The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-03-07
A fine SIGN LANGUAGE
DrolI Incident In the Reign Of
James |. of England.
A TRICK ON AN AMBASSADOR
The Different interpretations Of the
Same Acts Performed by croehety
spaniard and a Hard Headed and
Canny Cid Scotch Butcher

spaniard and Hard Headed and
canny Cid Scotch Butcher
II Is said that King James /. on re
moving % London was waited upon by
the Spanish ambassador. man OF cru
dltion. but who had crochet In his
head that every country should have a
professor OF signs 10 teach him and the
like OF him 10 understand one another
The ambassadors was lamenting one
day before the king this great desider
alum throughout all Europe. when the
king said TO him; "why. have pro
fessor OF signs IN the northernmost col
lege In my domlnions-viz. at Aber
deen--but II Is great way of. perhaps
COO miles"
Were II 10000 leagues of shall
see him." said the ambassador. ''and
am determined 70 set out In two or
three days" The king saw he had com
mltted himself and wrote. or caused 10
be written, 20 the University OF Aber-
deem. stating the case and desiring the
professors to put him of some way OF
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 10 be pro
lessor OF signs.
Being told that the professor was
absent In the highlands and would re-
turn nobody knew when. the ambas-
sador said. II wifi wait his return.
though IL were twelve months"
ha a.
that they had to entertain him az a
great expense all the while, they con
trived a stratagem. There was one
Geordy. a butcher blind OF an eye,
droll fellow. with much wit and rogu
cry about him. He was got instruct
ed 10 be professor OF signs, but not 70
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 be rejoiced greatly.
Next day Geordy was gowned, wig
ged and placed In a chair OF state I'm
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 10
converse with him as well 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 clinched his fist and looked
stern. The ambassador then took an
orange from his pocket and held II up;
Geordy took n piece of barley cake
from his pocket and held that up
After which the ambassador bowed 10
him and retired 10 the other professor
who anxiously inquired his opinion
OF their brother.
"fIe is a perfect miracle" said the
ambassador. Il 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 mp one finger. denoting that there
Is one God; he held up two. slgnIfying
that these are the Father and Son. !
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 necessities, but the
luxurles, of life, upon which the won
dcrful man presented piece OF bread.
showing that II was the staff OF life
and preferable 10 every luxury"
The professors were glad that mat
tiers had turned out so weil: 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 yon
man.
'sThe rascalr' says Geordy. what
did he do hrst think ye? He held up
one finger. as much as TO say. You
have only one eye. Then held up two.
meaning that my one eye was perhaps
rs good as both his. Then the fellow
held up three of bis fingers, TO say that
there were but three eycs between us.
and then was 50 mad nj the scoun-
drel that stocked my neive and WIS
20 como a whack on the side OF his
head and would ha' done Il. too. but
for your sakes. Then the rascal did
not stop with his provocation here. but.
forsooth, takes out an orange as much
hs to shy. Your poor, beggarly. cold
country cannot produce that show
ed him a whang Of a bear hammock,
meaning that did ma care n farthing
for him nor his trash neither as lang's
I ha' this. Tut. by az that's guild" con-
clndcd Ceordy, I'm angry yet that I
dist thrash the hide o. the scoun-
drelr'-London r. P.'s Weekly.