Signaling and Indian Signs 233 



It makes it possible to talk to a deaf person. 



It is a wonderful developer of observation. 



It is a simple means of talking to an Indian or a Scout of 

 another nationality whose language you do not understand. 

 This indeed is its great merit. It is universal. It deals not 

 with words but with ideas that are common to all mankind. 

 It is therefore a kind of Esperanto already established. 



So much for its advantages; what are its weaknesses? 

 Let us frankly face them: 



It is useless in the dark; 



It will not serve on the telephone; 



It can scarcely be written; 



In its pure form it will not give new proper names. 



To meet the last two we have expedients, as will be seen, 

 but the first two are insurmountable difficulties. 



Remember then you are to learn the Sign Language be- 

 cause it is silent, far-reaching, and the one universal language. 



Since it deals fundamentally with ideas, we avoid words 

 and letters, but for proper names it is very necessary to 

 know the one-hand manual alphabet, 



For numbers we use the fingers, as probably did the ear- 

 liest men who counted. 



Yes. The sign for *'yes" is so natural that one can see 

 it instinctively made if we offer food to a hungry baby. 

 That is simply a nod. That is if you are near, but far off, 

 make your right hand with all fingers closed except index 

 and thumb which are straight and touching at top, advance, 

 bend toward the left side as though bowing, then returned 

 and straight again. 



No. This also is a natural sign, we can see it if we offer 

 bitter medicine to a baby. The sign for "No," when near, 

 is shake the head; but, when too far for that to be seen, hold 

 the closed right hand in front of the body, then sweep it 



