Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-09-29
UNDERSTOOD SIGN LANGUAGE.
The Amusement of n Young Lawyer
over the Chatter OF Two Girl
Mutes.

when l learned the deaf-mute sign
language, n few years ago., said
young lawyer recently, 1T was for a
definite purpose, and since then, Incl
dentally, it has furnished good deal
of amusement TO me. There are not
many deaf mutes in his city, and dwhen,
in coming down on an elevated train
this morning I discovered that the
cross seat opposite me was occupied
by two young women who were con-
versing in sign language, my interest
was at once excited. They were neat
looking girls. and as l settled in my
seat I discovered that they were hav-
ing an animated conversation on GER
tain young man whose merits and de-
merits they were frankly discussing,
never dreaming that anyone else in
the car counld understand them. Sud-
denly one of them noticed that l was
looking intently at them, and with her
fingers she said to the other girl:
Don't look up just now; but in the
seat across from you is a young man
on whom you have made an impress
sion. He isn't bad looking
"I glanced idly ont of the window to
give the girl a chance to inspect me,
and with difficulty l suppresseda smile.
She looked me over critically, and then
with her fingers she said:
"'You saw him first. He is yours.
I don't like blonds myself
at was you at whom he was look
ing came the reply.
ono; he was looking at you. don't
like his mustache. Just look at him
now, conceited thing! He is curling
it,
"I think his mustache is very nice, ,
said the first girl Don't look in his
direction so frequently or he viii sus-
pect us
"'He looks too slow to suspect any
thing. Besides, I can see him by look
ing in the mirror, and he doesn't know
it. I am going to size him up again
now and as she turned toward the
mirror so did I, and I caught her
glance square in the eyes. The young
woman flushed bit and then pretend
ed to be looking out of the window.
The girl who admitted that I was not
bad to look at nudged her friend and
with her nimble fingers said:
"'His clothes fit him well, don't
they? Wouldn't he be angry If he
knew that we were talking about him.
think that he is nice
at was with difficulty that 1 could
prevent myself from acknowledging
this compliment in sign language, but
I didn't want to spoil the fun. The
second girl looked at me again by way
of the mirror and then said:
HE is staring at us too much. Let's
look at his shoes and embarrass him.
He will think that there is something
wrong with them
"'All right said my friend, and two
pairs of eyes were turned on my shoes,
which l knew were all right. Being
forewarned, l was not embarrassed,
and I thrust my feet a little forward
so that they might be in full view.
cts no GO said the second girl,
and in a long experience it is the first
time that 1 ever failed at this trick. He
does not even look down at his shoes.
Will DeL IHdt ne Is dNluAly COuCCltSN'
"They kept up very free discussion
of my appearance, and when we
reached City Hall station l arose to go
out and they followed right behind.
The car had been well filled and the
girls were in 4 hurry. Istepped to one
side and in sign language said to the
one right behind me:
Excuse me, 7 am sorry to be in
your way
THAT girl read my hands in amaze
ment, and I would not have missed the
expression of her face as her eyes met
mine for anything. 1t was blush to
remember. Without explaining to the
other girl, who was behind her, she
grabbed her arm and hustled her
about face and, out of the other door.
As I reached the platform l saw the
girl whom I addressed explaining it to
the other girl. whose face indicated
that she was struggling between NOR
tification and mirth. Just as they
turned toward the bridge both of them
looked back at me. smiled and raised
my hat. They laughed and on they
went. 1t was a pleasant little enter
tainment for a downtown trip."-N.
Y. Sun.