The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-14
SILENT FIFTY YEARS,
Miss GuIlford Kept Her Vow and Now
She Is Unable to Speak.

She Il Unable to Speak.
There is possibly no other woman in
the world like Miss Experience Gullford,
of BluehIll, Me-, says the Philadelphia
Inquirer. 1t is proverbial that a womans
tongue never stops, but Miss Gullfords
case is an exception to this rule and for
half century she has held her peace.
Not one single word or audible sound his
this woman allowed to pass her lips for
period of fifty years.
The original reason for Miss Gullford's
speechlessnesS was anger because she
could not marry the man OF her choice.
When she was nineteen years old she fell
In love with William Simpson, the vii
laSe sehnoimaster. They were to be mar
ried on June 49, lS7. One of Mise Gull
ford's rejected suitors told tales about
the schoolmaster, and Miss Gullfords
parents stopped the wedding. Miss Gull
ford thereupon said: "a swear | will not
speak a word, though l live for fifty
years, unless 1 marry this man"
She kept her pledge. Her parents died
and she went to live with her married
bruther. When he died she made her
home with her sister, and after the sis
ter's death she went to a camp in the
woods and kept house for brother. with
whom she Is now living. All this time
she performed her share in the house
hold work and did not show any regret
for having made the vow.
When the fifty years Of silence expired,
short time ago, she was visited by n
large number Of relatives and friends.
who went 70 the camp for the purpose Of
being present when she was at liberty to
speak. Soon after the midday meal.
Miss Gullford dressed herself In the gar
ments which she had not worn for half
century At 2 o'clock she stood before
the people, smiled and opened her mouth
to speak: but though she tried hard. and
got red in the face trying, she could not
utter sound. Her vocal muscles had
become atrophied from long dlsuse and
refused to work.
When Miss Gullford found that she
could not speak, she sent to Bangor for a
physician and took to her bed. The doc
tor gave no hope Of recovery of speech,
but suggested that she be sent TO n B0s-
ton hospital for treatment. AS soon as
Miss Guilford gets strong enough to take
the Journey she will make another effort
to regain her speech. Her father left
her good sum of money at his death.
which has been growing every year In
savings bank, 80 that she Is well able TO
obtain the treatment she requires.
Although Misc Gullford never could be
induced to talk, she did not avoid society
and always attended the village dances
and parties She would Join in the gem
eral merrlment, and was never sensitive
all la Ia
strange vow. None Of the young men OF
the village would ever think of asking
her question, and when her company
was desired in a dance by any young
man he would simply walk up to her and
lead her on the floor. and she was always
quite favorite with the beauX.
The only time she has been known to
show any Indignation about her pecu-
llarlty happened about a year ago, when
a formal invitation was sent to her to
participate In proceedings OF the village
debating society After this Miss Gull
ford secluded herself for over month.
but after that she was again ecen In Soc
lal circles.
when Miss Gulfnrds mother was dy-
Ing there was great excitement In the
town. Many persons felt sure that when
speak: but they were disappointed; the
end came, and the daughters grief was
deep, but II was silent,
There were cases like this In instltu-
tons for the insane. Pretended deafness
IL common. A refusal to speak ~ un-
usual. A celebrated case IL that Of Rose
Bnrncat and her husband Ralph, who
lived In Terre Hnulc They were low
Ing couple. Both disagreed over n trinc
one night when you come to me with
an apology | shall speak to you" she
said. when come to you with an
apology you will De older than you are
now" said he.
These people lived together FOR thirty
years They never lnterchanged word
directly Communications that they In
tended for each other were sent through
an intermediary a gucst at dinner was
likely TO hear something like thls' "rhni
was whit Martha was saylnE to my son
the other day and ! told him that she
should 80 right ahead and do as she had
Inquired out, but she told my daughter
That 1t would cost $50. 90 give my sun a
check for the amount, ana she Ia salts.
ilOl now Isn't che, my SOM"
StIlcR Phelps and Armstrong, clog.
dancers, celebrated In their day, Travelled
together for twenty yonfH, during fifteen
ef which Stiles and Armstrong never eS.
changed n word pholpA was The rcclpl.
ont If all necessary communications be-
twOOn the two and hlR HE wna made
miserable,
wirr but little caro- and no trouble,
the bOnrl mud muHncho can be kopt a