The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

NOBILITY

IN ITALY, PEOPLE ARE VERY CLASS CONSCIOUS. MY GREAT GRANDFATHER
WAS OF THE NOBILITY THERE. HE MARRIED AND CAME TO AMERICA ALONG
WITH COUSINS THROUGH MARRIAGE (NOT OF NOBILITY). THERE, THE COUSINS
STRUCK IT RICH IN NEW YORK IN CONSTRUCTION AND THE GREAT GRAND_
FATHER JUST HAD A SMALL STORE. FINALLY, 20 YRS. LATER, NOT TRAVELING
TOGETHER, BOTH GRANDFATHER AND RELATIVES RETURNED TO THE TOWN AT
THE SAME TIME; THE WHOLE TOWN TURNED OUT TO GREET THE GREAT_GRAND_
FATHER. BUT FOR THE COUSINS (WHO WERE HANDING OUT MONEY), THEY
PRACTICALLY WERE IGNORED DESPITE THEIR WEALTH. THE COUSINS NEVER
FORGOT THIS AND RESENTED THE GRANDFATHER UNTIL THE DAY HE DIED.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: 02-20-1970