MUTE LEARNS TO TALK

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1932, Page 2

MUTE LEARNS TO TALK

TAUGHT BY MEN IN TAVERN. A twenty-four-year-old man who has been deaf and dumb from birth has spoken at last —taught by fellow villagers as they sat round their mugs of cider in the village inn in Ide, near Exeter, Devon (reports the “Sunday Express”). For years Walt Luke lias gone to the Huntsman’' at Ide every evening for a pint of cider and the companionship of other men. Until recently it was a silent companionship. He was only able to watch other men talking and to see them playing darts and bagatelle. Then some months ago the men of Ide decided to teach Walt to talk. Every evening they gathered among the cider barrels in the bar of the Huntsman, determined to overcome the great obstacle of his total deafness. Through a haze of smoke Walt learned to read the lips of his companions. Little pieces of paper were exchanged, and a slate was used. With infinite patience Walt was taught to achieve speech. It was indeed, a great triumph for the men of Ide, when Walt first ordered his own cider. . . . aloud! His first words were “Pint, please.” His next were “Half pint.” So, encouraged, Walt went on to learn to read the lips of any speaker—and to answer them.