Evening journal., 1898-10-03
UNDERSTOOD SIGN LANGUAGE.
The Amusement Of Young Lawyer
over the Chatter OF Two Girl
Mutes.

NAAANHs
"When learned the deaf-mute sign
language, few years ago" said
young lawyer recently, 1T was for
definite purpose, and since then, incl
dentally, il has furnished a good deal
of amusement to me. There are not
many deaf mutes in his city. and when,
in coming down on en- elevated train
. this morning I discovered that tue
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 I settled in my
seat discovered that they were hav-
ing an animated conversation on a 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 anthem, and with her
fingers she said TO the other girl;
"'Don't look up just now; but in the
seat across from you Is n young MAJ
on whom you have made an impress
sion. lie isn't bad looking
81 glanced idly oui OF the window 20
give the girl a chance to inspect me.
and with difficulty suppressed a smile.
She looked me over critically, and then
with her fingers she said;
"'Nou saw him first. He is yours.
don't like blonds myself
tsr,e tsgr, tssIert, Lo .tsar f1o1r-
ing came the reply
"'No; he was looking al you. don't
like his mustache. just look at him
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, can see him by look
ing in the mirror, and he doesn't know
Il. I nm going 10 size him up again
now and MS she turned toward the
mirror so did /. and 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 l was not
bad TO look at nudged her friend and
with her nimble fingers said:
ellis 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
1T was with difficulty that I could
] ,,,rtr.1f fw,t,, ,.lr,,s.tInI cine
this compliment in sign language, but
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'i
look at his shoes and embarrass him
lie will think that there is something
wrong with them
"'All right said my friend. and tive
pairs Of eyes were turned on my shoes
which I knew were all right. Being
forewarned. was not embarrassed
and thrust my feet little forward
so that they might be In full view.
"'It's no CO. snid the second cir
and In long experience II Is the frs
time that l ever failed at this trick. IT
does not even look down AZ his shoes
I will bet that he is awfuliy conceited
"They kept up very free discussion
OF my appearance, and when w
reached City Hall station arose 10 K,
out and they followed right behind
The car had been well filed and th'
girls were In a hurry. ] Istepped TO onI
side and in sign language said to thu
] ono rfohf hehfnd me.
Excuse me. I am sorry TO be Il
your way
THAT girl read my hands in amaze
ment, and / would not have missed III
expression Of her face as her eyes me
mine for anything. II was blush =
remember. without explaining to tn
other girl, who was behind her. sh
grabbed her arm and hustled he
about face and out Of the other door
As I reached the platform saw tn
girl whom I addressed explaining II Il
the other girl, whose face indicated
that she was struggling between NOR
tifcation and mirth. Just as the,
turned toward the bridge both Of then
looked back at me. / smiled and raisei
my hat. They laughed and on the.
went. II was a pleasant little enter
tainment for downtown trip."-N
Y. Sun.