The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1899-12-09
HELEN KELLER.
NINA MONTGOMERY.

0TNHERE is no character of to-day
more full of beauty, or of general
interest, than the subject of this
sketch. Her mother, daughter of
General Adams once prominent law
yer of Memphis, ever had wonderfully
bright, strong intelect. Her father,
an editor, of Tuscumbia, Ala, was a
man of broad mind, and heart full of
genial hospitality and noble principle.
So Helen has as birth-right her clear,
fine mind, which concentrated neces-
sarily from the oblivion around her
mostly upon intellectual pursuits, and
undisturbed by outer sights and sounds,
has made her a prodigy. Her power
seems unlimited, and there appears no
height to which she cannot attain.
No stronger evidence of the mental
power over the physical exists than the
u 5t.-s U5.rg gfrr, UUsfouy from her
wonderful surrounding of every obsta-
Gle, even to speech without the power
of hearing and her growth from wild
unmanageable child into strong, self
controlled woman. Before her teacher
Miss Sullivan came to her no one could
control her. She locked her aunt into
her room one day when her father and
mother were away and kept her there
until their return.
She had tantrums which every one
feared, as if the wild rebellion of a
strong nature against the Incompetent
sibility of her life, and inability of ex-
preston, must vent itself. Now, my
sister who lives in Memphis, and of
whom Helen is fond says her face is a
living sermon against all discomfort.
1t is radiant with good will and hap
piness.
She learned to dance at my sisters
home, with the little girls of the neigh.
borhood. She would gleefully "see''
each motion of their feet with her
quick, comprehensive hands, then imi
tate them until she could dance. AS a
child even she was extremely fond Of
flowers-would often wander among
them as though some silent bond O
fragrant soul-sympathy existed between
them. Some of her thoughts about the
flowers were rare and lovely. Once
when Miss Sullivan followed her out
among them she took her hand and
said, "Return to the house, dear
teacher; | wish to be alone with the
flowers" An odd way of expressing
her love of beauty and fitness was her
refusal, when tiny thing, to wear any
garment which was without trimming.
A button off was missed almost imme-
diately by the ''seeing" fingers. Her
loves and intuitions were equally quick.
Our uncle, DIR. Newsom, who married a
sister of her father, was great favor
lite of hers. She would recognize his
step upon the walk before he reached
the house and Immediately feel some
ones pulse-her way of expressing her
knowledge of his approach.
The world knows and appreciates her
wonderful mental strides. She has
won the admiration and friendship OF
crowned heads and of those who wear
the laurel crowns of greatness. Our
own Mrs. Burnett had Little Lord
Fauntleroy" put in raised letters for
her many years ago. When Phillips
Brooks, for whom she named baby
brother, undertook to explain to her
the existence of our Maker, she replied,
"You need not tell me there is God;
| feel and know there is God" To
the pure in heart belief comes natu-
rally. 1t is part OF sinful lives to
doubt Now she presses on to new
heights of learning and the world
watches with interest the almost mag
ical attachments of the girl all delight
to love and honor.