Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-11-27
A MIRACLE BY MARRIAGE.
How the Husbands Music Woke up His
Wife's Dead Sense of Hearing.

Inor0 was quloI Dut Ionidihduio
wedding in the city Sunday morning,
but which was not written up In the SO,
ciety columns of the daily papsrs, and
which might not be announced now Dut
far the most remarkable sequel. The
contracting parties were Hugh Black
bern, aged 80, of Scotch parentage, bat
born in YOnkers, N. Y, and Miss Olga
Johanssn, aged 10, Norwegian, who came
to this country with her parents seven
years ago. The parties became acquaint-
cd at Yonksrs, bat In January. 1883, the
JOhansen family moved to Chicago and
settled here, and since then Mr., Black
bern has made several flying visits to
the city. The ceremony was performed
at the residence of the brides parents,
on North avenue, the Rev. Alex Bergen,
of Yonkers, officiating. Blackburn Is
below the medium height, but Is a very
big little man." weighing 2l9 pounds.
The now happy Mrs. Blackbern, though
barely 10 years of age, is a perfect 81
antess. She stands six feet three inches,
weighs 237 pounds, and is the picture OF
robust health. With blonde hair down
to her waist, blunt features and eyes
that seem almost pinkish, she is most
striking parsonage. When her husband,
with his short cut fiery red hair and
WulSktIS, duu lie 0LulO OiuO CJOo,Se%AANS
beside her, they make couple who can
never 90 anywhere without attracting
attention and causing remark.
Mr.. Blackbern was born deaf. Years
ago
SKILLFUL SURGEONS
performed an operation upon him III
New York city, and by means Of small
gold tubes he was made to hear. This
was when he was Is years old. His pa
rents spent most of their small means
paving the doctors and surgeons. When
he recovered his hearing he could
not talk, and the task of talking had to
be begun Just as baby begins, or as
one begins the study Of foreign tongue.
He now hears and talks we'll, and has a
finished education. He is in business at
YOnkers, and in a short time will take
his wife to the pretty home he has pre-
pared for her there. Mrs. Blackbern
was born with all her senses except that
of speech. When chilli she fell vic
tim to typhoid fever, or some dreadful
affection like it. Up to this time she
had been very diminHtive for her age.
her brain was so impaired that she was
pronounced a hopeless imbecile. After
two years in an asylum, however. she
completely recovered her reason, and she
accumulated flesh so rapidly and grew
so large that her parents could hardly
believe that the person returned to them
was really their Olga. Deaf and dumb,
as she was when the marriage was per-
formed, the "best man" and the brides
maid acted as interpreter, and the cler-
gyman's questions were put to her In the
finger language and her responses were
communicated in the same way. Mr..
Blackbern is, of course, an adept in this
silent language, having been deaf and
dumb himself in his early years, and the
couple seemed to converse even more
quickly than their relatives, who posses
sed all their senses.
THE MIRACLE OF THE MARRIAGE
remains to be told, and it is this that
the relatives and frieuds are most elated
over. Mr.. Blackbern is great lover of
music. He can hum or whistle the most
difficult pieces after hearing them once,
instrument, but constantly whistling,
he has become most proficient in the art.
With his lips alone he produces the
lOudest and the lowest sounds. and by
doubling up his two hands and placing
them at his mouth plays notes as sweet
as flute. The airs of the cid masters
are all familiar to him, and he plays
them with an effect at once surprising
and thrilling. He has a medley of his
own which he calls Life at Last" and
whether original or not 1t Is most enter
tanning. Pathetic, sad and sweet. it is
full of plaintive, exquisite melody and
has rOllicking, joyful final, On the
Monday evening following the wedding
the brides parents gave little social
party, at which dozen couple Of friends
were present. During the evening Mr..
Blackbern was asked to whistle for the
company and he did so. "C0me Haste to
the wedding" Mendelsohn's wedding
March," "Evsr Bright and Fair" and nu-
merOus other things were given in fine
cept the bride. Deaf and dumb, she
knew nothing about musir, and could
not hear it if she did. Her husband was
the center OF attraction for the time be-
ing, and no one was looking at her. He
commenced his medley, "Life at Last"
and as he proceeded quick movement
by his wife attracted attention to her.
She had arisen, her eyes were sparkling
with delight, and she was standing gaz-
ing on the musician with an attitude
full of rapture. As the sweet, sad airs
CHANGED FROM GRIEF TO MAILING.
and to despair, her excitement increased
and OminOus glances were exchanged
between the parents and the friends It
was feared that "her head was giving
way again." The husband saw all this,
and would have ceased but for a whis
psred word from the clergyman. The
sweet notes continued, and the company
said they never had heard such sweet
notes before. In the midst of the joyful
finale Mrs. Blackbern, in an eestacy Of
happiness, flung herself in the arms Of
har huahand and kiasnd and caraacAd