Imperial Valley press., 1935-10-28
REBUS EPIDEMIC RUSHES CLERKS
>-MyStic Drawings Interpreted -
WEIRD SYMBOLS ATFLOOD POINT

Government poStoffice employees
in Hollywood, as we'll as mail clerks
at the studios, have had their pa
tience tried in recent months by an
outbreak of what may be termed a
rebus epidemic
A flood tide of letters, mounting
to several hundred a week, have
been pouring in, all covered with
weird drawings or diagrams repre-
senting the names of stars or of
movie roles.
One of the principal victims of the
inundation is Wallace Beery, whose
name seems to have eXerted an un-
holy fascination on the horde OF
amateur artists Beery, at last report,
had achieved a questionable distinc-
ton of leading the field, in the num-
ber of rebus envelopes received. His
first name is sometimes depicted by
sketch of a wall covered by what
passes for a frontage of lace, some
times by a wall and the ace from a
pack of cards, sometimes by w"
on an owl and an ace. His surname
generally takes the form either of a
berry or of an effervescing stein of
beer.
Most Puzzling
One of the recent puzzling letters
presented what seemed to be a men
acing colored diagram of the under
world, with superimposed letter
en- and an overhanging mass of
clouds. This was sent over to the
Fox studios on the assumption that
it belonged to someone connected
with "Dante's Inferno" When the
letter was opened there, however, it
was found that it had been intended
for Helen Hayes; the crytic sketch
on the envelope stood for hell-Nhaze 4!
Sometimes the amateur draughtS-
men try to convey their meaning by
tinted mass of platinum tresseS, q
gigantic nose (as unmistakable as
the most detailed street address,, or
a snarling ghoulish face. When it
is a case of latter. office workers
have to gamble on whether to send it
to Boris Karloff, CLAUDE Rains, or
Bella Lugosi. The last letter of this
variety turned out to be none of the
three but for that redoubtable old
werewolf, Henry Hull.
Wrong Guess
No snap Judgment may be exer-
ciSed on these enigmatic messages
Recently clerk found an envelope
with collection Of hieroglyphics and
a picture of Grace Moore. 1t was
properly sent along to the young lady
who just as determinedly mailed it
along to Lionel Barrymore. Close
scrutiny showed that the Moore" on
the envelope was preceded by a very
decrepit looking lion, the letter "L'
and bunch of exceedingly lopsided
berries. c. E. D. Lion-L-berry-
Moore.
Another misleading one was let
ter that carried a newspaper photo
Of Gene Tunney, with a grimacing
viSage sketched beneath, at the very
bottom of the envelope. The Holly
wood desk that received this was
about to mail it to Tunney in New
York when a myStical-minded as
sistant, obviously brought up on a
crossword puzzle and anagram diet
remarked, TRY Jean Harlow" The
laughing man, he explained glibly
might well be intended to convey
"har,' it was placed low on the flap
and was preceded by an unquestion-
able Gene" A substantial wager
was placed that the missive was not
intended for Miss Harlow, and the
next day the dishelieving wagerel
dolefully paid off.
No Compliment
One of the letters involving alb
struse mental processes bore 6
scraWled picture of a jackass, fol-