New-York tribune., 1907-02-24
CARMEN SYLYA'S BLIND.
Mrs. Fearn Gi0cs First lecture on
This Subject

Washington Feb q (SpeciaD-"Carmen sylvia &"
wife Queen painter. musician, poet and fairy
the subject Of interesting lecture given this
afternoon at RauschcT's by Mrs. Walker Fearn.
1t the first Of II series which Mrs. Feam In
tends give in different cities for the benefit oc
the blind. and listened to by representative
and highly sympathetic audience.
II while staying At In.erlakor that Mrs
Fearn's friendship with Queen Elizabeth Of Ru-
mania began. She undertook TO review some
books for her majesty and thus fell into con-
slant correspondence with her. Having known Of
the Queens aims and ambitions for the blind.
she asked In one OF her letters that she might
be made OF whenever and wherever her ma
jesty TT. This brought from Queen Elizabeth
a letter. asking that Mrs Fearn go into one of
the nearby valleys In search Of one Baroness
Kranichseld. a scholarly blind woman whom she
wished To secure secretary and assistant IN
her work Having nothing but the name Of the
baroness to guide her, Mrs. Fearn started on her
mission. Before long she found the blind woman
In some attic rooms over a schoolhousa. She was
being housed fed and clothed from tie purses
Of a few friends, who gave a combined sum OF
so a month for the purpose Mrs. Fearn was re-
ceived as the ministering angel from some god
doSs OF mercy. and the baroness accompanied her
to the palace at Snail. where Queen Elizabeth
awaited them. Later Mrs. Fcarn sp"nt six months
with tho Queen at her summer palace ut Slnail
and at Bucharest and became thoroughly familiar
with all the details Of her work and plans for the
twenty thousand blind people of Rumau1.
When the Queen first talked to the King unon
this subject he opposed her undertaking the work
though she had been planning FOR IT and living for
II for number Of wears. To convince her that
her schemes were not feasible his majesty sum
moncd the famous Dr. Laudot az Paris to talk
with hcr and point ont the obstacles I'm the way OF
establishing % city for the blind. DR. Iaudolt
spent som. t-mc with the Queen listening to her
plans. ana huuliy informed the King that not only
should she hc permitted 20 proceed with her plans
but size SHOULD a's' receive aI possible ass-tanca
aura l-uUlnos- tINc Luminous Hearth or
@t-'H - "oI.. h.i sh" regards every thing she
mas oyNt t"i ,te nothing. Sine is uuv- planning d,
erect 900 "ddiu, ,u| buildings and setting thc blind
i" WORK. M .rcNtylHE simple CarprntcrtuC, dig
FinE uui SUCH other work as they can d. Sre
wants jH bJv" iu this wonderful CITY churches
.,hlaf."> music halls ard other places OF recrea-
l'iif ANA training S.tuoIS. where nj, sorts of arts
ANA crafts WILL Dee taught and then a market win
p" opened Htu purchasers sought for tl. producers
ri I'll" iritittarts, fEUS IroVidiuu them Win "a
itra.S a. making "a LIKING tor Iu,ua elv.s and me-
helpless members 20 their families. Through tI,
..us Who Wal abide with them the mor- difncuIt
ttskt or iht city az iut blind viii bs arr1rluliSlsu
Mrs E'aru took atus Co dlspol the idea arcvaIenf
A"r" thlt queen Iiz"beth wishes to eiticat. ths
heads "i The bland rstH'T than their hands
49, 1T Is with both head and hands" said Mrs
T. earn, 'r-t thc Queen would have the blind work
themselves hhor" pauPeTism and dependency. She
would open 60 them opportunities for work OF sI
most every Kind. as she believes their talents ana
abilities limitleas ~
While Carmen SyIya's Ideas are not all edon.o.,
10 tn" conditions Of the blind here. Mrs Es9rr
thinks that her work viii prove Inspiration ana