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
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 Giffn 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 GifHn.
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
velOus 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"
We'll. then" said Miss Terry ''let US.
you and l, inaugurate in this country the
custom of sending the blind to the thea
tres. l will send you the tickets for as
many as you think would care 10 hear me
in the Amber Heart" and then you can
bring them"
The tickets we're 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 ii pictured to her
hearers every phase of emotion.
At the conclusion CT 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 city to Baltimore two of the
blind girls wrote her a letter, expressing
again their appreciation of her kindness.
few days later the following letter came
tc them in her own handwriting.
Ny Bears: I am 50 much gratiacd to hear that
You liked THE Amber Heart" Next time you
must hear Sir Henry. Mis- Griffin did come TO
ne here We had lovely time together. Re
member me TO her Shectionately, and also to Mr..
Hutchinson and Mr.. Washington Coleman. Win
love 70 you all. 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 Giffin. as the letter describes. Wis
ited the great actress in Baltimore at her
invitation and was presented by her with
an exquisite bas-relief portrait in Italian
marble which recalls to the blind girls
the features of their beautiful Elaine"
Miss Gfiin has been invited to attend
the International Congress for the Anne
Iteration OF the Condition of the Blind.
which meets at Paris on August next.
as delegate from the United States and
Will probably accept the invitation Al
though her girls are loath that she
should leave them for even so short pc
riod as would be required for her to at
tend the Congress, they agree that no one |
can SO well represent their interests and
further every plan for their happiness and |
welfare