The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MY MOTHER WORKED FOR THE DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE
EARLY 1920'S. SHE TAUGHT A LOT OF POOR BLACK CHILDREN. SHE
ALWAYS LAUGHED ABOUT THE NAMES SOME OF THE CHILDREN WERE
GIVEN, TWO IN PARTICULAR. SHE SAID THERE WERE TWO SISTERS'
NAMED SYPHILIS AND GONORRHEA, BUT THEY PRONOUNCED THEIR
NAMES SA-PHILLY-US AND GO-NORE-REA.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS SHE HEARD THIS MANY TIMES FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GONORRHEA ; SYPHILIS

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR

Date learned: 00001920S