The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-10-29
Helen Keller, Americas Most Won.
derful Daughter, Has Special
Day at 81. Louis.
ADDRESSED LARGE AUDIENCE
How the Girl Who Can Not See
or Hear Took In the Fair
Created II SensatiOn-Text
Of Her Speech.

could not see and ears that could not
hear, Helen Keller has by the sensa-
tive ouch Of her hand and the won
derous sympathy Of her intellect re-
allied all the sights and melodies Of
the great Worlds fair. She was ac-
corded an henor at ST. Louis that be-
longs to no other living person--that
OF special day at the exposition.
The event was one OF the most mem
orable OF the many recorded In the
last six months.
Long before the hour for the open
ing OF congress hall where the ex-
erclses were held. thecrowd began 10
gather. II came In the early hours OF
the morning. at first by twos and
threes and later In groups. At 10
o'clock II was solid mass Of push
ing humanity all intent upon reach
ing Congress hall. Those who were
first TO arrive crowded the hall to
It's utmost capacity and the guards
kept back the 500 to 600 surplus peo-
pie eager to enter. The windows had
TO be guarded. for some enterprlsing
individuals had secured stepladders
and climbed In "A number OF very Sc
date old gentlemen and ladies coming
by this entrance. while the window
seats. at least feet above the floor.
were all filed.
The front seats In the hall were re-
served for the children OF the blind.
deaf and dumb schools. and the affiic-
ted ones formed pathetic contrast to
the hustle mass OF not too well-man-
nered men and momen who pressed
forward.
The guards were unable to manage
the crowd. and President Francis, pi-
iotlng Miss Keller, was Obliged to
slowly work his way to the front.
Miss Keller seemed blissfully uncon-
scious of Il and as happy as child
out for a holiday. She followed, one
hand clasping that OF her friend and
teacher Miss Sullivan. Her hair
curled about her face and her pretty
flower hat was somewhat awry from
the ordeal through which she hai
passed. Her dainty pink and gray
linen gown was crushed and pulled.
Her face was flushed from the effort
but there was a smile upon 1t as she
took her place on the platform.
President Francis occupied very
little time In his address of welcome,
but after a few touching remarks, in
which he showed how earnestly ne
appreciated the situation he intro
duced Miss Keller.
With a smile upon her lips she ad-
vanced and a breathless silence fell
upon the audience. AS Miss Keller
spoke In a low voice natural to her,
Miss Sullivan repeated the words:
Il have been asked to come here to-
day." she said, and lend my voice to
what Is being done In the world for
the uplifting OF those VINO struggle in
unequal and untoward circumstances.
All these great halls of machinery,
power and art are the achievement of
the strength of man when his arm is
firm and his spirit unbound, In the
midst of so much mighty achieve
ment the presence of our convention
here demonstrates that on his way
man has not forgotten his weak
brother. The many thousand people
who have been invited to come here
have been asked because of learning
skill or contributions to the wealth
and duty OF the world, come not for
aught that have done, bat for what
has been done for me: to testify to
what the good and strong have done
for deprivation and infrmity. bring
my evidence that able men and wo-
men are doing their best to unstop
the ears of the deaf open the eyes of
the blind, put speech on dumb lips,
bring light and intelligence to
darkend minds. enter with you in
to the communion of living speech
and In the Joy of speech express my
heartfelt gratitude that the impedi-
ment of dumbness has been removed
from my tongue. Such is my brief,
but earnest, message to those who
have asked us to come here and those
who sit before us.
"The message of this exposition is
to work for the education of all peo-
pie, including the slghtless, the deaf
and the dumb.
Nov within the great halls stand
not only model factories and works
of art Yonder stands the locomotive