The Dickinson press., 1908-05-02
SIGN LANGUAGE.
DroII Incident In the Reign Of
James |. Of England.
A TRICK ON AN AMBASSADOR
Tho Different Interpretations Of tn
Same Acts Performed by q Crochet,
spaniard and q Hard Headed an,
Canny Old Scotch Butcher.

canny Old Scotch Butcher.
1t is said that King James I. 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 q
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, I have q pro
lessor of signs in the northernmost col.
1ege in my dominions-viz, at Aber.
deen-but it is a great way of, perhaps
600 miles,"
"Were it 10000 leagues of l shall,
zee him." said the ambassador, "and
am determined to set out in two OF
three days." The king saw he had com.
mitted himself and wrote. or caused tc
be written. to the University of Aber
deem. stating the case and desiring tha
professors to put him off some way OF
make the best of him. The ambassa.
dol arrived, was received with great
solemnity. but soon began to inquire
which of them had the honor to 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 will wait his return
though it were twelve months"
Seeing that this would not do and
that they had to entertain him at a
great expense all the while, they con.
trived a stratagem. There was one
Geordy, a butcher, blind of an eye; q
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 a chair Of state in
a 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 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 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 a%nxiously 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.
I then took out an orange. signifying
the goodness Of God. who gives his crea-
lures not only the n~ecessaries, but the
luxuries, Of life, upon which the won
derful nan presented a piece of bread,
showing that 1t vas the staff Of life
and preferable to every luxury"
The professors we're glad that mat
tiers had turned out SO we'll; 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
MANI"
1.-THE rascal" says Geordy. "What
did he do first, think ye? He held up
one finger. as much as to say, You
have only n eye. Then I held up two.
meaning that my n eye was perhaps
as good as both his. Then the fellow
held up three Of his fingers. to say that
there were but three eyes between us.
and then I was so mad at the scoun-
drel that I stocked my neive and was
to come a whack .on the side Of his
head and would ha' done it, too, but
for your sakes. Then the rascal did
moi stop with his p%rovocation here. but.
forsooth. takes out an orange, as much
~ to say, Your poor, beggarly. cold
country cannot produce that. I show