THE SILENT LANGUAGE. HOW TO CONVERSE WITH ANY PERSON WITHOUT SPEAKING A WORD.
Reading edition
This art is performed on your hands and fingers, by the twenty-four letters of the alphabet, which, having learned, you must spell the words you intend your friend should know. The letters are very easily learned and as easily remembered. You must understand that most of the letters are upon the left hand and made with the fingers of the right and left hand; the forefinger of your right hand you point to every letter, but sometimes that and the two next fingers make several letters. The vowels are very easy to remember, they being the tops or ends of your five fingers on your left hand, and Y is formed in the palm of your left hand, thus:
The end of the thumb is A
The end of the fore finger E
The end of the middle finger I
The end of the ring finger O
The end of the little finger U
The table, or palm of the hand Y
One finger on the left thumb B
Two fingers on the left thumb C
Three fingers on the left thumb D
Your two fingers laid together F
Thumb, your fists together G
Stroke the palm of both hands together H
Your fore finger upon the left wrist K
One finger on the back of the left hand L
Three fingers on the same M
Two fingers on the same N
Clench your left hand, or fist O
Clench your right hand P
Link your little fingers together Q
The backs of your hands together R
The end of your fore finger to the middle joint of the other fore finger S
Two fingers upon the little finger of the left hand T
Two fingers across X
Give two snaps with your fingers Z
Practice a few times and you will soon be perfect. Several motions represent the likeness of the letter; as, one finger on the back of the hand is like L, two fingers like N, three like M. The fore finger to the middle joint of the other fore finger is like T; two fingers across is like X; likewise B, C, D, are easily remembered; one finger on the left thumb is B, two fingers C, three fingers D. But you must always remember to give a snap with the fingers between the words, so that your friend may distinguish one word from another. If you are in company, and think some others understand you, that you would not have, it will be necessary to change the vowels to some other part of the hand, and then none but your friend that knows it can understand you. Suppose you would say to a lady in a large company, “Madam, I am your humble servant.” It is done thus:
Lay three fingers on the back of your hand M
Put your finger to the end of your left thumb A
Three fingers upon your left thumb D
Your finger again to the thumb A
Three fingers again to the back of your hand M
And give a snap with your fingers as a sign the word is spelt.
Then point to the end of your middle finger I
Then snap your fingers.
Then point to the end of your thumb A
Three fingers on the back of your hand M
Then snap your fingers.
Then point to the palm of your left hand Y
Then point to the end of your ring finger O
Then point to the end of your little finger U
Then link your little fingers together R
Then snap your fingers.
Stroke the palms of your hands together H
Point to the end of your little finger U
Put three fingers on the back of your hand M
One finger on the thumb B
One finger on the back of your hand L
Point to the end of your fore finger E
Then snap your fingers.
Put the backs of your hands together S
Point to the end of your fore finger E
Link your little fingers together R
Point to the end of your little finger V
Point to the end of the thumb A
Lay two fingers on the back of your hand N
Point the fore finger to the middle joint of the other fore finger T
Then snap your fingers.
And thus you may discourse upon any subject; if you practice it often you will soon learn to do it very quick, even faster than you can write.
