Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-20
TIE RuLING PASSION.
TEI.EGRAPHIC TRICKS.
The Danger OF Operating at a Hotel
Breakfast table.
From the San Franclsco Chr0nlcle.

/
Two young men, telegraph operators
| board at one of our leading third-class no
| tells, and being of somewhat hilarious dis
! position fnd great amusement in carrying
| on conversation with each other at table
/ by ticking on their plates with knife, fork
/ or spoon. For the information Of those
/ not familiar with telegrapy it may be well
| to state that a combination of sounds or
| ticks constitutes the telegraphic alphabet,
| and persons familiar with these sounds can
| converse thereby as intelligibly as with
! spoken words. The young lightning-strik-
| ers, as already stated, were in the habit OF
| indulging in table-talk by this means when
ever they desire to say anything private
| to each other. For instance, No. l would
pick up the knife and tick off some remark
as this to No. 2: "Why is this butter like
the Offense of Hamlet's uncle.
No. 2-I 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, because
| he doesn't understand telegraphic ticks, and
probably 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 the fun-lOving
youths were seated at breakfast, a stout
built 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 their home in
Oakland or Mud Springs, or some other
rural village, for the purpose Of spending
the honeymoon. The telegraphic tickers
commenced as soon as the husband and
wife had seated themselves.
No. opened the discourse as follows ::
"What lovely little pigeon this is along
side of me-ain't she ?"
No. 2-''Perfectly charming looks as if
butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Just
married, guess. Don't you think SOP"
No.1-"Yes, should judge she was.
What luscious lips she's got! If that cOun-
try pumpkin beside her was out of the road,
I'd give her hug and kiss just for luck" F"
No. 2-"SuppOse you try it anyhow.
Give her little nudge under the table with
your knee"
lO6TS Is DO JellllS 10 W udJ eAJell JIo I'LL
pudent rascals might have gone but for an
amazing and entirely unforeseen event. The
bridegroom's face bad flushed and dark
scowi was on his brow during his progress of
the ticking conversation; but the operators
were too much occupied by each other to
pay any attention to him. The reader may
form some idea of the young mems cOnster-
nation when the partner of the lady picked
up his knife and ticked off the following
teTse but vigorous message
''This lady is my wife, and as soon as she
gets through with her breakfast l propose
to wiring your necks-yoU insolent whelps."
The coUntenances fell very suddenly
when this message commenced. 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 uncere-
moniOus manner. The bridegroom, it
seems, was a telegraph operator, and "knew
how il was himself"