On this page is a thumbnail of the Russian paper where Harpo’s name was the headline:
http://posting.triggerstreet.com/gyrobase/Submission?oid=oid%3A3565
Yay. What do I win?
But do you still have a polydactyl tongue? :eek: 
You bet!
For those still wondering, this is a quote from one of the “Lensmen” series by E. E. “Doc” Smith. The story’s lead character, Kimball Kinnison, was traveling in the guise of a writer of “Space Opera” type stories. The quote comes from the story he was writing to keep up his cover.
Rather subtle, you see. A fictional character in a story, pretending to be someone else, writes a story about a fictional character: Qadgop the Mercotan. All clear?
I’m waiting for the “Fictional Characters created by Fictional Characters” thread.
Wow. I don’t often do vanity searches, because nothing ever comes up. But this time I hit the jackpot!
As everyone correctly says, I took the name from Harpo Marx. The poster is reproduced in his autobiography, Harpo Speaks. The name/phrase/whatever has always stuck in my head and I thought it would be unique and memorable as an online alias. Besides, it signals I’m a Marx Brothers fan and people always let me know if a thread breaks out.
And it’s kinda cool in a post-modern sort of way that just like the original Harpo, you can’t hear my voice but you know exactly what I’m thinking. 
I’m a big fan of the book. Dumb cover, though.
Can’t resist referencing the xmex-like snout and a zymolosely polydactile tongue thread. Even tho’ I did start it myself.
Another vote for you to keep your current username, Defective Detective. But if you decide to change it, I think you’ll find the mods are very helpful. They were to me - I started here with another username, and changed it after about a year.
The Symbol font comes close.
Harpo Marx