The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

JESUITS

WHEN THE NOVITIATE AT MILFORD, OHIO WAS BEING BUILT, THE PLANS WERE
DRAWN UP AND SENT TO ROME FOR APPROVAL. THE PLANS WERE COMPLETE
EXCEPT FOR LAVATORIES AND SHOWERS. WHEN THE PLANS WERE SENT BACK
THEY HAD BEEN APPROVED EXCEPTING THE COMMENT WRITTEN IN LATIN:
"SUNTNE ANGELIX" OR IN ENGLISH, "ARE THEY ANGELS?"
THE PLANS WERE AMENDED BY ERECTING TWO TOWERS CONTAINING THE TOILETS
AND SHOWERS AND URINALS, ONE AT EITHER END OF THE BUILDING.
FROM THIS THE NOVICES WHOSE JOBS IT WAS TO KEEP THE LAVATORIES
CLEAN COINED THE FOLLOWING JOB DESCRIPTIONS: THE LAVATORIES WERE THE
"CASTLES", THE "KEEPER OF THE KEYS" WAS IN CHARGE OF SUPPLIES, THE
"REX" WAS CLEANER OF THE TOILETS AND URINALS WHICH WERE THE THRONES,
THE REX'S HELPER WAS THE "PRINCE".

Where learned: DETROIT

Date learned: 09-20-1972