The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-02-21

Telegraph Ticks.
THE DANGER OF OPERATING AT HOTEL
.. BREAKFAST TABLE.

THE DANGER OF OPERATING AT A HOTEL
'.. BREAKFAST TABLE.
Two young men, telegraph opera.
tors, board at one IF our leading
third.class hotels, and being of a
somewhat hilarious disposition fnd
great amusement in carrying on con-
versaticn with each other ut the table
by ticking on thoir plates with n
knife, fork or spoon. For the infor.
nation of those not familiar with
telegraphy it may be we'll to state
that combination Of sounds or ticks
constitutes tho telegraphio alphabet,
and persons familiar with these
sounds, can converse thereby as intel
lightly as with spoken words. Tho
young lightning strikers, as alreacy
stated, wore in the habit of indulging
in tablc.talk by this means whenever
they desire to
SAY ANYTHING PRIVATE.
to each other. For instance. No. |
would pick up his knife and tick off
some such remark as this to No. 3:
"Why is this butter like the offence
Of Hamlet's uncle Z"
No. 81 give it up.
No. because its rank and sm ellis
to heaven.
OF course the jokes is not appre-
ciated by tho landlord, (who sits close
by,) because he doesn't understand
telegraphic ticks, aud probably he
wouldn't appreciate it much if he
did but the jokers eujoy it immeuse-
ly, and laugh immoderately, while
the other guests wonder what can he
the occasion for this merriment, and
naturally conclude the operators must
he idiots.
A few days ago, while the fun.lov-
ing youths were seated at breakfast,
stoutbuilt young man entered the
dining room with
A HANDSOME GIRL
on his arm, whose timid, blushing
countenance showed her TO be bride.
The couple had in fact been married
but day or two previous, and had
come to San Francisco from the ir
home in Oakland or Mud Springs, or
some other rural village, for the pur-
pose of spenuing the honeymoon The
telegraphic tickers commenced as
soou as the husband and wife had
seated themselves.
No. l opened the disclosure as
follows ''What lovely little pig.
con this is alongside of me--ain't
she p
No. 2-"Perfectly charming looks
as if butter wouldn't melt in her
mouth. Just married, I guess. Don't
you think 80 p
No. l--"Yes I should Judge she
was. What luscious lips she's got |!
If that country bumkin beside her
was out of the road, I'D give her a
hug and kiss just for luck"
No. 2-"Supposc you try it any.
how. Give her little nudge under
the table with your knee"
There is no telling to what extent
the impudent rasoals might have gone
but for an amazing and
ENIiHELH UNFONSEEN EVhNTs
The bridegroom's face had flushed and
dark scowl was OH his brow during
the progress of the ticking conversa-
tion but the operators were too much
occupied with each other to pay an y
attention to them. The reader may
form some idea of the young mans
CONSERVATION when the partner of the
young lady picked up his knife aud
tick off the following terse but vigo-
Gus message
"This lady is my wife, and as soon
as she gets through with her break
fast propose to wiring your necks-
you iDsoleDt whelps."
The countenanoe 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 of
the dinning room in very rapid and
unceremonious manner. The bride
groom, it seems, was a telegraph ope.
rator, and "knew how it was himself. >
; San Francisco Chronicle.
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