(5 of 5)
It comes as sort of a blow to find the "Moon Over My-arm-i" one is credited somewhere in Missouri. I was under the impression that I invented it myself. . . .
I just thought you might be interested in it and maybe you've heard the one about the cash register—I don't know where it came from —anyway, you poke each cheek in, crank your ear and stick out your tongue. Try it some time.
ARTHUR G. STEWART
Washington, D. C.
Sirs:
This particular section of the sometimes "backwoods" South seems to be about six weeks ahead of the rest of the country. With no name whatsoever, we were already at that time proficient in the game you call "Handles.'' Better than your "Moon Over My-arm-i" is our "Moon Over Palm Beach," to express which the moon (made with one hand) is placed over the upturned palm of the other hand. Another good one: Fix hands like a hitchhiker's then move hands from side to side with criss-cross motion—the hobo who doesn't give a damn! . . .
JOHN NEWFIELD
Birmingham, Ala.
Sirs:
"Handles" allegedly grew out of a similar game played on paper, in which one dot was the cross section of a toothbrush, a straight line was the bristle itself, two dots represented a ghost looking over a wall. This game, sprung on a group of the 700 sorority rushees quartered in the Tiger Hotel, Columbia, during the University of Missouri's rush week last fall by one of their number, led to one of them making up the original "Handy" to continue the entertainment. This bright co-ed started the best "jelly-date" entertainment to date on the campus where "jellying" also originated. It is the process of spooning over coca-colas in one of many campus "jelly joints"—soft drink parlors which provide booths, orchestra and dance floor for a minimum charge per person of 10¢. No girl ever orders more than the 10¢ worth on a date either. . . .
E. G. SEIDEL
Editor
Missouri Student
Columbia, Mo.