you say
"Place back."
Submitter comment:
The game came about from not having enough
comfortable seats in the house. We were always
arguing who got to sit in the best chair.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): Reservation formula
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
SOLOMON SLICK
THERE WAS A MAN IN TOWN
WHOSE NAME WAS SOLOMON SLICK
WE OWNED A MULE WITH DRAINY EYES,
OH, HOW THAT MULE WOULD KICK.
HE KICKED,
HE KICKED
HE KICKED
HE KICKED THE TRAIN OFF THE TRACKS.
HE KICKED THE STREAM BOAT OUT OF SIGHT.
Submitter comment:
NOTE: ON TAPE #2.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; MUSIC ; PARODY ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
IRISH BELIEF
IN BLARNEY CASTLE, THERE IS A HIGH ROCK CALLED THE "BLARNEY STONE." THE BLARNEY STONE IS DIFFICULT TO REACH, BUT THE IRISH BELIEVE THAT IF A PERSON IS ABLE TO KISS THE STONE WITH HIS LIPS, THE FEAT GIVES THE TONGUE THE POWER OF FLATTERY AND OF COMPLIMENTARY
SPEECH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-03-1969
THE BAREFOOT BOY CAME WALKING DOWN THE STREET
WITH HIS PANTS FULL OF POCKETS AND HIS SHOES FULL OF FEET.
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER CHANTING THIS AS A BOY. I NEVER KNEW WHAT IT MEANT
AND I STILL DON'T.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MUSIC ; NONSENSE ; PARODY ; RHYME ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 03-12-1970
Entry filtered.
"MICHIGANIA FEVER"
THEN THERE'S THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
WHERE SOME ARE VERY RICH;
THEMSELVES AND A FEW OTHERS HAVE DUG A MIGHTY DITCH,
TO RENDER IT MORE EASY FOR US TO FIND THE WAY,
AND SAIL UPON THE WATERS OF MICHIGANIA-
YEA, YEA, YEA, TO MICHIGANIA!
Submitter comment: WORDS SUNG VERY LOUD USUALLY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C2005 |
Date learned: 03-20-1990
U. S. S. NEVERDOCK
THERE IS A NAVY TRADITION CONCERNING THE GOOD SHIP
U.S.S. NEVERDOCK, A VESSEL WITH AN UNKNOWN PURPOSE
AND UNKNOWN CREW THAT SAILS ABOUT, NEVER COMING INTO
DOCK TO PORT. SHE HAS A POOL TABLE, BOWLING ALLEYS,
SWIMMING POOLS, AND MANY OTHER LUXURIES ABOARD, AND
ONLY A SELECT FEW ARE CHOSEN TO BE FLOWN ON THE SHIP TO
JOIN HER CREW. IT IS A STANDARD JOKE AMONG ALL SAILORS
WHO ARE AWAITING ORDERS THAT THEY WILL BE DESTINED FOR
THE U.S.S. NEVERDOCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.6 |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
ARABIAN MAXIM
TIME IS LIKE A SWORD - YOU CUT WITH IT OR IT WILL
CUT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
Entry filtered.
JOHNNY APPLESEED
JOHNNY APPLESEED WAS TO HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT
THEIR FARM HOUSE. FOR LETTING HIM SLEEP THERE, HE
PLANTED AN APPLE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. WHICH IS
STILL THERE TODAY.
Submitter comment:
DERBY'S FARM HOUSE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THEM FROM
PAST GENERATIONS. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT TWO MILES
NORTHEAST FROM CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CARSONVILLE
Keyword(s): LEGENDARY FIGURE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 05-00-1963
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT STAYS IN THE SAME CORNER ALL THE TIME, BUT TRAVELS AROUND
THE WORLD?
A: A POSTAGE STAMP.
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (Q) ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN