The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

arrangements which are made for
/ the comfort and recreation Of the
| blind She examined everything in
4 the reading room with the great
est attention. and questioned Miss
! Gifin as to all that was being done IN
ameliorating the condition Of the blind
Miss Gifiin expressed to her the hope that
in time they might be accorded free seats
in the theatres, saying that at present the
street car companies allow them free tick
cts. and that they might thus be enabled
| to hear and enjoy the standard plays.
But would they enjoy it, questioned
Miss Terry. when they could not see the
acting?"
oh. yes. indeed" answered Miss Gifin.
Perhaps you do not know it. but the loss
Of the sight of the eyes is largely made up
TO those who are thus afflicted in the mar
yelOus sight Of the mind. Their magma
tive powers are wonderful. and their keen
minds picture all that they hear so wildly
that ! sometimes think they realize more
fully what is going on about them than
they would If they saw with natural eyes"
Well, then" said Miss Terry. let US.
you and l. insugurate in this country the
custom OF sending the blind to the thea
tres. / will send you the tickets for as
many as you think would care TO hear ne
in the Amber Heart" and then you can
bring them"
The tickets were accordingly sent, and
the performance Of Miss Terry was en-
joyed by none in the theatre more than by
the twenty blind persons whom Miss Giffin
took with her to the performance. The
melody Of Miss Terry's voice was especially
commented upon, and it pictured to her
hearers every phase OF emotion.
At the conclusion q the performance
they gathered in one OF the boxes and the
actress came down TO meet them. As she
greeted them they passed their fingers
lightly over her face. and called her their
beautiful beautiful Ellaline," saying that
she had Afforded them the happiest after
noon in their lives When Miss Terry went
from this ely TO Baltimore two Of the
blind girls wrote her a letter. expressing
again their appreciation OF her kindness.
A few DAYS later the following letter came
&c them in her own handwriting
Ny Dear,: am so much cratiird to hear that
faa liked The AIaber Heart" Next time YOU
f1n-t herr sit Henry Mis- Griffin did come to !
ne here-srd uc had a lovely time together r. !
Hutchinson and Mr. Washington Coleman Win |
love 10 sou sli. yours always the same,
ELLEN TERRY.
Below The letter she had written in /
point her name. which she UNDERSIGNED /
twice. and added an explanatory THERE" |
Miss Giiiin. as the letter describes. Wis /
tied the great actress in Baltimore at her 1
invitation and was presented by her with /
an exquisite b5s-relief portrait in Italian
marble which recalls 20 the blind girls .
the features of their beautiful Elaine"
Miss Gifnn has been invited TO attend /
= he International Congress for the Anne
Iteration OF the Condition Of the Blind.
which meets al Paris on August D next.
as a delegate from the United States. and
viii probably accept the invitation Al
though her girls are loath that she
should leave them for even so short a pc
riod as would be required for her to at
tend the Congress. they agree that no one
can SO Wen represent their interests and
further every plan for their happiness and
welfare.