Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-01-18
Telegraphic Ticks.

TWO YOUNG men, telegraph operators,
board at one of our leading third-class
hotels, and being of a somewhat hilarious
disposition, find great amusement in carry
ing on conversation with each other at
the table by ticking on their plates with
knife, fork, or spoon. For the informa-
ton of those not acquainted with tele-
graphy, itmay be well to state that q. com
bination of sounds or ticks constitute the
telegraphic alphabet, and persons familiar
with these sounds can converse thereby us
intelligently as with spoken words. The
young lightning strikers, as already stated,
were in the habit of indulging in table,
talk by this means whenever they desired
to say anything private to each other
For instance, No. 1 would pick up his
knife and tick off some such remark as
this to No. 2 ''Why is this butter like
the offense of Hamlet's uncle?" No. 2.
81 give it up" No. 1. Because it's rank
and smells to Heaven" Of course the
joke is not appreciated by the landlord,
who sits close by, because he doesn't
understand telegraphic ticks, and proba-
bly, he wouldn't appreciate it much if he
did ; but the jokers enjoy it immensely
and laugh immoderately, while the other
guests wonder what can be the occasion
for this merriment, and naturally conclude
the operators must be idiots.
A few days ago, while these fun-loving
youths were seated at breakfast, stout
built young man entered the dining-room
with a handsome girl ON his arm, whose
blushing countenance showed her to be a
| bride. The couple had, in fact, been
married but day or two previous, and
had come to San Francisco from theil
home in Oakland, or Mud Springs, or
some other rural village, for the purpose
of spending the honeymoon. The tele
graphic tickers commenced as soon as the
husband and wife had seated themselves
No. 1. opened the discourse as follows
"What lovely little pigeon this is along
side of me-ain't she?'
No. 2. Perfectly charming-looks a.
if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
Just married, I guess don't you thinl
soe"
No. 1. eyes, should judge she was
What luscious lips she's got! If tina
country pumpkin beside her was out O
, the road, I'd give her a hug and kis
just for luck
No. 2 Suppose you try it, anyhow
Give her little nudge under the tabl
with your knee"
; There is no telling to what extent tn
impudent rascals might have gone but fo
The Dridegroom's face had flushed and
, dark scowl was on his brow during tn
, progress of the ticking conversation; bu
, the operators were too much occupies
with each other to pay any attention t
him. The reader may form some idea G
, the young mems CONSERVATION when tn
partner of the lady picked up las flnf
, and licked off the following terse bu
vigorous message:
This lady is my wife, and as soon q
, she gets through with her breakfast
propose to wiring both your necks-yo
! insolent whelps."
. The countenances of the operators fe
, very suddenly when this message con
e menced. By the time it ended they ha
}, lost all appetite and appreciation of joke:
:, and slipped out of the dining-room in
! very rapid and unceremnious manne1
r 1t seems the bridegroom was a telegrap
O operator, and "knew how it was himself
p San Francisco Chronicle.