The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-17
TELEGRAPH TICKS.
An Amusing Episode at Hotel BreaEfas
Table.

An Amusing Episode at a Hotel Breakfast
Table.
Two young men, telegraph opera
1 tors, board at enc of our third-class
hotels. and being of somewhat hila-
rious disposition, found great enjoy
ment in carrying on conversation with
eoch other at the table by ticking on
their plates with knife, fork or spoon.
For the information of those not ac-
quainted with telegraphy, it may be
well to state that q combination of
SQUADS or ticks constitute the teIe-
graphic alphabet, and persons familiar
with these sounds can converse there
| by ae intelligent1y 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
10 No. 2: why is this butter like
the ofense of Hamlet's uncle ?" No.
2. give it up No. l. Because
It's rank ahd smells to heaven Of
course, the joke is not appreciated by
the landlord, who sits close by, be-
cause he doesn't understand telegraph
ticks, and probably he wouldn't ap-
preciate 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 conclude the op-
orators are idiots.
A few days ago, when these fun
loving youths were seated at break
fast stout built young man entered
the dining-room with q handsome girl
on his arm, whose blushing eounte-
nance 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 their home in
Oakland or Mud Spring, or some 9TH
eIs village, for the purpose of spending
the honeymoon. The telegraphic
tickeTs commenced as they seated
themselves.
No. 1 opened the discourse as fol-
lows:
What lovely pigeon this is along
side of me-ain't she ?"
No. 2.-ssPerfectly charming looks
as if butter would melt in her mouth.
just married, / guess; don't you
think so ?"
No. 2-"Yes; +; I should Judge she
was. What luscious lips she has gotl
If that country pumpkin beside her
was oHt of the road, I'd give her a
hug and kiss, just for luck.
No. q" 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 young rascals might
have gone, but for an amazing and en-.
tirely unforeseen event. The BRIDE
groom's face had flushed, and dark
scoWE was on his brow during the
progress ofthe ticking conversation
but the operators were too much oc-
cupied with each other to pay atten-
ton to him. The reader may form
some idea of the young mems eonster-
nation when the partner of the lady
picked up his knife and licked off the
following terse but vigorous message
to them:
{" This lady is my wife, and as soon
as she gets through with her breakfast
l propose to wiring both your necks-
you insolent whelps!"
The countenanees of the operators
fell very suddenly when the message
commenced. By the time it ended
they had lost all appetite and appre-
citation of the joke, and slipped out of
the dining-rOom in a very rapid
and unceremonious manner. It seems
that the bridegroom was a telegraph |
operator, and tknew how it was him |
self. "