The Portland daily press., 1881-01-24
A Bad Case of Pouts.
How Montana Woman Differs from All
Others of Her Sex.
butte, on. t. Minerl

1t is not generally known, but it is neverthe-
less a fact, that on lower Willow creek, not
many miles from Butte, resides woman diff
ferent from all others of her sweet sex. She is
probably the ouly woman known in ancient
or modern times who, possessing the natural
feminine ability to talk, studiously abstains,
with perseverance truly admirable, from
expressing herself on any subject. For fifteen
years. except on one occasion, she has not
uttered word even to her nearest relations
Her organs of articulation are perfect, and
the friends of the strange lady entertain not
the slightest doubt of her speaking capabilities
were she disposed to exercise them. 1t is the
impression of those best acquainted with the
history of this phenomenal woman that her
absolute refusal to speak results from a disap-
pointment in love when she was yet in her
teens. Fifteen years ago. in the classic State
of Missouri, Miss N, then beautiful
and accomplished girl of Is summers, became
the object of a young neighbours affection,
which she reciprocated with the full strength
OF her impressive soul. He told his love and
they became secretly engaged. But the news
was too good and fraught with too much fu-
ture happiness to keep and it was accordingly
communicated to the young girls parents.
Then for the first time in her budding woman
hood a cloud arose to cast its shadow on her so
far contented existence. The parents, for
reasons which they doubtless considered good
and sufficient, sternly and relentlessy with
held their consent for the proposed union of
two loving hearts. More than this, they or.
dered the young gallant to cease his attentions
and their decision was irrevocable. Soon af-
ter this the family moved to Montana, and
since the day of their starting the young lady,
now grown to woman Of 30 years, but still
comedy in form and features and seeming in
telligent, has not uttered as much as half a
dozen words. Her long silence is attributed
TO intense and abiding Indignation at the sup
posed cruelty OF her parents in refusing to per-
init her marriage, and probably conceiving
words to be useless and Inadequate to EXPRESS
the poignancy of her suffering she concluded
never to speak again, a resolution which she
has adhered to SO far with remarkable perth
nacity. She lives with her parents on Willow
creek, as before stated, occupies a room by
herself, refuses 10 see strangers and to all in
tents and purposes is absolutely dumb. Her
memory is strong and accurate for one who
neither talks nor reads nor takes other INTEL
lectual exercises. Through the partition of
her room she will sometimes listen to the con-
versation of those in the adjoining apartment,
and occasionally several days after it has taken
place. ii will be found on paper in her room
written out verbatim. A severe mental exer
ton is necessary to accomplish this feat and
the fact that she is capable of such exertion is
regarded as sufficient evidence of her entire
sanity. 1t is reported that several ranchers ON
willow creek, convinced of her determination
never to speak again, have made matrmo-
NAL advances, but have been spurned On
the whole, the case is an interesting one, the
more SO as she is still young, beautiful and
intelligent.