The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-27
HELEN RELLER IT THE FAIR.
Her Exquisite Satisfaction over the REEVE
ia'fons Others Made to Her.

Helen Keller. the blind girl who has
come to a wonderful knowledge Of the
world. though deprived of her full compile
ment OF senses. came 10 the Worlds Fair
and saw. through her own fingers, but
through others eyes. A writer in the De-
cember 81. Nichoias thus tells OF the Visit.
Helen Keller spent three weeks in Chi
cago during the Exposition, and had a
perfectly splendid time" Thousands and
thousands Of American young folks VIII
share her enthusiasm as they recall the
delightful days at the wonderful show.
when. seeing it all and hearing all about
It, they took in pleasure and information
at every turn. But little Helen Keller can
neither see nor hear Everything is a
blank TO her until an impression can be
made either through her Imagination or
through the deaf and dumb language OF
the fingers; and even then, in Helen
Keller's case, the words are net seen, but
felt by her own palm and fingers as they
lightly hold the hand that is making these
signs Of words and letters
The president and the managers OF the
Exposition were exceedingly kind 80 her
and did all in their power 10 make her
visit pleasant and instructive So widely
is she known and 50 general Is the interest
ceived loving attention. The task OF de
scribing things to her was made lighter by
the helpful sympathy Of the chiefs of the
departments. They gladly permitted her
10 pass her finger over the exhibits when
ever IL was possible, and chcerfully gave
ner all the information they could. OF
course ] interpreted everything 10 Helen
by means Of the manual alphabet. She was
allowed even TO climb upon the great
krupp gun, and its workings we're ex-
planned TO us by one Of the German Off
GERS. Everywhere the showcases were
opened for her. and rare works of art
were given 10 her for examination
At the Cape OF Good Hope exhibit the
great doors were unlocked and Helen
was admitted to the realm Of diamonds.
where everything was carefully explained
10 us about the precious stone: how IL is
mined, separated from the matrix.
weighed cut and set. Wherever il was
possible, she touched the machinery, and
followed the work being done. Then she
was made very happy by being allowed 10
find q diamond herself-the only true dia-
mond, they assured her that had ever
been found I'm the United States.
But the French bronzes afforded her
more pleasure than anything else at the
Fair The picture which she presented
as she bent over a beautiful group. her
eager fingers studying the faces or fol-
lowing the graceful lines OF the figures
in her effort TO catch the authors thought.
was the most touching and pathetic
have ever seen. And, strange as il may
seem 10 those who depend upon their
eyes for the pleasure which they derive
from works or art. this little blind girl,
who has not seen the light since she was
nineteen months old. rarely failed 10 d.
vine the thoughts which the artists had
wrought into their work.
Constant practice. indeed. has given TO
Helen's sense OF touch a delicacy and
precision seldom attained even by the
blind. Sometimes IL seems as IL her very
soul were In her fingers. she finds so
much to interest her everywhere. People
frequently said TO me at the Fair: 'She
sees more with her fingers than we do
with our eyes" And I'm one OF her letters
she says: II am like the people my dear
friend Dr. Holmes tells about. with eyes