Spectacles, Testicles...

[poliphilo]

"Spectacles, testicles, watch and wallet."

Ailz comes across this mantra in a novel she's reading where the narrator speaks of it having "religious connotations".

"Religious connotations?" She turns to me.

I know the phrase as the refrain of a poem by some author who's name I forget. I'd thought he'd originated it. Apparently not; it seems to be something they say in Yorkshire.

But religious connotations?

An idea begins to dawn- and I stand up to try it out- with sweeping hand movements, pointing to the items in turn.

Spectacles, testicles, watch and wallet.

It's a mnemonic for making the sign of the cross.

Go on, try it yourself....

Comments

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

I don't see why the watch would necessarily be on the left side if both watch and wallet were located in interior coat pockets. Once divorced from the wrist, handedness seems irrelevant to location.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

If you're right-handed- as most people are- I suggest it's marginally easier to extract a watch from the left-hand breast pocket.

[ylla.livejournal.com]

But a real old fashioned watch on a chain would be easier to get from your right hand waistcoat pocket!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You are probably right. I've been looking at pictures of men with pocket watches- and most of them- including Edward VII- are carrying them in the right hand pocket of their waistcoats.