The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CENTIPEDES ARE POISONOUS

I WAS GOING THROUGH TEXAS AND I SAW A MASS OF LITTLE BROWN THINGS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE, BUT THEY
LOOKED A LITTLE LIKE CHOCOLATE BARS WITH LEGS. I DIDN'T KNOW
THEY WERE POISONOUS THEN, SO I PICKED UP ONE AND HELD IT IN MY
HAND FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ME.
THEN WHEN I GOT A LITTLE FARTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD AT THE NEXT
GAS STATION, I ASKED THE ATTENDANT WHAT THE LITTLE CREATURES WERE,
BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WEREN'T CHOCOLATE BARS. THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME
THEY WERE POISONOUS, SO AFTER THAT I DIDN'T PICK UP ANY MORE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY

Date learned: 09-00-1968