Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-03-09
A fine SIGN LANGUAGE
DroII Incident In the Reign of
James |. of England.
A TRICK ON AN AMBASSADOR
The Different interpretations of tho
Same Acts Performed by a crochety
Spaniard and a Hard Headed and
Canny Old Scotch Butcher.

same ActS performed by Crochety
Spaniard and a Hard Headed and
Canny Old Scotch Butcher.
1t is said that King James l. on re-
, moving to London was waited upon by
the Spanish ambassador, a man of cru
dition, but who had a CROCHET in his
head that every country should have a
professor of signs to teach him and the
like of him to understand one another.
The ambassador was lamenting one
day before the king this great desider-
| alum throughout all Europe. when the
king said to him: why. have a pro-
fessor of signs in the northernmost coll
lege in my dominions-viz, at AbHr-
deen-but it is a great way off, perhaps
| 600 miles,
Were it 10000 leagues off l shall
see him. said the ambassador. land
| am determined to set out in two or
| three days" The king saw he had COM
mitted himself and wrote. or caused to
| be written. to the University of Aber-
deem. stating the case and desiring the
professors to put him off some way or
make the best Of him. The ambassa-
dor arrived. was received with great
solemnity. but soon began to inquire
! which of them had the honor to be pro-
fessor of signs.
| Being told that the professor was
absent in the highlands and would re-
turn nobody knew when, the ambas-
sador said Il will wait his return.
though it were twelve months"
| fhnf IL
that they had to entertain him at a
great expense all the while. they con-
trived a stratagem. There was one
Geordy. butcher. blind of an eye,
droll fellow. with much wit and rogu
cry about him. He was got. instruct
ed to be professor of signs, but not to
speak on pain of death. Geordy cheer
fully undertook the role. The ambas-
sador was told that the professor of
signs would be at home next day, at
which he rejoiced greatly.
Next day Geordy was gowned, wig
ged and placed in chair of state in
room in the college. all the profess
ors and the ambassador being in an
adjoining room. The ambassador was
shown into Geordy's room and left to
converse with him as we'll as he could,
the professors awaiting the issue with
fear and trembling.
The ambassador held up one of his
fingers to Geordy; GeOrdy held up two
of his. The ambassador held up three;
Geordy clincled his fist and looked
stern. The ambassador then took an
orange from his pocket and held it up;
| GeOrdy took a piece Of barley cake
from his pocket and held that up.
After which the ambassador bowed to
him and retired to the other professor,
who anxiously inquired his opinion
Of their brother.
''He is a perfect miracle" said the
ambassador. II would not give him
for the wealth of the Indies"
well" said the professors, ito de-
scend to particulars"
why" said the ambassador, II first
held up one finger. denoting that there
is one God; he held up two. signifying
that these are the Father and Son. I
held up three. meaning the Father, the
Son and Holy Ghost; he clinched his
fist. to say that these three are one.
then took out an orange. signifying
the goodness of God. who gives his crea-
lures not only the necessaries, but the
luxuries. Of life. upon which the won
derful man presented a piece Of bread,
showing that it was the staff of life
and preferable to every luxury"
The professors were glad that mat
tiers had turned out so well; SO, having
! got quit Of the ambassador, they next
got Geordy to hear his version Of the
signs.
well. Geordy, how have you come
on and what do you think Of yor
mani"
J. THE rascalr' says Geordy. "what
did he do first, think ye? He held ur
one finger. as much as to say. Yor
have only one eye. Then held up two
meaning that my one eye was perhaps
as good as both his. Then the fellow
held up three Of his fingers, to say tina,
there were but three eyes between US
and then was SO mad at the scoun
. drel that l stocked my neive and wa.
: to come q whack on the side Of BIT.
head and would ha' done it, too, bu
for your sakes. Then the rascal die
+ not stop with his provocation here, but
forsooth, takes out an orange, as mucl
l. as to say, Your poor. beggarly, cox
country cannot produce that. show
ed him a whang Of a bear hammock
meaning that did ma care farthin,
. for him nor his trash neither as lang
;. I ha' this. But. by a. that's guid," con
- cluded Geordy. "I'm angry yet that
didn't thrash the hide O. the scoun
y iirel!'-London T. P.'s Weekly.
- The Willy Owl.
A party Of horsemen were travelin
Alos,<. I2,.ideen croolr a trihl1tQ al 10.