Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-19
WARNING TO BLAsPHEMERs.
John sfmpkins Stricken Deaf ana
Dumb After Profanfng.

The terrible experience of John Sirapkins
mas served as a warning TO the blasphe-
mers Of Shamokin, Pa, and now MANY Of
the wicked residents are scarcely ever
heard to utter an oath. Says a Herald
special:
John simpkins was one of the most faith
iul employees engaged in the large iron
mills OF Shamokin. But he was a very
profane man, and whenever anything oc-
CURED TO anger him he would give fun
vent TO ms temper in the most fearful i'm
precautions.
he became angered one day several
months ago at a piece of work he was oolng
ana INDUCED In more sulphurous profanity
tnan usual
he had scarcely ceased his blaspbernies
when a strange sensation came over htm
anu the next moment ne reaIlzed the ayruI
TACT that he Was Deal and dumb
me herald dispatch says: Although
working steadily at his trade since then ne
was unable to utter a syllable or hear a
sound until last Wednesday evening when
ne attended a religious revival in progress
AZ Methodist Church in Shamoxfi1
The minister had concluded a shor- sar-
mon ana given an invitation 70 religious
seekers TO assemble at the altar, when John
sror rAi us. seeing Others press toward the
Win tne seekers about the altar rail.
. 10 the surprise of every one in the an
oience the dumb mans tongue was then
| a
vent prayer for mercy Before the serxsc.,
closed Simpkins addressed the meeting for
ABOUT ten minutes. telling of his WONDERFUL
ths Yes,r,,s anu expressing his gratitude for
nc estorduon OF his speech and hearinr
no one can imagine the aeoniee OF nina
nave endured during the mast sa.r
, ,aOnnns; sand Simpkins 20 a friend. Il
fepented OF my great wickedness again .,t
again. but never expected 10 raeesn .-
speech or hearing" my
Just after INDUCING in his last outbtrse
ID SfW.rws Ii
derfIl vision in the form of an anvsi -
dazzling brightness The rnessanVer A.
formed him that his conduct had been such
90 % 10 uenand speedy punishment and when
talk or hear. w
simpkins after his recovery. spent -nosf
OF Thursday calling from house to house
among his neighbors and acouafntancee.
urging them TO forsake their evil ways.
~, hesteroay morning he surprised his wife
ana i am confident that before noon i sfaff
lose my speech and hearing again. never
TO regain ii In this world
.sOh, John. do not think that" easd bss
wife. ""
Il cannot help II. Mary. Another br1rht
messenger stood at my side as Law in bed
last night and declared that my speech and
hearing were only restored TO me for n
short time and then would be taken from
me for good This experience Is all for a
good purpose and 1 viii not murmur what
The husband and father continued TO con-
verse cheerfully with HIS family and at
tended to little work about the house un-
I'll 10 O'Clock. when he remarked that he
must go ana visit a friend whom ne was
irving to induce to abandon his evil WAYS
He was gone about an hour and. return
Ing home, said n his wife:
Mary. Fred. Shorter has renowned his
wicked WAYS and started in the better lie
Isn't It encouraging
The next instant his speech went from
10 Ia e.,
Then his SIGHT began TO fail and now IN ad-
dition to heing deaf and dl'r,rh. he is almost
entirely blind His strength Is failing and
IL Is thought he Will not long survive.
The AFFAIR has created great excitement
In the city and is the main topic OF discus
sion.