Evening journal., 1898-09-19
UNDERSTOOD SIGN LANGUAGE.
The Amusement of a Young Lawyer
over the Chatter of Two Girl
MuteS.

mites.
"When 1 learned the deaf-mute sign
language, few years ago." said a
young lawyer recently, ut was for a
definite purpose, and since then, Incl
dentally, it has furnished q good deal
of amusement to me. There are not
mary deaf mutes in his city, and when,
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 settled in my
seat 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 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 maj
on whom you have made an impress
sion. lie isn't bad looking
81 glanced idly out of the window TO
give the girl chance to inspect me,
and with difficulty suppressed smile.
She looked me over critically, and then
with her fingers she said:
"'You saw him first. He is yours.
I don't like blends myself
"It was you at whom he was look
ing came the reply.
"'No; he was looking at you. don't
like his mustache. just look at Kim
now. conceited thingl He is curling
IT,
"T think his mustache is very nice
said the first girl. Don't look in his
direction so frequently or he will 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. 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 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 II he
knew that we were talking about him.
think that he is nice.
at was with difficulty that I could
prevent myself from acknowledging
this compliment in sign language, but
I didn't want 10 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 I knew were all right. Being
forewarned, was not embarrassed
and 1 thrust my feet little forward
q so that they might be in full view.
ats no go said the second girl
and in long experience it is the first
, time that I ever failed at this trick. He
does not even look down at his shoes
= I will bet that he is awfully conceited.
"They kept up a very free discussion
of my appearance, and when W.
reached City Hall station arose to e
out and they followed right behind
= The car had been well filed and TIT
girls were in hurry. stepped to on
side and in sign language said to thu
one right behind me:
"'Excuse me, am sorry to be II
your way
t "That girl read my hands in amaze
. ment, and would not have missed tn
=, expression of her face as her eyes me
r mine for anything. IT was blush Il
remember. Without explaining 10 tn
other girl, who was behind her, sh
\ grabbed her arm and hustled he
d about face and out of the other door
!. As I reached the platform saw tn
a girl whom I addressed explaining il T.
+ the other girl, whose face indicate
= that she was struggling between MOI
l. tification and mirth. just as the
S turned toward the bridge both of Their
= looked back at me. I smiled and raise
my hat. They laughed and on the.
). went. It was pleasant little enter
Z. tainment for a downtown trip."-N
- Y Sun