New-York tribune., 1922-12-18

Helen Hickman lives in q world
never penetrated by sound, yet she
sings. plays the piano and dances ex-
quiSitely in interpretive roles and
never lacks for a partner when enc
goes TO a party. Her dearest ambition
is TO appear on the stage in company
with her younger sister, Mildred, who
is at fourteen an accomplished Vio-
linist. ---
Add 10 this the fact that she is an
extremely lovely girl, with a mop Of
reddish gold curls, blue eyes and a
laughing mouth. and that she recently
won a beauty prize in a mszagine con
test against 1900 other beautiful
American girls and you get the outline
OF tho remarkable story which lies be
hind this Wonder Girl Of Oklahoma"
who is seeing the sights Of New York.
She is staying At the Hotel Woleott
with her mother. Mrs. 7. r. Hickman,
and her sister, Mildred.
The fact that she never hears any
sound, good or bad, Is an asset to
Helen Heckmsn when she comes to
New York. Her happy blue eyes take
In the sights Of the avenue and the
art treasures Of the museums without
the accompanying roar and elstter
which wear out the visitor with ears
to hear.
Her Shy Little Smile
81 love the theater and the dancing" /"
she said, with the shy little smile
which accompanies ell her efforts 10
converse with strangers. One senses
that. lin reading, even 70 one as pro
fcient as Helen, Is somewhat Of a
strain at first. Her questioning blue
eyes turn ever 10 her mother for con
firmation Of her efforts.
"But Helen goes 10 all the theaters
that we 90 TO, even to concerts" tho
mother hsstened 70 add. Eve meyer
allow her 20 feel left out or that there
is anything In our lives that she can
not enjoy
Il is not unusual, Of course, for
deaf person to attend concerts and
receive sesthetic satisfaction from the
rhythmic vibrations OF the air, but
Helen Hickman not only plays the
piano. guided by native sense OF
rhythm, but she accompanies her sister
on the violin. The two have made
amateur concert appearances fire.
Quently at Muskogee. Okla, their home,
and Mrs. Hickman has declined numer-
Gus offers from theatrical and motion
picture producers.
Proficient In Her Art
"Helen is proficient enough in her art,
80 that l would willingly allow her TO
perform in public Mrs. Hickman ex-
plained, "but Mildred is not ready yet.
Mildred is only fourteen and has two
years more before she will be able 70
make her debut as yiolinist. DO
not feel that have the right TO make
a sacrifice OF her. even for Helens ad-
vaneement, and Helen is sweet enough
70 wait patiently az long as | think
necessary. Besides, ] have husband
and a fifteen-year-old boy, too, whose
interests must be considered"
Right here it should be recorded that
whatever Helen Hickman has accom-
plished is due largely 20 the devotion
and skill OF this woman, who - her
stepmothor. Helen spent her child.
hood in an institution for the deaf and
dumb. where her training was entirely
neglected. All the scientific processes
bv which the deaf are taught the use
Of their vocal chords were neglected IN
this institution. The child at twelve
was utterly untaught, content TO sit
IN n CoIUtIs NlogHh Nt.N +" "N+f+cf
able 20 use the sign language. much
less 20 read and write. She communi-
Gated with the world in series OF
primitive signs which she had devised
for herself Then Il was, when her
mind had outgrown the period OF ITS
greatest receptiveness, that her step
mother took charge of her. i
81 had to teach her the meaning OF
even the simplest words she said.
ssnd after that was determined that
sbe should not have the unpleaHng,1
,.sc,,ons voice of the deaf person:
determined to teach her infection and
roduIation. I got little ENCOURAGEMENT
from the institutions, even those mere
in the East, for they said me enilo
was ~ too old 10 be taught vocal habits
7 had 70 devise methods for myself
Mechanics Of Body
aTake the matter Of dropping the
voice st the end OF q sentence
.orid ,or1 not explain what ] meant 70 per
4,Le ching had~to be q matter OF 'ne
Of her body. IL seemed 70
ne ne that there must be some poai,s /
action that would result IN tns 49,
nstic lowering Of her voice. Ana
me- ma enough. tried pushing her doNh
+, .to a chair at the end Of the sentences