New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-03
TO DETOTE LIFE TO BLIND.
after Graduation Helen Keller VII
York for Their Advancement.

Boston, April 2.-After Helen Keller is graduated
from Radcliffe College next June. she will turn her
attention to work for the blind, to which she in
tends to devote her life. Already she has done
much for benefit Of those afflicted like herself
When she leaves Radcliffe. she viii have home
of her at Wrentham. Mass. in large roomy
house. with broad lawns. a barn and an orchard.
which her faithful companion and teacher, Miss
Sullivan, has Just purchased. For eight years
Miss Sullivan and Helen Keller have passed their
summers in this village.
While Miss Keller has not definitely settled what
branch OF work she will undertake for the blind,
she has decided ideas as TO the training that would
broaden their field of activity. She believes that
blind people, and others who have partially lost
their sight, speech hearing have mission in
the world Just important. when it IS discovered
that Of people in the full possession Of all their
faculties In interview with Tribune reporter
she said:
II am much interested in work that women may
do in the world. 1t is fine thing to be Ameri-
can; IL is a splendid thing to be American
woman. Never in the history of the world has
woman held position Of such dignity, honor and
usefulness here and now. SO I shall study the
economic questions relating to woman. and do
my best to further her advancement: for God and
His world for everybody.
Above all. 1 shall interest myself in affairs
which concern the deaf and the blind Their needs
have given another motive for travelling. 1t
would afford me valuable opportunities TO act
sort Of emissary from the teachers in this country
10 those Of Europe. and to carry message Of en-
couragement 10 those who. in the face OF popular
prejudice and Indifference in Italy, struggling
to reach the blind and give them means Of self
support
Among the problems for the blind two to
which 1 shall direct my attention-more books for
the blind and universal system Of raised print
I should like the blind of America to have maya
zine of high quality and varied interest. Ike the
best OF the periodicals published for those who
| To establish would require much money, ard
the blind poor. If they to have periodical
some generous friend must establish IL for them"
At a recent hearing held before the Massachu-
Legislature relative the better education of
| the blind. Miss Keller present. and made this
plea:
The blind in three classes: First. blind chill
| dren. who need common school education; sec
ond, the aged and iuhrm blind. who need to be
tenderly cared for third the able bodied blind who
ought to work. For the first class this State has
provided spenddly in that great 100000 school.
the Perkins Institution. The second class must be
sheltered in the embrace Of many public and p'i-
vate charities. For the third class. healthy adult
| blind nothing adequate mas been done In this
| State They DO not want to go to school and read
| books They do not want 20 be fed and clothed
| and housed by other people. They want TO work
| and support themselves We do not approve any
| system 10 pauperize them. We not asking for
| them a degrading pension the abstract glories