The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-07-27
HELEN KEn1ER,s ADDRESS.
Blind, Deaf, and Formerly Speechless, Sh Talks Pleasantly to an Audience.
 From the philadephia Record

Finished oratory could not have claimed closer attention from an audi ence than did the half blurred, yet happy words which fell from the lips of Helen Keller, the famous deaf and blind girl, at Mount Airy yesterday afternoon. Her speech was the crown ing event of the proceedings of the American Association to Promote the Teaching Of Speech to the Deaf now holding its summer meetings in the buildings of the Pennsylvania institu- tion. Clad in girlish costume, with dark ringlets falling to her shoulders and bright smile illuminating her face, she took the platform to talk in ''The Value of Speech to the Deaf"
 The fame of her accomplishments had attracted many people, both scientific and curious, all anxious to hear the af- fiicted girl. who is declared by her teachers to be the brightest ot her age, not excepting those in possession of the full five senses. She wasiintroduced by Mss Sara Fuller, principal of the Hor- ace Mann School, Boston, where she received the greater part of her educa- tion. Without trace Of ambarrass ment she began her little speech. To
 
 was somewhat indistinct, and for the benefit of those familiar with the signs of the deaf and dumb Dr. Alexander Graham Bell translated her words by the manual alphabet. She said:
 If you knew all the joy feel in be- ing able to speak to you to-day think you would have some idea of the value of speech to the deaf, and you would understand why I want every deaf child in all this great world to have an opportunity to learn to speak. know that much has been said and written on this subject, and that there is a wide difference Of opinion among teachers Of the deaf in regard to oral instruction. It seems very strange to me that there should be this Difference of opinion; cannot understand how any one interested in our education can fail to appreciate the satisfaction we feel in being able to express our thougts in living words Why, I use speech constantly, and I cannot begin to tell you how much pleasure it gives me. f
 ''Of course, know it is not always easy for strangers to understand me, but it will be by and by; and in the mean time have the unspeallable hap pineSs of knowing that my family and friends rejoice in my ability to speak. My little sister and baby brother love to have me tell them stories in the lorg summer evenings when I am at home, and my mother and teacher often ask me to read to them from my favorte books. I also discuss the political sit uation with my dear father and we de eide the most perplexing questions quite as satisfactorily to ourselves as if could see and hear. So you see what a blessing speech is to me. It brings me into closer and tenderer relationship with those I love, and makes 1t possible for me to enjoy the sweet companion ship oe a great many persons from whom I should be entirely cut off if could not talk.
 T can remember the time before learned to speak, and how l used tc struggle to express my thoughts by means os the manual alphabet--how my thoughts used to beat against ny finger tips like little birds striving tt gain their freedom, until one day Miss Fuller opened wide the prison door and let them escape I wonder if she re members how gladly they spread theil wings and flew away. Of course it was not easy at first to fly. The speecl wings were weak and broken and haC lost all the grace and beauty that ha6 been theirs: indeed, nothing was 1ef save the impulse to fly, but that was something.
 "One can never consent to creep wher one feels an impulse to soar. But, rev ertheless, it seemed to me sometime: that could never use my speech wing. as God intended I should use them there were so many difficulties in tht way so many discouragements; but kept on trying, knowing hat patienc, and perseverance would win in the end And while I worked I built the nos beautiful air castles, and dreamed dreams, the pleasantest of which WE of the time when I should talk like oth CT people; and the thought of the pleas ure it would give my mother to hea my voice once more sweetened ever. effort and made every failure an incen tive to try harder next time.
 'sSo want to say to those who ar trying to learn to speak, and those Wh are teaching them, Be of good cheer Do not think of to-days failures, bu of the success that may come to morrow. You have set yourselves difficult task. but you will succeed l you persevere, and you will find a jo in overcoming obstacles-a delight i climbing rugged paths which you woul perhaps never know if you did no sometimes slip backward; if the roa was always smooth and pleasant. Re member. that no effort we make to at tain something beautiful Is ever los Sometime, somewhere, somehow W shall find that which we seek. We slla speak, yes. sing, too, as God intende we should speak and sing"
 At the conclusion of her speech Mis- Keller conversed short time with he teacher, Miss Sullivan, to show tn audience her method of reading th motion os the lips simply by restin forefnger vertically upon them. Sh
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