Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1912 — Profound Linguist. [ARTICLE]

Profound Linguist.

There bad been a fatal accident at the railroad crossing in a little Pennsylvania town, says the Philadelphia Record; and the coroner, a pompous old fellow, who magnified conscientiously both: his office and its incumbent, had impaneled a jury for the inquest. There was only one witness or the accident, an illiterate Slav from the coal mines who could understand no. English. With him the coroner began to struggle. “Can you speak German?” he asked. The man shook his head. “Can you speak Italian?” continued the official. Again the man shook his, .head. “Can you speak Hungarian?” The ss;ne response.. •Can you speak Russian?” finally asked the coroner. Again the, rasa shook his head, “It’s Sb R*e, gentleman,” said the coroner, turning to the jury. ! ‘We cant proceed with the case- I’ve spoken to this man in five different languages, and can’t make him understand me.”