Languages and Linguistics

... my first thought is: translate them. Every Wingding corresponds to a given key on the QWERTY keyboard. Connect the Wingdings with the appropriate letter one must tap to get it to print, and eventually you will have deciphered the message.
I don't think the Wingding font existed before the advent of computers with enough RAM to to allow the use of different fonts – or typefaces as they were called in my day – there may have been a few on some of the IBM Selectric typewriter balls, but I don't recall seeing any on mine back in the day.
Anyway, it could be an amusing way to pass a rainy Sunday.