The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-07-18
Ame,i,aa Lssgssgsr.


--0sD---
|" A@s'isss Lssgssgsr.
y We are going into the catscombs OF |
r. CsliItus. said Msjor B---of the Unit,
q States army. bad party ofyoungste
10 tow, aud had engaged an Epgli
! speaking guide to accompany us, but
y isiled TO make his Appearance
. ] wss much annoyed. for We bad limi
J ed time 10 remain in Rome. and this vi
, our only day Tor the csiscombs. How
erer. We determined 10 make the best
IL, and joined another party who we're ju,
going down. Their guide shsttered vol,
bly, 10 Italian. gesticulsting and talkip
as much with bis hands and his shoulder
% his mouth, but Il might a. we'll hsv
: been Arabic TO us. Seeing that was DO
following what he said in what m ight b
called pigean Eoslish. Monsieur. does b
not spesk Italian.
No, ] said; but you speak Eng
lish.
. yes, monsieur. certainly. but just un
little-n not enough TO make monsieur com
prentz les cstacombs. II is not surpriz'
zst monsieur no speak Italian. Italy it /,
far away from Amerique; but monsieur ht
understand ge Latin, and zat will do; be
get on very well
No. said, do not speak Latin.
l zought oil educated shentlemsu n
speak Latin; but Monsieur he speak
Francois?
| cannot speak French. either, l answer
cd, rather ashamed by this time OF my
ignorance.
o. monsieur, why thousands OF your
country people speaks re Francaisl
Possibly.
An expressive shrug Of his shoulders
and a contortion Of his face was the 70
sponse. Then, after a moments thought,
be said. But monsieur be speak zs Ger.
man?
No, answered, don't ppeak German
BY this time my face was as red as fire,
for the whole party was gathered around
enjoying the fun, for most Of them com.
pretended enough to take in the situation,
while the boys, ina cowardly manner,
were ignoring me, as il they could not be-
long to such an ignoramus.
0, monsieur, continued the guide whom
| could cheerfulIy have annihilated, wby.
millions Of your country people speaks ze
German.
don't care II they dol retorted, while
he spectators smiled sudibly.
The man shrugged his shoulders. Then
Nth supercilious air. I suppose you
peak some OF ze language Of Europe? and
10 looked around the crowd with smile
II superiority. This was too much to be
injured. Clearly l must do something to
ecover my prestige. or should never
esr the last Of ze languages Of Europe
rom those wretched boys, who were gig.
ling in dark corner.
So turning to the master OF Languages,
said, carlessly. You speak Chinook, II
uppose?
Chinook. he repeated, what is zat, mon
sur? never hear Of zst tongue.
No? Isaid. Why, multitudes Of peo.
le speak that-and you never heard OF i'll
am surprised
Will you say me some, monsieur? said
.. with downcast look.
80 repeated . sentence or two Of Chin =
*. which, as you may know, is the mix.
language the Hudson Bay company
we adopted in their dealings with the :.
dian tribes, and is the medium OF :.
between them. / hsp.
med. from 40 experience OF some years .
frontier life. to know little Of It, j
The guide looked crestfsllen and the
ovid interested, so pushed my advan- -
90. VI
Oh. then, said /, you speak Choctsw?
No, monsieur.
What said ], not speak Choctaw! v Y in
Of people speak that. tn, u ID
'ux, can you speak Sioux?
De shook bis head. II there is one thing an
European guide prides himself on it is bs
ability to dabble in oil the languages, in
! TO find one he cannot speak even lit d,
Of isa blow. but for his party to dis
'er three that be had never heard OF is m
'ugh to lose him bis reputation. "
The boys were going into convulsions OF
ghter. my star was rising. and / warm su
10 the work.
Veil. said /. Cherokee, then; you speak ne
srokee, surely. an
'adly be kDoSledged that Cherokee oy,
J . sealed book to him. ne,
)h, said. ! supposed. Of course, You an,
Id speak some American language. 20,
Why. be replied. Fought sll ze Ameri WI
tongue was 70 Inglese. INV
ou see you we're mistaken; but perhaps M
speak the Kalamazoo .,i
.sl-er.mer zoo. repested the bewildered Of
De. never hear Of any snch thing ss or,
il possible? said I.wby ! thought you 4
v many tongues. al,
'onld monsieur say me some, il he on,