Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-01-13
TELEGRAPHEC TICKS.

board Mt one of our leading third-clas,
hotels, and being of somewhat hilari-
Gus disposition find great amusement il
carrying on conversation with each other
Mt table, by ticking on their plates
with knife, fork or spoon. For the in
formation Of those not familiar with tele-
graphy, it may be as we'll to state that Il
combination of sounds or ticks constitute
the tclcgraphc alphabet, and persons ia
miliar with these sounds can converse as
intolligibly thereby as with spoken words.
The young Neutrality-suspicious., as already
stated. were in the habit of induging in
table-talk by this means whenever they
desired to say anything private to each
other. For instance, No. l would pick
up his knife and tick off some such re-
mark as this to No.: Why is this
butter like the oh6nse of Iamlct's un-
Gle ?"
No. ," | give it up"
No. /" Because it's rank and smells
to heaven"
OF course the joke is not appreciated
by the landlord (who sits close by), be-
cause he doesn't understand telegraphic
ticks, and probably he wouldn't much
appreciate it if he did ; but the jokcrs en-
joy it immensely, and laugh immoderato-
ly, whilo tho other guests wonder
what can be the occasion for this mcrri-
ment, and naturally conclude the opera
tors must be idiots.
A few days ago, while these fun-loving
youths were seated at breakfast, stout
built young man entered the room with II
handsome girl on his arm, whose timid,
blushing couutenanco showed her to be II
bride. The couple had, in fact, been
married but day or two previous, and
had como to San Francisco from their
home in Oakland, Mud Springs or some
other rural village, for the purpose of
spending the honeymoon. The telegraph
ic tickers commenced as soon as husband
and wife had seated themselves.
No. opened the discourse as follows :
" Whata lovely little pigeon this is along
side of me-ain't she ?"
No. >" Perfectly charming-looks rs
if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
just married guess. Don't you think
so ?"
No. /" Yes | should judge she was.
What luscious lips she's got If that
country pumpkin beside her was out of
the road, I'd give her a hug and kiss
just for luck"
No. ." Suppose you try it, anyhow.
Give her II little nudge under the table
with your knee"
There is no telling to what extent the
impudcnt rascals might have gone but
for an amazing and entirely Unforeseen
event. The bridegroom's face had flushed
and dark scowl was on his brow during
the progress Of the ticking conversation,
but the operators were too much occu-
pied with each other to pay much atten-
ton to him. The reader may form some
idea of the young mems CONSERVATION
when the partner Of the lady picked up
his knife and licked off the following
terso but vigorous message.
:" This lady is my wife, and as soon as
she gets through her breakfast propose
to wiring your necks-you insolent
whelps."
The countcnances of the operators fell
very suddenly when this message com
menced. BY the time it ended they had
lost all appetite and appreciation Of jokes,
and slipped out Of the dining room in
very rapid and unceremoniuus manner.
The bridegroom, it seems, was tee-
graph operator, and "knew how it was
himself. ."-ChTOHici