RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30206, 10 August 1963, Page 18

RANDOM REMINDER

DOWN IN THE MOUTH

Those young enough to believe in fairies, and those just old enough to appreciate the value of a quick turnover and a substantial profit, yet still young enough to look as if they believe in fairies are interested in teeth; for indulgent parents will see to it that a threepenny piece is left in place of a tooth in a water glass beside a small bed. In some periods of inflation, the price soared to sixpence But we have in mind someone no longer in his first infancy; he is 20. And he collects teeth. He is making them into a necklace for a young lady of his acquaintance So sit tight, as we unfold the most macabre story to have disturbed our sheltered life. He is quite a personable young man. and he looks reasonably harmless. But he has this dreadful

desire to collect human teeth for his necklace, with which he proposes to mark the young lady’s birthday. Already he has about half the number he needs, mainly because he has a friend who is a dentist. But he is a perfectionist, and he does not want just any old teeth. He is doing his best to gather in a matched set, without obvious flaws. So the collection is a little laborious. In idle moments, he strings them and restrings them fondly, looking rather like someone who has had a nervous breakdown and has been put on to occupational therapy. But he needs more. And that is why he goes about the office, looking with intense interest at the teeth of all those still willing to talk to him. And he jingles his string

of fine whit* teeth u he

goes. It is not quite as abhorrent as grave-robbing and it would be unfair to suggest he is, in any respect, even a mild sort of vampire; but already the obsession is doing away with his brain. He now thinks it would be good to have the teeth strung on a rope of human hair. No doubt the next descent into the diabolical will involve the introduction of wellshaped human fingernails into the necklace, for decorative purposes. Perhaps a touch of congealed blood here and there might help. Maybe just one human ear? It is distressing to think that this chilling conglomeration will become a birthday present. But w-e are putting the worst of it last. The young ladv knows about it; and she is all for it.