Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-19
MISS keller At Fair
Jean Cowgirl Describes In Ora
matte Fashion a Rare Oc-
casiOn at st. Louis
HELEN KELLER A WONDER
The Blind and Deaf Girl Makes An
Address That Was the Marvel Of All
Who Heard lt--PeopIe Almost Wor-
ship the FraiI But intelIec. al I'm
fortunate.

fortunate.
ST Louis Oct. 19.---Jean Cowgirl in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., nature and art
say to me, thou art deaf and blind,
but enter thou into the kingdom of
vides education for all her children"
Helen Keller, her teacher, Miss Sulli-
van, and President Francis stood in u
row on the platform In congress hall.
In voice that rang thru the big room
piercing a silence that was complete,
the man repeated what the girl had Just
spoken.
Between the deaf and blind girl and
President Francis, Miss Sullivan was
spokeswoman. So the entire eloquent
address was delivered. Now and then
it was broken with rounds Of thunder
our applause.
Helen Keller felt what she did not see
or hear. She smiled eagerly, happily.
The glory Of achievement lay around
her. Her white hands huttered rest
lessly, endlessly. Over her sightless
eyes the lids dropped and then were
raised as her mood varied with the SEN
timent Of her speech. 1t was a speech
worthy any mind In the land. Some Of
the thoughts were of rare beauty.
I'VE think that no country since
Eden has been so good as ours to live
in. but no nation is so great AS the sum
of the achievements Of ALL"
Speech 10 Cine Of Praise.
Smiling, she waited for the applause
tor subside. The vibration tells her
how long 1t is. Twenty feet away from
the platform her speech could be cle-s
~ heard altho 1t is not always inter-
ligible. OF tone she has no idea.
Her voice is a minor monotone, there
is little difference in the accents she
places on different syllables.
II have been asked to come here to-
day." she said, "arsd lend my voice to
what is being done in the world for the
uplifting of thosesvho struggle in I'M
equal and untoward circumstances, All
these great halls OF machinery and art
are the achievement of the strength Of
man when his arm is free and his spir-
it unbound. In the midst OF so much
mighty achievement it is gratifying to
know that man has not forgotten his
weaker brother.
Il have come, not for aught that
have done, but for what has been done
to me to raise me to the level of those
who see and hear. testify to what
the good and strong have done for de-
privation and inf1rlnity.
enter with you into communion
Of living speech, ind for the joy of
speech express my heartfelt gratitude
that the impeachment Of dumbness has
been removed from my tongue. Such
is my brief but earnest message to
those who have asked me to come and
to those who sit before me-"
Surrounded by Afflicted.
When she sat down some one hand
ed her an immense bunch Of American
beauty roses. She Kissed the blossoms
and breathed in their fragrance while
she cuddled them against her throat.
All the while she talked, talking inces-
sanity regardless of the other speakers
which after all, nobody cared very
much to hear. Her speech was no in
terruption, because 1t was all with her
white hands, first with Miss Sullivan
and then with Mr.. Macy, her escort and
secretary. Between them they told her
everything that was happening.
All Of the front seats were occupied
by those afflicted like Helen Keller.
Some were blind, some were deaf. and
some were mute 1t Is the second day
OF the congress Of the deaf and dumb.
On Il chair not ten feet away from
Helen Keller, sat the blind girl whose
guest she is during her stay in st.
Louis. 1t is no wonder that President
Francis is interested His own pretty
young sister-in-iaw is blind. Miss
Laura Perry is her name, and she has
been blind from her birth.
Only the deaf and dumb and blind
could not see the pathos Of the day. of
the speeches of Helen Keller, of the
magnificent life sacrifice her teacher
has made so that she can know some
thing cf life's righteousness.
Kisses Blind Boy Musicians.
The dumb smiled, while the eyes OF
those who could not speak, were filled
with tears, and the deaf laughed mon
and chartered volubly with
their hands, even when the Kansas
twins, Lester and I4assie Van Zandt,
played II violin duet. They are years
old and blind. Will. they played they
stood sturdily on table and held their
violins like veterans. To close they
played p wailing, pathetic harmony
which had come to them out Of their
own deep darkness.
When they had finished Helen Keller
arose to her feet unaided; blind, deaf,
BY some instinct she seemed to know
where they were. She walked unstead-
ly across the platform. Her sensitive
hands reached out toward the passive,
listening figure Of little Lester Van
zandt. She felt his hands, his violin.
Beautiful, beautiful she said, in her
minor monotone voice.
Then she reached upward until she |
held the sweet boy face in both her
sensitive hands. She drew him down |
ward and kissed him happily, piteous-
Y. The blind, the deaf and the dumb |
Knew only the happiness of her loving |
but those who could see
md hear and talk We're not ashamed |
o cry. When she kissed the other |
Joy many women sobbed aloud.
In all the vast crowd that had gath
ID to do her honor there was not q
leart beat out of harmony with tn.
treat humanity that had come into the
zig hall. Even the windows were filled |
With eager men and women. None of |
hem hid their tears.
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