The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-02-01
From the San Francisco ChronIeIeJ
TRLEGRAPHIC TICKS.
An Amusing Episode at a Hotel Break
last table.

Two young men, telegraph opera
tors, board at one of our leading thirC
class hotels, and, being OF q somewhaf
/ hilarious disposition, find great amuse
ment in carrying on conversation
with each other at the table by tick.
/ ing on the plates with knife, fork OF
spoon. For the information Of thOse
not acquainted with telegraphy it may
be well to state that combination Of
sounds or ticks constitute the tele-
graphic alphabet, and persons famil-
lar with these sounds can converse
thereby as intelligently as with spok-
en- words. u
The young lightning strikers, as al
ready stated, were in the habit Of in
dulging in the table talk by this
means whenever they desired TO say
anything private to each other. For
instance, No. would pick up his
knife and tick of some such remark
as this TO No. 2: 'fWhy is this butter
like the offense Of Hamlet's uncle ?''
No. 2, al 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 BY, because he
doesn't understand telegTaDhic ticks,
and probably be wOuldn' appreciate It
much if he did; but the jOkers enjoy
It immensely and laugh immoderate-
ly while the other guests wonder
what can be the occasion for SO much
merriment, and naturally conclude the
operators must be idiots.
A few days ago while the fun-loVing
youths were seated at breakfast, q
afnrTf nrrfNE -
dining-room with q handsome girl on
his arm, whose blushing eountenance
showed her to be bride. The couple
had, in fact, been married but q day
or two paeviOus, and had come 10 San
l.l:a. francisco ds @ f2 fr9p thaIE h9ms liz QAk
rural village, for the purpose Of spend
ing their honeymoon. The telegraphie
tiekers commenced as soon as the hus-
band and wife had seated themselves.
No. l opened the discourse as fol-
lows. "What a lovely little pigeon
this is alongside OF me-ain't she ?''
No. Perfectly charming
as If butter wouldn't melt In her
mouth. Just married, I guess; don't
you think SOP
No. l. eyes. I should Judge she
was. What luscious lips she has got.
If that country pumpkin beside her
was out Of the road, I'd give her ahug
and kiss just for luck.
No. 2. Suppose you try it, any
how. Give her little nudge under the
table with your knee"
There is no telling TO what extent
the impudent rascats might havegOne
but for an amazing and entirely un-
foreseen event. The bridegrOom's face
had flushed and dark scowl was on
his brow during the progress Of the
ticking conversation; but the opera
tors were too much occupied TO pay
any attention 10 him. The reader
may form some idea Of the young
mems CONSERVATION when the partner
Of the lady picked up his knife and
licked of the terse but vigorous mes
sage:
nThis lady is my wife, and as soon
as she gets through her breakfast i
propose TO wiring both your neeks, you
insOlent whelps."
The countenances Of the operators
fell very suddenly when this message
commenced. BY the time It ended
they had lost all appetite and appre-
citation Of Jokes, and slipped out Ofthe
dining-rOOm in q very rapid and un-
eeremoniOus manner. It seems the
bridegroom was 2 telegraph operator,
and "kneW how IL was himself.n