Evening star., 1884-07-26

suddenly into deaf mute, was q fact that was
accepted like a romance and even to this day
am frequently asked the oft-repeated tnterroga-
tories: "How did you become deaf" lis 1t not
very painful and dsagreeable to be- So" or do
you enjoy life when you are afflicted as YOU are.
and when classed among the deaf aud dumb?"
became deaf few years ago from what is
supposed to have been oerebro spinal meningitis.
which resSlted from q cold advanced by attend
ing o circus upon q cold, rainy and otherwise
very incement night. Ny previous health. or
for at least eight years, had been very good,
though during the winter, which was exceed
inQly severe, colds were not infreQuent and the
cold received ffom going to the Circus was not
lOOkeq upon as being as disastrous as IL resulted
Four or five days afterwards drowsiness and a
feeling Of loss of strength overcame me. and
after few hours nausea followed. became
better and went to sleep. thinking that the
trouble was on account Of eating something that
had disagreed with me. The folks at home
thinking the same, no anxiety was felt but on
awakening the next morning felt an intense
and unusual pain in the back OF nv head and
neck. This pain continued in severity until
noon, when the family physician came. re-
member very well the time, though somewhat
drowsy and raving on account Of the intense
suffering. The doctor said: bilious. l sup
pose" These were
THE LAST WORDS
/ heard and ever expect to hear Passing into
a state Of Inconsistencies, I remember nothing
that occurred save q few dreams, the corrobora-
tiOn of which are descriptions of actions during
the time. until waking from what seemed to be
q long and sound sleep, about two weeks (fifteen
days. afterwards.
At the time returned to consciousness nv
grandmother and two aunts were with me. /
was feeling as if had just awoke from sound
sleep. and had little suspicion regarding my
condition. After little while, noting that the
conversation between those present was car
ried on in a whisper, spoke, OF at least | en-
deavOred to do So and noticed that 1t with dif-
iculty spoke, and the expressions upon the
faces Of those present were rather suspicious,
but l fell asleep again, and when | woke again
the next day, presume) I found my father,
the doctor. together with Others by nv side.
opened my eyes and endeayored to sit up. but
that was prevented from doing, and then swal-
lowed dose of medicine. Again | noticed a
deathlike stiffness. nv father at length spoke
to me, but l could not comprehend what he
said. A few minutes later he unwrapped a
bundle and took out
LARGE SLATE
and several crayOns. Then he wrote on the
slate: "How do you feel now?" and 1.-The doctor
and all OF us think you are little deaf" The
mystery was solved, but how strange, thought
/. to be deaf like an old person. Ct had become
aware that was sick tor at least three days.
thought) was amused at the idea of being
deaf. All came up to see me during the after
noon, excepting my sister, q girl Of ten years
who had fallen victim to the same maady a
week before, and who fingered until several
weeks later, when death closed her eyes for
ever. 1t was strange sight and queer feel
ing to me when noticed the Others speak with
out hearing q sound. 1t seemed to amuse all
hands, even the cook, who came up to see II
the sense OF hearing was visible; and when
spoke, or. rather. stammered, she seemed greatly
tickled and made enough noise to give me a
good chance to test my hearing powers.
My strength slowly increased day by day.
spoke or tried to speak. and in few days spoke
so that could be understood. After became
strong enough to sit up attention was paid to
the treatment of hearing. Ii was found that
had become totally deaf though / could hear,
or rather. feel, vibrations very distinctly but
no sound was audible The usual remedies
were given and applied, but without any appa-
rent benefit. When | became able to walk
around "instrumentar' treatment took the place
Of the former, but no beneficial result followed.
The physician then said: Your only hope lies
with an aurist." Friends who had ever mani
tested much interest and sympathy then came
TO THE RESCUE.
In few days the mail brought descriptive
catalogues and circulars Of every sort OF
"'phone" "' ear-drums, ear-trumpets, ETC., to-
gether with several cubic feet of testimonials,
also oreceipts and recommendations OF Lightning
Cure" mo. 16 Cure" 60 Fish on" .'Chinese
Shark Oh. ;" "Dr. IS Pills." "-'s Pellets" Z"
and l think some other names which I've for
gotten. OF course none of the liquids would be
allowed a trial, as 1t was deemed that scientific
treatment was the best. Ny only hope then lay
in the science and skill Of a specialist. L was
accordingly sent to Philadelphia aurist. under
whose charge l was placed for two weeks All
kinds Of instruments were given trial. They
said to me: Your hearing is totally gone now.
Ii you wish to pursue your studies enter a deaf
and dumb institution, take special care OF your
voice and practice lip reading as well as articu-
latiOn."
The case was discouraging to me- did not
know what to do. Future happiness as well as
prosperity will be ruptured, thought L. l did
not care much about attending
DEAF MUTE INSTITUTE.
l had known no deaf mutes and seen b1. a
few, and they appeared to be peddlers. tramps
or beggars. l was willing to do as my advisers
thought best. After remaining at home cou-
pie of months. during which time 1 conversed
by speaking and writing (my speech having
greatly improved, though still impaired). en-
tered Columbia Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb. My opinions as to the deaf and dumb
quickly changed. The place (Kendall Green)
itself is charming. l was placed in class of
ten young men. all mutes, whose homes are
scattered in different parts of the Union. The
teachers ana OffCerS, most or whom are deaf
mutes, | found to be very kind and well suited
for the positions held, according to my view.
The teacher under whose charge | was placed
was especially pleasant. He spoke of the place
of the boys and their duties. The textbooks
used were the same as those used In other
schools. The sign language and dactylelogy
were the means by which questions were asked
and answered; also conversation and illustra-
tion was set forth.
The pupils and students differed very little
from those with whom was accustomed. Kind
lively, Obedient, studious dutiful, and most in
teresting to one just from a different class. As
class they would, if better known. be more
admired than the others, l dare saw. They
ranked well. and still rank well, especially the
college students i'm both intellectual and physi-
cal standing. instruction in
LIP READING AND ARTICULATION
occupied part of the time. 1 was taken In
hand by the ever faithful and efficient lady
teacher, and notwithstanding my inability to
read sentence spoken orally, in two weeks
time was able to understand a greater part of
what was spoken by the teacher and a good
deal said by those at home At the end of two
weeks my eyes threatened to become trouble
some, and by advice returned home for six
months rest-siX long months-without read
Ing anything in the shape Of paper or book.
AT the end OF that time | returned and have
been there since. Lip reading is a great help
and gives one great advantage. The manual
alphabet l learned in short while and was
soon able to converse and read more clearly.
Columbia Institution is q sign school; that is,
the combined (both signs and speech) method is
used.
Though not an expert at lip reading can