The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-17
DUMB MANY YEARS,
NOW REGAINS VOICE
Chicago Business Man Is Given
Speech Lost During Seri-
GUS Illness.

CHICAGO, June 15.-Aftcr twenty one
yenrs of silent struggle between will pow
er and nature, Louis Mendelson can talk
again. He was 10 ycars old whom his
voice gradually died away. Today he is
10. and 1t has Just come back to him.
During all that time he never gave up
nope that he might talk again. For five
Wears every resource OF medical science
vas brought TO his aid For the re-
!. nfSf71lng sixteen years he fought alone.
mover connding even to relatives or rear-
est frienCs the dearest hope OF his lie
for fear they would realize how bitter,y
he ielt the afliction of silence.
Six months ago change seemed TO
that speech was returning. When alone
he would attempt to read the news
papers aloud or pronounce familiar words.
Some unaneoInta6le INT power orits seemed to
turning, even before sound camo from
his throat.
His nervousness increased until he
feared for his reason, A week ago he
started smoking cigarettes for the first
time In his life Tuesday no spoke to
one of Ms brothers. Another was chilled
he S talked to him.
Yesterday he was transported into n
new world. He could talk liko other men
and utter the Same sounds which In ST.
lence he had heard them utter for TWEEN
ty-one years A little pad of paper and
pcncl-a necessity OF tho past-he stll
IL only once. That was when deaf and
dumb man came in TO look at him and
went out again drawing a ragged sleeve
over his eyes. Friends thronged TO his
place of business all day TO see II the
miracle wero true. Others called up on
the telephone. 1t was n wonder they
could not account for to hear the man
dumb during the lifetime OF the younger
ones-ansWcr their enGer questions.
Man Is in Business.
Iouis Mendelson with three brothers
Samuel. Jules and Tony-has wholesale
liquor store and saloon at l0l Halsted
street They live with their sisters at leo
Oakley avenue boulevard. Another broth
err Harry, Is q mail carrier, and lives at
3G41a West Congress street. Louis is un-
married but the return OF his voice mas
opened up new hopes to him. He Is the
oldest OF the family. Ever since he was
years old he has worked to provide for
the younger members OF the family and
the mother, who died two years ago.
That he Will never be able to talk to her
Is the only shadow over his prcecnt JOY.
This week, nervous and agitated, Louis
decided that he would try the voice
which he had tested TO himself over and
over again in solitude. One afternoon he
went with his brother Harry, for car
ride TO a village fourteen miles west of
Chicago The brother noticed that he
was nervous, but did not know the great
test which was before him; Arriving at
the village, he wrote on the tab OF pa
per, call Sam" who was at tho place
OF business He meant TO test both
brothers at once-one over the telephone
and tho other at his side Samuel was
out and he could contain himself no
longer, He spoke TO Harry.
Wanted All to Hear.
Il did not want TO treat one better than
the other" he explained yesterday. l
knew how much they wanted me to talk.
but never expected that l would. L
wanted TO tell them all ut once
II have always been sure that L would
talk again. Physicians failed to assist
me and I stopped them years ago. II has
just been Will power chat brought my
voice back ] kept telling myself. You
must talk You will talk until six
months ago It seemed change came over |
me, and / knew that my voice was COM |
ing back. Many times In the long years |
have been discouraged. The story of |
how voice returned to some one or a !
word Of cheer made me keep on striving. |
only hope that my story Will encourage |
other dumb unfortunates."
brain fever resulting from severe |
cold originally caused the loss of voice 1t |
was not sudden. but gradually died out |
over a period OF two years. Apparently |
II is returning In the same manner, but |
in much shorter time. At present il is |
husky and faint, but perfectly clear and |
Ineligible.