The Washington herald., 1909-05-29

Continued from Page One.
and the daughter. who did not remember
having seen her father walk, sprang from
her cot and ran about the room, crying
OUT, Papa can walk, papa can walk.
Heard the Crash.
Persons living in other rooms OF the
house heard the crash OF the failing
plaster and the hystericsl screams Of
Mrs. Polling, and ran into the room Pol
ing regained consciousness and drew him
natural position. Mrs. Polling watched
her husband. and then Joy overcame the
woman. She gave way under the excite
ment. and was picked up from the floor
in hysterical coRvulsions. Polling called
10 one OF the men. who ran into the room
20 get a physician. and then directed an
other 10 take charge OF the girl. who
seemed on the point OF going mad with
Joy
The condition OF Mrs. Polling grew
worse before the arrival Of the doctor,
and the giTi. who had recovered some
v hat from her excitement, was sent to
the home Of her grandmother for assist
ance- The child forgot her errand. and
merely said. Papa can walk"
She repeated this sentence mechanically
until the meaning OF the words were
understood Her hearers. grandmother
and an uncle. realized that something
wonderful had happened in the Poling
home. and they hurried there.
A physician had arrived. but Mrs. Pol
until o'clock. four hours after the ac-
cident which had made her invalid hus-
band q well man
Immediately after the woman regained
her faculties g scene almost as dramatic
as the one of few hours before was en-
acted in the little room on the second
floor OF the Sixth street house. Ply
sicians had told Mrs Polling that Il her
husband ever recovered sufficiently to
move a foot. she was 10 try and force
him 10 walk She had been cautioned
against treating her husband kindly Il
he ever showed a sign Of recovery.
When she awoke friends were sympa-
thizing with the man. telling him 70 lie
stiIl and rest. and giving him stimulants.
Drastic Action Realized.
Realizing that drastic action was re-
ouired Il Polling was 10 retain his new
found strength, Mrs. Polling proved her
self equal TO the occasion. and followed
the directions she had been given. al
though she was so weak herself as to
be hardly able TO walk
She walked around the bed and stood
over her husband. and assuming a tone
Of command. said: Get UP, Virgin The
man lay looking up at his wife in won
der. hardly able TO understand her mean
ing. Get out OF that bed, say" con-
tinued Mrs. Polling, catching hold of her
husbands arm and gently shaking it
Again and again she repeated the COM
mand. until Polling made an effort
Muscles which had not responded 10 his
will in years acted as he wanted and he
found himself gradually raising himself
TO a sitting posture. Not satisfied with
this effort, Mrs Polling compelled her
husband to rise and walk q few feet
Then she allowed him 10 return to the
bed and the rest he had earned At IN
tervals during the day Mrs. Polling told
her husband &c get up and test his
strength, and this action. physicians say.
saved Polling from losing the strength he
regaiued n the moment OF fright and
shock.
When a reporter called 70 see Polling
last night, he found the man seated on a
porch opening from front windows Of his
apartments. Polling rose from his chair
On the porch with ease. stepped through
the window and greeted the reporter
with the ease and grace Of a man &C
customed to the use Of his arms and legs
81 Of the years Of his life
"Oh, I did not want this TO reach the
papers" said Polling. when he was in
formed OF the reporters errapd. My
wife and I have suffered these. long
years alone and now We hope to enjoy
our happiness with just ourselves and
friends. I suppose II seems selfish in ne,
but I will tell you all you care to know
about the case" Then Polling told the
long story OF his afiictiou and recovery.
Came from Leesburg.
He and his wife came TO this city from
Leesbmg. Va. about fourteen years ago
Poliag opened a grocery store. and was
gaining success in business when he met
with the first accident. On June l, 1899.
Polling was riding TO his store on street
car he saw q friend passing on the
street, and. wishing to talk with the
man. started TO slight from the ear. In
some way Polling slipped. His hip was
doubly dislocated. and he was removed to
a hospital. where an operation made il
possible for him to walk with the aid Of
crutehes.
He walked about on crutches for nearly
three years. sometimes confined TO his
room for weeks. and az other times unable
70 move without assistance. He gradu-
ally regained some OF his former strength
and vitality until he fell the second time.
The last accident was almost fatal
The most eminent physicians IN the
! United States expeTinepted on Polling.