New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-30
MEETING TO AID BLIND.
MARX TWAIN PRESIDES.
Hiss Helen Keller Sends Letter
to the Gathering.


the Interests OF the Blind held a meeting at the
Waldorf las, night to establish fund OF Sl9ooo
10 carry the work OF the association Ihere were
present about fifteen hundred persons. among theIn
many blind Mark Twain, one OF the honorary VI
presidents presided in the absence Of the Rev III.
LYMAN Abbott president OF the association 10
seph II. Choate made the principal address, ana
the programme included several musical num-
hers by Miss Christine La Barraque, soprano anu
Frank O'Brien pianist. both Of whom are blind
Mark Twain. I'm his Introductory speech IoIo a
story Of an experience in Heidelberg. while travel
ling with the Rev. DIT. Joseph Twitcheu' OF hart
ford. he prefaced his story with these re1lAlA~
II you will detect any awkwardness IN movement
or infeIicity in voice remember that never PIE
sided in my life and feel the lack OF experience /
don't feel as graceful as might anyway si's4'
pretend that know how 10 umpire SHAH take
the position Of the Essex band in a little Ne" -''e
land gathering. The local newspaper Iile" 41S0i-
into ecstacies. praised the orators. the hlA'L aI
the band II ran out OF adjecuVes anu So -
one hand left over so the newspaper just sald- ne
t7ssav hand done the best it could am the oano
on this occasion" - -.
Mr. clemens then read the following letter rom
Miss Helen Keller;
NV Dear Nr Clemens It IS great fbs other
s an 10 vbo have Joined their strength to Hpbs
the blind The meeting in New 1ol n,bf.L has SO
gTeSteI oeS9Si2T 1 heart and regret keeny not
be present and feel the insplIatD4 visionS and
Ibiia 1tbr-1nZ 7 should be happy II couIG nav RaNS
Spelled into nv hand the words as they Ia ne
Your Iips and receive even as It IS ut.SleoSS l,g
eloquence OF newest ar1oassauS er Nv dis
appointment is softened by the thought Jnst ~ ~
at any meeting was the IsnI 3bsr sppeal must
seem after YOU and Mr.. Choste have SPOKEN, ne
] ask you to read this letter. knowing that II VIII
Dc lifted to eoquence ~ yooT AsIS Won who can
You can imaSine it more wildly if YOU remember
-.
blindness means 10 those whose joyous acuvlty Is
stricken to inaction -. ~,
tt is to live long, long days and ne Is mace UP
all Gods world shut out. 1t is 70 sit helpless. Gs-
fefts-s1 ana Ii To rSIIdsrs ache for the burden
they are denied t-a r.ghttuI burden Of labor,
and self-dependent= He does his share OF the work
1f " r66 as1 s Of otBeTs no Boon save he
opportunity 10 90 a man part and 10 receive ne
him The dav Is blotted out Night envelopes all
the visible world. The feet which once pore MN 1
halt and fear the forward step. He is forced 70 a
sumes the mind and destroys Us oeautLul tacIl-
ties, Memory ConfIonts him with his lighted past,
linn On -o,I7 ms, th~I3Ie "a win F9Iternq feet
and outstretChed hands. patiently dredging the
universal dark holding out for sale his petty wares
with ambitions and capabiiities
1t is because We know that these ambitions and
improve the condition Of the adult blind You can
not bring back the light TO the vacant eyes but you
can give helping hand 10 the slghtless along their
dark pilgrimage You can teach them new skil-
YOU can 51ostIlule WoIk taL Iley can 40 WIN LIltlI
hands They ask only opportunity, and opportunity
pension but the satisfaction that comes from lucra-
tive toll and this satisfaction is the right OF every
At your meeting New York viii speak its word
for the blind. and when New York speaks the
world listens. The true message OF New York is
not the commercial ticking OF busy telegraPhs, but
yours. or late our periodicals have been IIsd with
depressing revelations OF great social evils Queru-
structure We have listened long enough to the
pessImists, You once told me you were a pessiu-
taken about themselves. You are an opttmist- II
mat the heart and the wisdom Of prsa Cr s-s
devoted TO the good of mankind. that in this tho
up but receives a compassionate and generous
answer Rejoice that the cause OF the blind has
been heard in New York. for the day after IL
shall be heard round the world
MI Clemens then said: The documents IN this
case are not necessary anyway; they were too vol
luminous TO pack into my head I never had any
ambition for mathematics; all I know is multiple
cation know that times is 81"
Here he turned 10 Mr.. Choate and asked. what
is this long name? I don't know how to spell
either, and Carnegie is down IN Virginia some
where"
For moment Mr.. Clemens became serious, and
told OF the condition of the blind. He said.
Tt IS a dismal thing 10 be blind To them It is
sUbsist on charity We would give them an oppor-
tuuity Of earning their bread and know the
sweetness OF the bread got with the labor of ones
own hands
Some have seen the light and miss the light.
They can be taught TO their hands This
association needs. wants and ought TO have $1,000
There IS no graft in It OF I would not be here.
We mean 20 begUile II out Of your poke Mr.
ChOate promised 10 furnish the ink but didn't do II
/ promised 20 furnish the pens. and did IL yol1
can Tar 70 -TF7 .-f,+-
TO be blind, blind. blind have known what II is
blind and Will always feel for them
Mr.. Clemens then told OF an experience in thu
darkness Of a bedroom in house near Heidelberg
which he referred 10 as Sahara on account Of it,
immense size. He was looking for his clothes. and
for four hours he experienced all the horrors OF
blindness.
referred 10 him as the handsomest American he
had known In forty-seven years. If there was one
W4fd Lhat could say said the humorisJ. TO
would cordially say it. whether meant il or not
Mr.. Choate said in part:
II is rather late. Mr.. Clemens and usually 20
10 ped ar about lo.3o, but the difference is that
often been in this hall together where much money
have helped this young associa+io az i tnat would
don want you 70 90 into Mysteries over the sub
to have hysteria. -sN- VI wrong
Mr.. Choate ended with appeal for funds
Ex-President Grover Cleveland. who was ar M,
time a teacher IN a school for the blind sent
the meeting ~ "'--No
Miss La Barraque, who is the only blind v-or7s7
lawyer sang nrst Isl Mes Ners Avatent DIES Aiies =
6y Hahn. and 'Prtntemps NOUveau." by Vidal IN
fITeucI- ana as an encore she rendered in English
-le cam t4sdlIl another number IN Ital-
ian WaS NerGIS Pace. Pace. Milo DIo
Frank O'Brleu rendered ChOpin's BsUsda IN
nat G. f. F. Campbell made an address, On +bs
physical and Industrial possibilities for the bl1J
which was illustrated with stereopticon yievys '-'