The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PROVERBIAL METAPHOR: TALKING TOO MUCH

THERE WAS A GUY ON MY EUROPE TOUR IN '66 WHO TALKED A LOT AND,
UNFORTUNATELY, HE SPOKE WITH A HOOSIER TWANG. WHEN WE WERE GOING
UP TO THE SALT MINES OUTSIDE SALZBURG, I WAS IN THE LAST CABLE CAR
WITH REID, OUR CONDUCTOR (WHO IS A CHARACTER), AND THIS GUY, BOB
MEYER, AND SOMEONE FROM THE NEXT GROUP. BOB WAS RATTLING ON AND
ON, AND REID FINALLY LOST HIS PATIENCE AND TACT (WHAT TACT HE HAD)
AND SAID BLUNTLY, "BOB, YOU'VE GOT DIARRHEA OF THE MOUTH." BOB
STOPPED, SURPRISED, I GUESS BECAUSE NO ONE HAD EVER TOLD HIM TO
SHUT UP BEFORE. HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THAT
AND IT SEEMED TO ME THAT HE DIDN'T TALK AS MUCH AFTER THAT. REID
MADE ANOTHER COMMENT, I THINK, ABOUT BOB NOT BEING AS BAD AS
ROSEMARY, OUR GUIDE WHO TALKED FROM 9:00-10:26 (I TIMED HER)
NON-STOP--NO COMMAS, NO PERIODS. I WAS SORT OF EMBARRASSED THAT
REID WAS SO BLUNT, BUT IT WAS EFFECTIVE AND I THOUGHT A VERY APT
STATEMENT AND I HAD TO TRY HARD TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE.

Where learned: GERMANY ; SALZBURG

Date learned: 07-00-1966

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