Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-06
Deaf to Reason.

We find the " sleeper" as the Pullman
IS technically called, rare place for the
study of eccentric human nature II is
seldom that we pass a night in one that
something does not turn up worth record
! ing. On this occasion we had a deaf
man who called for all the eXertions of
| the conductor, assisted by the passen-
| gers, to keep to his place He was a tall,
muscular man with a prominent, broad
chin and hard face, who had parted with
his hearing but retained his indomitable
will Deaf people are not generally
amiable. \ blind man can be counted
on as jolly; but to lose ones hearing is
to lose ones temper; and so it was not
only difficult to set this pest of man
straight, but 1t was confoundedly I'M
pleasant. Added to this, he persisted in
talking. Now conversation is not like
Hudibras' horse, that required but one
spur, upon the recognized fact that if
one side went the other had to 90 also.
8 | can't make it out from this ticket"
he bawleu as all deaf people bawl,
"where l belong"
Why, boss, dis ticket call for No. 5,
upper berth"
Speak louder; I'm a little hard of
hearing"
The amiable steward put his large
mouth to his ear and shouted, No. ),
upper berth"
Z" l don't hear word you're saying"
was the mild reply; here, write it."
The steward took the card and made Il
60 and pointed to the place
" All right, make it up; I'm tired"
The section was accordingly made up,
when old Deaf-as-a-post, divesting him
self Of his boots, rolled into the lower
berth.
"Halloo, boss" said the steward, "dat
won't do; yOu's de upper berth"
"Tickets?" queried the deaf man,
fumbling in his pockets.
What is | to do wild dis ole MANI"
asked the poor fellow in despair.
" Let me try him." said a slender indi-
vidual who looked at the world through
a pair of glasses; Il understand the
deaf and dumb alphabet" and so saving,
he tapped the perverse man on the shout
der and mOtioned him to sit up. This
being complied with he began gesticu-
lating with his hands and arms in the
liveliest manner, as he sat opposite the
amazed gentleman.
What are you poking your fingers in
my cOuntenance for, eh?" and looking
up he saw the gathered passengers grin
ming as if greatly amused. He fell into
violent fit of rage, and, suddenly draw
ing back, hit the alphabet man on the
nose, f1attening that useful article, and
not only MASKING his glasses, but send
ing him " to grass, to use the pugilistic
phrase. The instructor of mutes picked
himself up and retreated, feeling for his
head as if under the impression that it
had been knocked of. We are ashamed
to write it, but we, in common with the
other passengers, laughed loud and long
at this.
After came long intercourse in
writing on one side and profane Ian
guage on the other between the con-
duCtOr and the deaf man. 1t was inter
rupted by the owner of the lower berth
foregoing his right, saying he would
rather sleep above that fighting char
acter than under linn.
The next morning, after we had been
reused out to get off at this place, the
steward shook the deaf man.
Time to get up, boss, eff you want
to git off at Oakland" he said, mechan-
ically
The man solemnly came to sitting
position and looked at his watch
g" Two O'clock" he said, I" then l have
an hour to Sleep" and so he laid down
again. Again the boy shook him.
Look here, you scoundreI," he rOared,
eff you disturb me again I'll kick you
up and down this car"
"Oh, berry well, sleep if you wants to-"
And so we left at Oakland, with the
deaf man sleeping the sleep Of inno-
cencc and peace.-D0n Pidtt, in Wash
i0gtoD Capital.