Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-13
HEARING WITHOUT EARS.
-
b. Auat Fanny, in s.. Nicholas,


deaf some from birth and some from
infancy. There were four pretty, pleas
AUTHORIZING girls, and six or eight bright
boys. One OF the boys had lost both arms
but the poor fellow had been taught
the sign-language by his loving, patient
teacher, and could show that he under
stood It by waving and lifting his poor
stumps of arms.
As soon as we We're seated, = fine.look-
ing gentleman got pand said:
II have been deaf for twenty years.
| have tried all manner of speaking
uumpets, which did me very little good,
and l made up my mind that for the
rest of my life, | must never hear my
chlldrens voices, never listen to the
sound OF sweet music, but just lead
sad silent lite. One day was talking
10 friend with my watch in NV hand,
and carelessly placed it against my
teeth. To my establishment | plainly
heard the ticking of my watch, though
it was utterly silent when placed to my
ear, began to make experiments. |
remembered that Beethoven, the great
composer, who became very deaf, held
y metallic rod between his teeth, the
other end resting on the sounding
board of his piano, and by this means
he was able to hear the perfect music
which his brain had produced. test
ed various ways of hearing through the
teeth, and now after mary trials, | have
perfected this" and he held up what
looked exactly like fan. This" he
continued. sis the audiphone. Is made
of flexible, polished, carbonlzed rubber.
Fine silk cords attached TO the upper
edge, bend it over, and are fastened by
a wedge in the handle. The tension is
adjusted to suit the sound, as an opera.
glass is adjusted to suit distance. The
top edge ofthe fan rests upon the upper
teeth, and as the sound-waves strike
the surface; the vibrations are conveyed
by the teeth and the bones of the face
to the acoustic nerve communicating
with the BRAIN"
1t is almost impossible to believe, but
the gentleman called up one of the
deaf mutes, and standing just in front Of
him, gave tremendous shout, which
made us all fairly bounce on our chairs,
but the boy did not start, or move so
much as an eyelash, which showed
very plainly that he had heard nothing.
Then Mr.. Rhodes, for this is the name
of the inventor of the audiphone, ar
ranged the tention, and placed one in
the boys hand, adjusting it to his
teeth. Then, "a, B, G." said Mr..
Rhodes, in an ordinary tone. At the
sound the boy started, his face flushed,
and he raised his hand with quick
surprised motion. He heard for the fist
time IN his kfe! He did not know what
the sounds meant, because to deaf
person English speech might as well be
Greek-a deaf persons mind is per-
feet blank as to the meanings of sound,
though he may be able to talk fast
enough on his fingers. Then Mr..
Rhodes went behind the boy and saiG:
"a, B, c." a little louder, and his
teacher made the signs of the letters at
the same time; the boy gave skip Of
delight, making the letters also.
Then lady played on the piano, aud
the boy heard music for the Tirst time!
His hand moved up and down with a
rhythmic motion, as if keeping time to
pleasant sounds.
Then another boy was called, and the
same experiments were tried, the first
boy looking eagerly on, and talking as
fast as his fingers would go, to the rest
of the class. The second boy said in the
sign language that he could hear "very
loud sounds" Mr.. Rhodes shouted at
him enough to nearly crack his skull,
but he showed no signs of hearing, SO
his Every loud" must have been like
broadside of Cannons.
But with the audiphone to his teeth,
he heard everything. All the boys
were tried in turn, with nearly the
same success, even to the poor fellow
without arms. The audiphone was
held to his teeth and such flood of
happiness came over his face, and
poured out Of his eyes, that my own
eyes were blinded with tears. The rich
tones of parlor organ, which gentle
man present played upon, seemed al
most translated from earth to heaven.
It was not music to him; it twas a sweet,
melodious sound, the revelation of
sense which gave him a new and in
tense happiness.
And now Que of the girls, pale,
pretty little thing, was called to the Ia
BILE. The audiphone was placed to her
teeth, and Mr.. Rhodes made 8 uud.
i hope you understand that it was Of
no use for him 10 ask question, be-
cause deaf person has to begin like
baby to understand the meaning Of
sound; the deaf must be educated as
to what an articulate sound is to tell
them. II would be with them like
teaching baby to talk.
When the girl heard the sound, what
a study her face became! Waves Of
rosy color passed over her cheeks, her
eyes were uplifted, her hand was raised,
the foretinger pointing to heaven.
But now Mr.. Rhodes brought out a
number of fiat boxes, each holding an
audiphone. He took them out, and
gave one to each OF the deaf mutes.
Then lady present sang an echo song.
very sweetly with the accom- paniment
Of the piano. What a sight it was, A.
with audiphones at their teeth, the
class listened to this mysterious sweet
ness. these harmonious sounds! The
pale young gid stood motionless, rapt,
IL II H.