The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-03-31
AN UNKNOWN TONGUE
TWO OHIO WOMEN CONVERSE IN
QUEER SPEECH THAT is
NOT UNDERSTOOD.
LANGUAGE That Attracts the Attention
Of All the Eminent Linguists
and Scientists.

TOLEDO O.. March 31.-Mrs. Mel
liz Bell and Mrs Lille Wright of 1927
Glenwood avenue, two prominent So
Getty women, are attracting the atten-
ton Of eminent linguists and scien-
fists.
They speak a language known only
tc themselves, the supposed result of
a thought transference which began
il childhood. At least, it is a subject
that is food for much thought and
speculation
Mrs. Bell and Mrs Wright are twin
daughters of the late Dr. Bush of FIRE.
mont, and they have lived most of
their married lives in Toledo.
Socially popular and possessed of
wide acquaintance their strange gift
has long been accepted by their friends
as a matter of course They have al
ways been averse to any undue pub
hclty in regard to the subject. vet
Without any maWkish sentiment over
this strange gift.
our friends here and in Fremont
often ask us to converse for them"
said Mrs. Bell. "simpIy because the
speech IS queer and utterly unlike
theirs in sound. We have never
thought much about it, as we have al
ways used it when alone. but lately
Inguists have urged us to tell our
rules Of RECOMMENDATION and to write
our language for them.
IN" truth is we have no rules. We
have never paid attention to construc-
ton or to any analysis of the spaech
one day, when child. I WAS nIavino
with a pet dog and spoke to him in
i"S strange tongue. My sister heard
Ire, listened minute or two and re-
pied in the same jargon which was
perfectly intellisibie to me.
Since then we have carried on all
our conversations together in this
talk
Neither our parents nor our sister
We're ever able to understand us, and
used to laugh good-natlradlv v,bo,,
We talked our secrets before them in
this way.
our sister now Mrs. Brand of Ant
'iP' heislum, student and lingu- |
ISL now urges us to formulate gram
mar and set down the rules of o,,r talk
which She believes is \ revival of Cow,
dead language"
me Hrst time We went to Eurone ;"
Sald Mrs. Wright, "A Hungarian nro-
ieNSor Oh languages, who overhead rs
talking, asked us to write some word 9,
Ioi MN; he was master of many lano-
uases. and he wished 70 traca a,o1o,u;o.
- ours. we pat him Off from day to
Jay hut he was 50 urgent that at las
We did set down some words for. hin,
ne S'Id the jargon resembled a mixture
ol Welsh and Indian"
1t Is not euphonic." said Mrs poll
because Of the predominance of con-
''''' sounds. II seems strange to
Us that we have talked it all tbesa
Years without attracting any particn-
lal attention, and lately it has baco,,,o
'>'-""'" ana we receive letters and
VISITS from scientists and linguists 20
garding it.
a
Gown To see us a week or so ago b,,+
we could tell him Very little.
We spell is phonetically in writing
anu use Il IN our letters to each other
II IS great convenience MANY
u'lleS' especially in travelling. and vo
often have pleasant little asidas -
when we would otherwise
miss. We have frequently been asked
WHAT our nationality was by orr fol
-" travellers who, happning to over
near our conversation. would be nom
plussed.
The Theosophists are amono o,,u
i'leSt Inqulrers,' said Mrs. Wright
heS wish TO investigate the language
II, support Of their theory of reincar-
nation"
ne little women do not take tbano-
selves seriously at all. but laugh good
haluredly at all the serious attan,n.s
To make them famous, and go on with
'he!r cheerful chatter in the sama ola
way
They kindly gave an example to =
caller regarding their conversation
MIS- Bell left the room. closing tho
door and going across the hall 70 tho
''''' al y "here she was heard talking
70 guest of the house. Then Mrs
wright asked that something be said