From the September 16, 1936 Harvard Lampoon, “Sentiment Simplified,” by Alan Gregg.
Why not, instead of more or less ignoring punctuation as heretofore, make it of some real importance; make it the skeleton of a new and more fluent language?
For instance:
Let * be a new punctuation mark meaning a wink and % for the first time betoken head on one side, one eye over the other, an expression of intense interest, attention, and incredulity and ( - ) be a smile and ( — ) be a laugh … more teeth showing and # a frown.
[Example]
Dear Gwendolynne,
You are probably working so hard for exams that you wont [sic] be able to get away for the Yale game. ( * ) Has anyone else asked you? ( # ) I hope you can come ( - )
Yours (% —)
Of the ultimate success of this new era in self-expression we have no doubt.