Occasionally, the scholar of folklore comes across something even he or she does not know what to make heads or tails of. And that “occasionally” is actually more often than one might think. Incidentally, sometimes the scholar is not alone. For given the wholly cryptic titles of certain tales, neither did its originators.


Contextualization is an indispensable tool for both the understanding and enjoyment of folklore for the current generation and those to come. Even the most minimal effort on the part of a commentator may offer an invaluable window to see a story in a clearer a light. Often this process incorporates a fair amount of opinion from the presenter in addition to any historic and cultural insight given.

Now, this here, well, this is what you get when a presenter’s mind has been rendered— completely blank.

Ergo this is a story about magnetized wind in Texas that comes from, out of all things, a well pipe for some reason. Yea, that’s basically the gist, or perhaps the jest, anyway, enjoy. A story comes from El Paso, Texas, of a magnetic current of air which issues from an artesian well pipe near Sierra Blanco, on the Texas Pacific railway. According to the story, “it has been observed by horsemen that whenever they get in the neighborhood of the well strong magnetic forces are felt, and sparks are given off if the horse’s mane is touched. Recently a man from Sierra Blanco was sitting close to the well, and on taking out his pocket knife found a nail, which he had in his pocket clinging to the knife. He held the knife in the current of air and found the magnetic property was greatly increased. Several weeks ago Superintendent Judy held his pocket knife in the current of air four minutes and the knife is still strongly magtized from the effect. The outflowing current of air is believed to possess remarkable curative properties. Its efficacy is to be tested by experiments upon cases of paralysis and other diseases. The people who live near the wonderful well call it the ‘fountain of youth.’”—Nashville American

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