New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20
SILENT MIRTH ON FERRY BOAT
,oxors PARTY OF DEAF MUTEs. WHOSE
rrrARrTY WAS SOURCE OF WONDER TO
THEIR FELLOW PASSENGERS

II was Joyous day yesterday, and there "ers hve
exceedingly joyous deaf mutes who took a ferry-
hoa- a. Fast Thirty fourthst, about 10 O'Clock In
rho morning evidently bound for Coney Island The
fac, that they couldn't hear what the Wild waves
.re saving didn't seem to bother them bit. and In
,,.s- oun way they were exceedingly hilarious
Tho, didn't need 70 have anybody say: What A
lovely dav IT Isl or 80 IKE fall. isn't it, They
k,eu II was hot last week. too although no man
sa,d TO them: rs this hot enough for you?"
They found seats In the womcn's cabin yesterday
morning and proceeded to make themselves comfort
atJe Four OF them evidently had good toke at the
expense Of tho NTH. shock-headed youth. who sat
IN the middle He was a good-natured lad and took
the chatting we'll II was a most animated party
The liveliest crowd of human magpes that ever rent
the air could have been more talkative and they
talked at a rate that would have baiied stenog-
rainier The effect weird II was plain that
the party wers in the highest spirits. their gestures
were almost frantic and their faces were fairy lu-
r,inous with expression. and yet, through all the
hi,arity they emitted not the slightest sound. Ii
was rea ly an uncanny spectacle
Just across from the quintet OF silent merry
makers sat a horny-handed person. who looked as
~ he was taking a vacation from the noble art OF
sower construction. He surveyed the hilarity OPP
poslte with undisguised establishment over his
ITi,ernlan features played expansive grin which
exposed 10 the sunlight a set Of gums that We're
quite. gultless of teeth. while occasionally he rubbed
hts hands WOnderlnBly up uO"H S'V'uS
trousers
..Howly Moses said ne at length. Then he added
az by An afterthought Other gbberin idiots. un-
mindful OF the fact that the young p-op.e opposite
didn't look like IDIOTS and that they certainly could
not be accused Of gDbering-not single little gibber
Meantime a change had come over the CONVERSE
ton OF the mutes Their faces had become e.lrhcst
and their gestures were more careful and vel con-
sidered The good-natured youth in the middle
was holding form with something approaching sol
When the speaker had closed his voorhees, Grafton
the other four all began 10 gesticulaie at once l.
nlite Ike An afternoon tea IN ths Respect
here were arms and hands flying through the air In
ali directions Everybody In the cabin was watch
ing the discussion closely
s fat man with a red face sat In the corner. IT'S
sixteen 10 one they're discuSsin the silver quea-
Ist ar This moment a tai old woman with cork
,.r.u ,ris and an air OF extreme prJpriety. walked
3;i1.f az what evidently seemed TO him convincing
arg1m-nt The tail Old lady stepped on his foot.
u-hich was carelessly extended In her path Tn-
good natured youth stopped IN the middle OF his
s,lsnt peroration and casting an agonized look at
ha- heean TO manipulate his fingers and thumbs
wt,b r,pidtty that dazzling. The tall old
lady was all apologies. The companions OF the I'M
@r,;rn,te mule simply dissolved With s..ent mirth
tho rolled about in their seats. they were ~
Mica sed while the rest Of the Passengers made noise
enough for every oody ,... , -,
a.. shovel ana the pick as he he'd his sides and
slammed his leg It's wan dommed lucky hing de
OF wumm.n coudn't hear " at dc kid MAS -ayin.
20 cd on the ferry-tost still holding his sides
Nea while the quintet pursued their way TO the
f,ir isle OF Coney passing away the time with word
less jes and specchless chan and silent