Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
THE KNOCK ALPHABET.
VARIOUS ACOUSTIC METHODS USED
 IN RUSSIAN PRISONS.


 Are Made to Represent Words and Phrases by Which Prisoners May Hold Communication.
 And now for the 'Fknock language, 'ol ssknock alphabet" There is a multitude sf such alphabets at the various political prisons of Russia and Siberia, almost every prison having an alphabet ot its own. The simplest system is: One knock at the wall signifies a, two knocks b, three knocks c, etc. But as the Russian grammar contains thirty-five letters, thlS system is tiresome and inconvenent, ana to facilitate it various acoustic methods are used A knock at wall with the end of q finger sounds different from knock with T knuckle. A thumb nail causes another peculiar sound. The sound of the palm of the hand is different from that caused by a fist. All the finger nails at once creates a peculiar sound of their own the knuckles make the knock sound diff ferent than the finger ends, or the wrist, or elbow. Again various sounds can be elicited with every or several fingers al once, and the sound of bass button or penholder can also easily be distinguished The formation of a knock alphabet further depends on the figures marked on the wall by the knocks. A straight line could easily be indicated by two knocks at different points, a triangle by three knocks. a quadrangle by four knocks, and so on. The time which elapses between the knocks is also taken into consideration, and some knocks often signify whole words and phrases.
 WORDS AND PHRASES.
 At the central prison of Belgorod, words freuuently used were expressed by knock figures as follows: One knock with the end of the thumb signifed yes; several knocks, repeated quickly one after an other with the end of the thumb, signified DO: rectangle indicated by knuckle, meant relatives; 6 square, friends, com rades, members of the same party; 8 straight line, what Russian prisoners call ''volia,'' the outside, free world; two straight lines. Siberia; a triangle, prison, bow, which was indicated by rubbing a brass button at the wall, prisoner; two parallel lines signified corridor; vertical line, director; a crooked line, warder; . eemicircle, mediator; a knock at the wal! with the elbow, cZar, and so on. Several knocks at the wall with the knuckies was warning: ''Don't knock, somebody is comingr' Two slow knocks at the wal signiiied: ''Halloc do you care to speakY One knock with the knuckles and on' with the ends of the fingers went for 'Wait. am busy,'' and one knock witl the whole palm siGnifed: ''Now, go on, , am ready to listen" I was expressed b! a knock at the wall with the little finger you, by knock with the wrist.
 Before entering into the minor detail of the knock alphabet as it was in use a the central prison of Belgorod, few pre- Eminary remarks ere deemed necessary There are in the Russian alphabet harC and soft, long and short vowels, so called Instead of giving their respective names the approximately corresponding Englsf vowels will be given below for the sake oi convenience. The Russian g is pro nounced like the English g in get. The Russian like the French g or j in ger main or jeunesse.
 INGENUITY Ys. THE CAR.
 The alphabet was composed as follows One knock at the wall with the larg' finger stood for a, ia, or va; two knock' with the same finge,, e, ie, iou, or ye, ont knock with two fingers, i, ie, ei ca, or two knocks with two fingers, O, ca, 10, ol yo; one knock with the first finger joints, %, ou. iu, or 700. 1t must be sac that for the sake of quickness tho vowels were left out whenever it Wal possible. B or D was expressed by on knock at the wall with one knuckle usually with that of the large finger; ol bv two knocks with one knuckle; g ol k by one knock all knucllles, or by on' knock with the thumb and the next finger put toge. her, or by two knocks witt the same m or n by one knock with al Grrrorc c1, 1,xrf fyTTO knocks with al fingers, c, Is, or ch by one knock with th' knuckles and one with the fingers, fol lowed quickly one after another; kh ol the German ch b. one knock with { knuckie and one with a finger, stch o. sh,ch vas expressed by two quick snap at the wall. As to figures, such were easily denoted by corresponding number of knocks One knock with the middle joint of the large finger, short pause five knocks with the same slowly re peated, another pause, and two knock with the fist went for l, ,500, the fist knock indicating zeros, and so on.
 As far as quclzness is concerned, tn above is the most convenient, if not tn simplest, alphabet used in Russian pris ons. It was not the product of a suddel discovery at the prison at Belgorod, btl the result of notifications made grao ually in the course of months. All sort of systems were tried, not excepting tn system used by telegraphers, that is points and lines; or the so called figur system. that is, expressing, for instance the twenty-fifth, twenty-eighth or thirty third letter of the Russian alphabet b two and five, two and eight, or three an three knocks, with pause between, bu they all had to be given up. To make line distinguishable it was necessary { rub some metal. for instance Q brass but ton or chain joint, at the wall, but tn sound was too sharp, and the wardeI could easily hear it. The figure syster was toe slow, monotonOUs and weary Besides, the walls of the solitary cells C Ghe Belgorod prison were of solid ston blockS, and this, perhaps, made the aboV system most available. Brick or woode walls would have necessarily required somewhat modified system. - Micna' &alkcf in Chicago News.
 
 Perhaps the readers of the EPITAP would like 10 know in what respe