The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-02-09
Telegraphic Ticks.

Telegraph1c Ticks.
Two young men, telegraph oper-
atOrs, board at one of our leading
third-class hotels, and, being of q
somewhat hilarious disposition, find
great amusement in carrying on con
I versation with each other at the ia
bic by ticking on the plates with a
knife, fork or spoon. For the infor-
nation OF those not acquainted with
telegraphy it may be well to state
that a combination of sounds OF
ticks constitute the telegraphic al
phabet, and persons familiar with
these sounds can converse thereby
as 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 any
thing private to each other. For in
stance, No. 1 would pick up his
knife and tick off some such remark
as this to No. 3: "Why is this but
ter like the ofiense of Hamlet's un-
cleP' No. 2: Il give it up" No. L:
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 un-
derstand telegraphic ticks, and prob
ably he wouldn't appreciate it much
if he did; but the jokers enjoy it i'm
mensely and laugh immoderately,
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 these fun
loving youths were seated at break
fast, stout-built young man en-
tered the dining room with a hand
some girl on his arm, whose blushing
countenanee showed her to be {
bride. The couple had, in fact
been married but day or two prev
iOus, and had come to San Francis
co from their home in Oakland, O
Mud Springs, or some other rura
village, for the purpose of spending
the honeymoon. The telegraphit
tickers commenced as soon as the
husband and wife had seated them
selves.
! No. l opened the discourse as fol
lows: "What a lovely little pigeo1
this is alongside of me-ain't she?'
No. 2. Perfectly charming-lOok
as if butter wouldn't melt in he.
mouth. Just married, I guess; don
you think so?"
No. 1. eyes, I should Judge sh,
was. What luscious lips she ha
got, If that country pumpkin be
side her was out of the road, II
| give her hug and a kiss just 70
luck"
No. 2. Suppose you try it any
how. Give her little nudge unde
the table with your knee"
i There is no telling to what exten
the impudent rascals might hav
gone but for an amazing and entirel'
unforeseen event. The bridegroom
face had flushed and a dark scow
was on his brow during theprogres
of the ticking conversation; but tn
Operators were too much occupied
to pay any attention to him. Tn
reader may form some idea Of tn
young mems CONSERVATION when th
partner of the lady picked up hi
knife and ticked off the followini
terse but vigorous message.
"This lady is my wife, and as 500
as she gets through her breakfast
propose to wiring both your necks
| you insolent whelps." ."
| The countenances of the opera
tors fell very suddenly when thi
message commenced. By the tim
it ended they had lost all appetite
and appreciation of jokes, and slip
ped out of the dining room in
very rapid and unceremoniOus man
liner. 1t seems the bridegroom wa
telegraph operator, and "knew hoy
lit was himself" San Francisc
Chronicle.