Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Massachusetts returned 79 results.
MAN WITH A HOOK: TALE
JUST OUTSIDE BOSTON IS A PLACE WHERE COUPLES PARK TO TALK, AND
MANY COUPLES ARE USUALLY THERE IN THEIR CARS. ONE NIGHT ONLY ONE
CAR WAS THERE ON A MOONLESS NIGHT. THE COUPLE HAPPENED TO HEAR
ON THE RADIO THAT AN INMANTE OF AN ASYLUM HAD ESCAPED AND WAS IN
THE AREA. THE REPORT SAID THAT HE WAS MISSING A HAND AND HAD A
HOOK INSTEAD. JUST THEN THEY HEARD A NOISE OUTSIDE AND HURRIEDLY
LEFT THE SPOT. WHEN THEY REACHED THE GIRL'S HOUSE, THE BOY WENT
TO OPEN THE GIRL'S DOOR AND THERE WAS THE HOOK ON THE DOOR HANDLE
ON A BLOODY STUMP.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
NO GRASS ON THE GRAVE: TALE
THE GREAT-GRANDFATHER OF MY INFORMANT WAS ALLEGEDLY UNJUSTLY
ACCUSED OF MURDERING HIS WIFE. HE SWORE HE WAS INNOCENT UP TILL
THE TIME OF HIS EXECUTION NEAR BOSTON.
UNTIL THIS DAY, NO GRASS GROWS ON THAT GRAVE, THOUGH IT HAS BEEN
RE-SODDED SEVERAL TIMES.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
WAKE UP
IF YOU TALK NONSENSE, YOU WILL BE TOLD, "PUT OUT YOUR HAND
AND SEE IF YOU ARE IN."
TRANSLATION: YOU ARE DREAMING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS SOURCE IS BOSTON, BUT HAS NO DATE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; BOSTON ; Massachusetts ; WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-04-1967
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS AN ELEPHANT WITH A
RHINOCEROS.
ELLEPHINO
Where learned: Massachusetts ; CULVER ; ARGONNE BARRACKS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
BURIED IN THE SAND
SOME BOYS DECIDED TO PULL A JOKE ON A FRIEND AT THE
BEACH AND GAVE HIM SOME SLEEPING PILLS IN A DRINK TO
PUT HIM TO SLEEP. THEN THEY BURIED HIM IN THE SAND
AND PUT RAGS OVER HIS FACE SO THAT HE COULD BREATH.
LATER, THEY RETURNED AND THE WAVES HAD REARRANGED
THE SAND AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THEIR FRIEND. THEY
LOOKED AND LOOKED, BUT HE COULDN'T BE FOUND AND
THEY SAY HE'S STILL THERE SOMEWHERE.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
James Callow Keyword(s): FATAL PRANK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
Throw salt over your left shoulder when entering a new
dwelling.
Submitter comment:
The older folks in the family always told us: When we buy a
new house or are invited to spend the night at a friend's house,
before we go in we should throw some salt over our shoulder to
scare away any evil spirits that may be in the house.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Date learned: 00-00-1976
LOOK FOR THE FASTBALL, AND YOU'LL HIT THE CURVE. LOOK FOR THE CURVE,
AND YOU WON'T HIT THE FASTBALL.
I HAD STRUCK OUT TWICE ON CURVE BALLS IN MY FIRST GAME IN THE PONY
LEAGUE. MISTER QUINN NOTICED MY FAULT AND CORRECTED ME. LOOK FOR THE
FASTBALL, AND YOU'LL HIT THE CURVE. LOOK FOR THE CURVE, AND YOU
WON'T HIT THE FASTBALL.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): BASEBALL
James Callow Keyword(s): CHIASMUS ; IRONY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
MAN WITH A HOOK: TALE
JUST OUTSIDE BOSTON IS A PLACE WHERE COUPLES PARK TO TALK, AND
MANY COUPLES ARE USUALLY THERE IN THEIR CARS. ONE NIGHT ONLY ONE
CAR WAS THERE ON A MOONLESS NIGHT. THE COUPLE HAPPENED TO HEAR
ON THE RADIO THAT AN INMANTE OF AN ASYLUM HAD ESCAPED AND WAS IN
THE AREA. THE REPORT SAID THAT HE WAS MISSING A HAND AND HAD A
HOOK INSTEAD. JUST THEN THEY HEARD A NOISE OUTSIDE AND HURRIEDLY
LEFT THE SPOT. WHEN THEY REACHED THE GIRL'S HOUSE, THE BOY WENT
TO OPEN THE GIRL'S DOOR AND THERE WAS THE HOOK ON THE DOOR HANDLE
ON A BLOODY STUMP.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
NO GRASS ON THE GRAVE: TALE
THE GREAT-GRANDFATHER OF MY INFORMANT WAS ALLEGEDLY UNJUSTLY
ACCUSED OF MURDERING HIS WIFE. HE SWORE HE WAS INNOCENT UP TILL
THE TIME OF HIS EXECUTION NEAR BOSTON.
UNTIL THIS DAY, NO GRASS GROWS ON THAT GRAVE, THOUGH IT HAS BEEN
RE-SODDED SEVERAL TIMES.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
Proverb
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Submitter comment:
When I was working as well as going to school and didn't have any time for socializing.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Cake ; GREED ; Hypocrite ; Maxim ; PARADOX ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Retort
Put an egg in your shoe and beat it!
Submitter comment:
Spoken after a twenty minute argument with his cousin.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Watch your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.
Submitter comment:
I was having trouble making ends meet financially a few years ago, this advice helped a bit.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): COINS ; Dollars ; Finances ; Frugal ; MONEY ; Pennies ; THRIFT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Maxim
Your chances of succeeding are about equal to that of a snowball's in Hell.
Submitter comment:
When I was trying to figure out how I could finance a car in high school, so I discussed it with my Dad. A very short discussion. (see above!)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Dup. of WPP
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): CHANCE ; HELL ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; SNOW ; Snowball ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING "JUMP IN THE LAKE."
BRODIE IS THE NAME OF THE MAN WHO SUPPOSEDLY JUMPED
OFF THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE. IT WAS SAID IN A SARCASTIC
TONE:
GO TAKE A BRODIE.
Where learned: Massachusetts
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
DO YOU EAT WITH THAT MOUTH?
Submitter comment:
THIS EXPRESSION IS USED AS A SUBTLE REBUKE TO SOMEONE
WHO IS USING LANGUAGE NOT NORMALLY USED IN POLITE
COMPANY.
Where learned: Massachusetts ; SPRINGFIELD
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
NOT GIVEN
THERE IS A PLACE IN LIBANON, NEW YORK, CALLED "LOVER'S LEAP."
AN INDIAN GIRL IN LOVE WITH A BRAVE FROM THE OTHER TRIBE LEAPED
TO HER DEATH WITH HIM BECAUSE THEIR RESPECTIVE TRIBES WERE AT
WAR AND WOULD NOT PERMIT THEM TO MARRY.
Where learned: Massachusetts ; SPRINGFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Explanation of a name |
BELIEF
WHEN YOU DROP A FORK, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE COMPANY.
Where learned: Massachusetts ; LEOMINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 07-02-1973
Entry filtered.
It was a custom that during the wakes for the departed that
were always held at a house the women would sit in the living
room with the body and cry and pray while the men sat in the
kitchen. They (the men) would eat, drink and make merry.
Submitter comment:
The informants' uncle learned to jig on the kitchen table at a
very young age at the wakes.
This is considered an Irish custom of that era.
Where learned: CAMBRIDGE ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): Dancing: Irish Jig
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial moment of life Life cycle CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
Entry filtered.