The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-25
EvA's WHISTLING L4RYNx.
The Remarkable Musical Equipment
of a Little Girl of New Haven.

From the New Haven Evening Register
One of the most remarkable instances of
pecullar anatomical development knows to
medical science has just been discovered
IN New Haven. The circumstances are a
yet unknown to the New Haven physi-
clans and surgeons, but a leading profess
Sor of music, TO whose attention the case
has been brought, pronounces it the most
remarkable he has ever observed The
case, in the layman's parlance, is known
as that of a Whistling larynX, though the
doctors have technical name for it, which
is at once sounding and confusing to the
average Intelligence. The individual in
whom this popularity has developed is the
little daughter of Mr.. and Mrs W. Il
Spear of 3l2 Columbus avenue. Eva is s
years old, and, wthstanding her youth
the case IS remarkably well developed. In
plain terms this little lady is abe 10 Whis-
tie without the use Of her lips, pharynx
palate, or cheeks, all Of which are brought
into play by the ordinary whistler
Eva gave the first manifestation of her
laryngeal Whist.ing ability when but two
years Of age. Mr. Spear lived near a talk
ing parrot, when was very apt at mimick-
ing conversations between the members of
the family. On one occasion he repeated
a remark made by Mrs. Spear to Eva Mrs
Spear was astonished 10 near the little one
repeat the remark in an exact imitation of
the manner in which it was REPEATED by
the bird. Her astonishment amounted to
amazement when the little one mimicked
the whistle of the parrot apparently with
out the slightest effort. Ii was apparent
then that the whistle was not produced nv
the lips and tongue, as people ordinarily
whistle, but by the throat or some part Of
It, Eva rapidly developed the ability to
whistle in this peculiar manner. until she
now whistles popular ais, or such sna, ches
Of them as she hears, without, using ner
lips.
Prof Bonney, the musical Instructor
was greatly interested upon learning of
Eva's whistling ability and at once mani
tested desire to investigate the case He
listened TO an impromptu performance bv
the little girl and requested another He
pronounceS the case worthy Of the atten-
ton not only of the medical profession
but of the musical instructors. At present
EVa's Wh.stling is confined to those
snatches of popular songs which she hears
her sister plays on the piano and to the
hymns with are common in the house
hold. She has no technical knowledge of
music but whistles by ear" When she
is doing so her lips are as they would be
when at perfect rest There is not the
slightest contraction of them or any move
ment. She whistles equally well with her
mouth tightly closed. Upon attempting
a high note, however, she unconsciously
opens her mouth as singer would in at
tempting the same thing. However, there
is no suggestion of singing in her whls-
thing.
The impression conveyed to the listener
is similar to that produced by one prof.
cient in mimicbing the notes of a horn,
though of a much finer and clearer tone.
The notes are clear and full, the low
ones with a volume and tone seldom or
never heard in ordinary whistling, and
the high ones with a clearness and fulness
beyond anything produced by the most
artistic whistler of the ordinary kind.
While nothing of the fineness of the ordi-
nary whistling is lost, the strength and
volume of the sound are far greater than
that ordinarily produced, and from this
fact would be a vast improvement over
ordinary whistling when performed in the
presence of an audience.
Eva is somewhat shy in exhibiting her
accomplishment before strangers, but
amuses herself and her parents and sis
tiers with it in the family, as any boy
m
fashion common TO all boys. No attempt
has ever been made TO cultivate it, as
Eva has only begun 10 take lessons on
the piano, but even now there is d sug-
gest on Of an extraordinary ability to per
form difficult MARBLES when the little one
attempts such melodies as THE Whistling
Coon" or the "'8Iocking Bird" She has
range of two and a half octaves. She
has discovered that she can whistle even
when holding the tongue between the in
deX finger and the thumb.