Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/308

 296 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

��LOCAL MEETINGS AND OTHER NOTICES.

Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Folk-Lore Society. — The Annual Meeting for 1899 will be held in New Haven, at Yale Uni- versity, Thursday and Friday, December 28 and 29. The Society will meet for the transaction of business on Thursday morning. The business meeting will be followed by an address of the President, and by reading of papers. On Friday the Society will meet jointly with Section H (Anthro- pology) of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Papers will be read in morning and afternoon sessions.

At the same time (December 27-29) will meet in New Haven the affili- ated societies, including the Society of Naturalists, the American Psy- chological Association, the American Physiological Society, also the Ameri- can Archaeological Institute. The Psychological Laboratory will be open at all times as a central meeting-place for the anthropologists and psy- chologists, with such arrangements for comfort and sociability as can be devised.

In order to obtain the advantage of reduced fares it will be necessary to procure a certificate at the office where the ticket is purchased.

Members intending to present papers will please give notice to the Permanent Secretary, \V. W. Newell, Cambridge, Mass.

Baltimore. — The Baltimore Folk-Lore Society, being desirous to pro- mote the collection of folk-lore in Maryland, has offered prizes (1) for the largest collection of negro folk-lore ; (2) for the largest collection of any- thing coming under the general head of folk-lore. The competition is to close on January 1, 1900. All the material must be found within the State. The Society further offers prizes of books, intended especially for teachers : " 1. For the largest general collection of superstitions, of every kind and variety, to be found in Maryland. 2. For the largest collection of singing- games and counting-out rhymes; as, ' King William was King James' Son,' and ' Eeney, meeny, miny, moe,' and the like. 3. For the largest and best collection and account of charms, mascots, amulets, and luck-bringers.

4. For the largest collection of harvest customs and crop superstitions.

5. For the largest collection of manners and customs, and the observance of certain times and seasons in the State. 6. For the largest and best col- lection of witch tales and superstitions, hoodoo customs and practices. 7. For the largest collection of superstitions or sayings in regard to fish and fishermen. 8. For the largest collection of tales, legends, or super- stitions connected with birds and animals. 9. For the largest collection of strange happenings or superstitions connected with old Maryland families. 10. For the largest and best collection of what is known as 'sign lan- guage.' This is to be found in all walks and stations of life. The child uses it when he crosses his heart to indicate that he is telling the truth, or puts his hand over his left shoulder to indicate that he is not telling 'the whole truth and nothing but the truth.' Our electric cars furnish instances of the

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