MALLERY.] NEAPOLITAN GESTURE SIGNS. 297 
little table, on which are the meager tools of his trade. He wears spec- 
tacles in token that he has read and written much, and has one seat at 
his side to accommodate his customers. On this is seated a married 
woman who asks him to write a letter to her absent husband. The 
secretary, not being told what to write about, without surprise, but some- 
what amused, raises his left hand with the ends of the thumb and finger 
joined, the other fingers naturally open, a common sign for inquiry. 
“What shall the letter be about?” The wife, not being ready of speech, 
to rid herself of the embarrassment, resorts to the mimic art, and, with- 
out opening her mouth, tells with simple gestures all that is in her mind. 
Bringing her right hand to her heart, with a corresponding glance of the 
eyes she shows that the theme is to be love. For emphasis also she 
curves the whole upper part of her body towards him, to exhibit the in- 
tensity of her passion. To complete the mimic story, she makes with her 
left hand the sign of asking for something, which has been above de- 
seribed (see page 291). The letter, then, is to assure her husband of her 
love and to beg him to return it with corresponding affection. The other 
woman, perhaps her sister, who has understood the whole direction, re- 
gards the request as silly and fruitless and is much disgusted. Being 
on her feet, she takes a step toward the wife, who she thinks is unadvised, 
. and raises her left hand with a sign of disapprobation. This position of 
the hand is described in full as open, raised high, and oscillated from right 
to left. Several of the Indian signs have the 
same idea of oscillation of the hand raised, 
often near the head, to express folly, fool. 
She clearly says, “What a thing to ask! 
what a fool you are!” and at the same time 
makes with the right hand the sign of money. @--.. 
This is made by the extremities of the thumb 
and index rapidly rubbed against each other, 
and is shown more clearly in Fig. 77. It is taken from the handling and 
counting of coin. This may be compared with an Indian sign, see Fig. 
115, page 544. 
So the sister is clearly disapproving with her left hand and with her 
right giving good counsel, as if to say, in the combination, “What a 
fool you are to ask for his love; you had better ask him to send you 
some money.” 
In Naples, as in American cities, boiled ears of green corn are vended 
with much outery. Fig. 78 shows a boy who is attracted by the local 
cry ‘ Pollanchelle tenerelle!” and seeing the sweet golden ears still boil- 
ing in the kettle from which steams forth fragrance, has an ardent desire 
to taste the same, but is without a soldo. He tries begging. His right 
open hand is advanced toward the desired object with the sign of asking 
or begging, and he also raises his left forefinger to indicate the number 
one—* Pretty girl, please only give me one!” ‘The pretty girl is by no 
means Cajoled, and while her left hand holds the ladle ready to use if he 
