May I have your autograph?

Do you remember autograph books?  They are not used as much as they once were.  But in some cultures they are still used.  And have you been asked to sign one recently?  Don't you wish you could remember some of those little ditties?  A little research will show that in the mid to late 1800's those "ditties" were actually emphasizing spiritual growth and wishes for good things for the friends.  If you read any from the 1930's or 1940's, you may be in for a surprise.  The ditties changed.  Some were about being good friends and some pushed the limits a little.  Do we have one of these autograph books in the Bullis Collection?  We're sorry to say - no, we don't.  But we were quite surprised when we were doing the War of 1812 book display and found the little dittie that follows on the back page of the textbook Mastery Units in American History by Maurice Rovner.  This book was not used by the Bullis family other than for reading as far as we can tell.  We believe that Charlie Bullis bought it at a book sale somewhere.  It belonged to a young woman and was used in the late 1930's or early 1940's.  So for the romantics everywhere whose minds travel faster than the words are written and read into things much more than they should, the following is shared.

If in the world these were the only two

And all the world was good and true

And if you knew that no one knew,

Would you?

If you dreamed in pajamas blue, 

Of two strong arms embracing you 

And if you really wanted to, 

Would you?

If the world were nice and bright

And if I stayed with you all night

And if we turned out the light,

Would you?

And if we were in a certain place

And we were sleeping face to face

Nothing between us but a little lace,

Would you

Kiss me goodnight?