The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-27
HELEN KELLER
GETS A DEGREE
Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, She
Graduates A. B.
TAUGHT BY SENSE OF TOUCH
Declares She Will Devote Her Life to
Instructing Those Similarly
Afflicted.

CAMBRIDGE. Mass. June 27.-Helen
Keller, who has been deaf. dumb, and
blind since she was eighteen months
old, but who has pursued a wide range
of studies in spite of her infrmities, viii
be graduated with the degree of bach
elor Of arts cum laUde, from Radcliffe
College. the woman's annex OF Harvard
University, tomorrow.
Miss Keller. who is twenty-four years
old today, has, by. reason OF her attain
ments as a student. come to be known
as the most wonderful woman in the
world. She has acquired an education
by the aid of the sense of touch alone
BY pressing her finger tips TO the mouth
OF her instructor. Miss Anna Mansfield
Sullivan. she is enabled 10 interpret the
spoken words. and by further,use of her
fingers respond 10 them.
Will Be a Teacher.
Miss Keller has determined upon her
career. She will, she declares. devote
'her days 10 the teaching of the blind.
the deaf. and the dumb. Thoroughly in
sympathy with their restrictions and
their needs, she is expected to make an
ideal instructor.
The young woman is anxious that
more books for the blind be printed and
that a universal system of raised types
be adopted. She urges the publication
OF a magazine for the blind, of as excel
lent quality as the best periodicals print
ed for those who can see.
AFTER a six months rest Miss Keller
VIII go 10 the st. Louis Exposition one
DAY at the fair Will be set aside as Helen
Keller day. and Will be observed bv an
international congress Of superintend-
snts and principals of schools for the
Marvel of Scientific World.
For years the training of this girl and
her wonderful struggle toward the goal
OF knowledge have been the marvel Of
the medical and scientific world.
Educators and psychologists have
found in her permanent study Of the
wonders Of the human mind. and scarce
" school child in America Is ignorant
OF her history and achievements
Helen Keller was born in the town of
Tuscumbia, Ala, June o. 1880 When
only eighteen months old she became i'll
ard blind.
Up TO the time she was eighteen
months old the child was perfectly
healthy, and her mother was then aiding
her IN graphing with the intricacies Of
the English language After the illness
her education ceased until she was seven
years old. when her father, at the sug-
geston of DR.. Alexander Graham Bell,
of Washington. with whom he had COM
munieated, wrote 10 the Perkins Insti-
tuition in South Boston in regard to Sc
curing a special teacher for his little
girl
Miss Sullivan Selected.
Anna Mansfield Sullivan was the
teacher selected. and she came to the
Keller home In March. 1887. From the
date Of her arrival the labor from which
she has never ceased began.
Little Helen, shorn of three of her
senses, resented all overtures the mean
ing OF which she could not understand.
Self-wiIled. impatient of restraint and
passionate. she was apparently anything
but promising pupil
Patience, and, ultimately, love, which
grew In the heart OF the teacher for her
helpless charge finally triumphed.
A common ground was found the de-
sire TO learn was implanted in the dark
ened mind, and with each learned fact
that desire grew stronger. With this
Change in mentality came also a total
change in the childs disposition. A
portion of her teachers patience seemed
10 be impaired to her and she became
tractable lovablc. and loving.
After leaving the Perkins Institution
Helen Keller was for time q pupil In
the Wright-Humdson School. in New
York city. 1t was the desire Of her life
70 go through college. Accordingly. in
1895 accompanied by Miss Sullivan. from
whom she had never been separated
Cambridge and entered Arthur Gil
mans preparatory school
Higher Education Begins.
There FOR the first time she was as
sociated with pupils who could both
Sc and hear. She studied French, Eng
fish, German, Latin, and Greek writ
in her Greek exercises ON q typewriter
with Greel, lettering. which had been
specially constructed for her.
~ the opening of the college term 1T
Radcliffe, Miss Keller passed the en-
trance examination with honor and for
LOur years has been one Of tie most
successful. as well as one Of the hard
est-wOrkinS students.
Her method Of studying le as follows:
Miss Sullivan. who accompanies her 10
ali lectures, spells them with her hands
~ rapidly as they are delivered. or
course. having her hands thus occupied,
Mis- Keller Is unable to take any notes.
but Immediately after the GESTURE she
writes what she particularly desires 70
remember with her typewri- r. This
s. seldom deemed necessary, as her
mind Is so remarkably receptive and
rCtcntiVC. At the examinations Miss