The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-19
LIKE HELEN KELLER'S FEATS.
A MALE IMITATOR or THE BLIND
GIRL STUDYING IN THE WEST.

W. l.. Clarke Is Making Ills Way Through
College by Selling PIanOS-Hs sue
cess Only Restricted by the Lack
az Books for Study-His Method.
LINCOLN, Neb March ls.-A young man,
blind almost from birth, a senior in the
Nebraska State University, has embarked
upon a career which promises to be as
celebrated as that Of Helen Keller. Willism
Leroy Clarke is his name, and his present
age is % years He won the gold medal In
oratory at the Palladian Literary Society
and he is one Of the squad Of fifteen from
whom will be chosen the eight men who will
uphold the honor Of the university in Western
intercollegiate debates.
Clarke lost his sight when years old,
as the result OF a severe attack Of illness.
lie was sent TO the State school for the
blind and made such good use Of his oppor
tunities that at the age Of II he matTioulated
in the State University. His work there
has been so good that had it not been that
he was compelled TO work his way through
college he would have graduated a year
ago. Last summer he sold pianos for a
local music house and took subscriptions
for a popular magazine, earning enough
money to give him leisure for the years
course.
sIhave about succeeded in making myself
forget that 1 am blind" he says. Il 60
right ahead just az though have my sight.
] soon discover that people forget, too,
that l am blind, and then We get along
all right. l am getting a great deal out
OF life, ard j hope TO increase my capacity
still more"
Clarlte's studies have been restricted 10
some extent by the lack Of books printed in
the point system, but he has supplemented
his reading OF those textbooks by hiring
men 20 read to him. He studies geography,
trigonometry, Latin, geometry and mathe-
mates from point books. but is barred from
the sciences because Of his inability to handle
apparatus His book studies have included
English and English literature, philosophy,
political economy and sociology, all studies
which one can take up merely by having
them read.
lively easy task Young Clarke has bought
a typewriter, and uses the touch system
with perfect success.
The point system is rather complex, but
Clarke has IL thoroughly mastered, and can
Tedu WIN BIedl Idplully' ne mas Also
learned 10 write the point system, so that
he is able 10 take his notes at lectures as
readily as his fellow students with perfect
eyesight.
wooden SLATE il employed. This has
two narrow strips OF metal arranged 10
slide up or down, at the will Of the operator
The paper il placed between these and held
in place by clamps. The top sheet has five
rows Of holes about a quarter OF an inch
square running across the page. Instead
Of a pencil a small, sharp pointed awl is
used.
The lower plate is filed with little dents.
When the operator desires to write he takes
this plate, places it at the top and by the
use Of the awl makes indentatious in the
paper. By this arrangement the awl il
driven almost but not quite through the
paper. When II is desired 10 read these
notes the paper is turned over and the
index finger lie passed swiftly over the in
donations.
The point system il something like short
hand, 30 many dots or peTforations repre-
senting a certain letter or combination Of
characters. In the use OF the awl almost
as great speed at writing can be obtained
q, though a pencil were used by a person
with eyesight,
In studying geography most Of the