Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-09


her head.
| All eyes were on her. The distin-
r,,ished persons in the audience We're
LOT little interest in comparison with
/ this Young woman, who has passed her
whole life in absolute si,rnce and dark
ness. ard yet who has been graduated
| from Radcliffe College.
These persons of mucil Importance
| there were almost as many carriages
and automobiles out ait The New York
Eye and Ear Infirmary Us there were
persons inside-sought the institution
! ostensibly TO be present at the dedlca-
/ ton of A,,ral pavilion, the gift of w. G..
Schermerhorn, but it was the fact that
/ Helen Keller was to speak that inter-
ested them most.
She came to New York from her
home in Cambridge just to make an
address. They watched her with ca
ger eyes as she sat beside Miss Ann
sullivan. who has been her companion
| for many years. and they waited Tor the
Ifime to come when she should speak.
In the audience were few of her ola
| friends, but a majority mad never seen
her before.
| When Bishop Potter addressed her,
he seemed ratified. He had understood
that Joseph Jefferson was TO make a
little speech and then read Miss KEEL
Hers address. He had called upon MI
jefferson. whereupon the situation was
| explained Then the bishop said, rather
abruptly:
Il believe that Miss Killer is to speak
first"
Miss Sullivan's right had was in
that of Miss Keller and her fingers were
twitching exactly as if they were ar
lflicted with ST. Nitas' dance. She and
Miss Keller arose at the same time and
advanced to the edge of the PLATFORM
Miss Sullivan is Il comfortably
rounded young woman. She. too. was
dressed in white with big BLACK nat
and she has fine, expressive black eyes
/ Beside her Miss Keller looked slender
and girish. Her hands were ungloVeu
OF course, and her arms were bare par'
way to the elbow.
The blind woman placed her left hane
against the side of Miss Sullivan
throat, the wrist resting on the other
shoulders as II she was caressing her
In Miss Keller's right hand was buncf
of pink and white roses. Miss sullivan
placed one arm about Miss Keller
waist.
The Young woman who has never
heard a sound began to talk. A strange
eerie, grooming sound came from hel
lips. Sometimes it was Il wait and ONT
might close ones eyes and imagine \
came from soul in torment
She leaned forward little. and She
nodded her head from time to time.
Fer lips were smiling, the words she
smoke were cheerful, but there was {
world of sorrow in that strange, Groom
ling minor, that monotcnous. intense
droning.
1t gripped the hearers who hung OF
the words.
! Miss Keller spoke a phrase at hm'
from six to ten words--then waite
while Miss Sullivan translated In
|cheerful. chirpy fashion. Miss keileI
could tell when her companion mac
finished. because her sensitive fingers
I,rternreted the muscular contraction:
and relaxations of the others throat.
Had Miss Keller spoken continuous.
MANY persons must swiftly have ief
the room, because the voice of the blin'
land deaf woman has a powerful eHec
, upon those who hear 1t for the mrs
time, and 1t is because or that note
intense sorrow of which Miss helle
herself is not conscious.
After time those who listened. pc
II ing relieved by Miss Sullivan's cheer
. fitness, became sufficiently accustome'
to Miss Keller's voice to listen for tn
words, and, after Miss Sullivan urge
her to speak louder, they could under
stand most of what she said
AT the conclusion of the exercise
Miss Keller gave an amazing eSmhltiol
Of her wonderful ability TO see Wlthou
: eyes.
Richard Watson Glider, whom sh
had not met for two years. came up am
placed her hands on his lips, meaning
TO ask her who she thought he was
/, She exclaimed, ooh, Mr.. Gilder!"
He was amazed. He had not dreame'
that she would recognize him.