Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-27
BRINGS CHEER
TO SIGHTLESS
MESSENGER FROM RoUMANIA'S
QUEEN is HERE
MRS. FRANCES FEARN, WEALTHY,
LARoRs FOR BLIND
Widow of Diplomat Has Mapped Out
Worlds crusade-WiII Speak
in Behalf of Local
Work

A messenger of love to the blind, her
own beautiful eyes rejecting the blue
of California sky alight with boundless
love. Mrs. Frances Fearn, messenger of
Queen Elizabeth, the beloved Carmen
sylvia" of Roumania is visiting Los
Angeles. She Is a guest at the Alex
andria.
Mrs. Fearn will speak tomorrow even
ing at the First Methodist church of
Pasadena to the blind of Pasadena and
Los Angeles, as well as to those more
fortunate. Mr. and Mrs. Baker, the bind
evangelistic singers, will sing at the serv-
ice. DR.. George Wharton James, who
has become much interested in the work.
will also make a short address and will
read some of the beautiful poems of
Carmen Sylvia. Miss Foley, who is her
self blind will also make an address
on the work being done in Los Angeles
and vicinity.
Mrs. Fearn expects to return to Los
Angeles at later date and speak in the
city.
Mrs. Fearn has enjoyed a remarkable
life such as granted to but few women.
For twenty-five years she has shone
in the court circles of Europe. When
a young woman she accompanied her
husband, who was United States minis
ter to Roumania. She was deeply affect
ed by the beautiful life of the queen and
the two became close friends. She her
self says that all the beautiful and spirit
ual work In her life was influenced by
this early friendship
Carmen sylvia a "Falry"
Carmen sylvia, as she is known in the
literary world, is one of the remarkable
women of the century, in Mrs. Fearn' S
estimation. AS a German princess she
came to the throne of Roumania with
her husband Her mother, the Princess
Marie, was known the the Fairy of the
Rhine" for her countless deeds of char
ity and her own personal beauty. Prin-
cess Marie was greatly interested in the
blind and grew up in an atmosphere of
love for the sightless.
On going to Roumania Mrs. Fearn en-
tered this atmosphere of literature and
love.iness.
She has been notable figure in the
court circles for her beauty, her good
ness and as the wife of a prominent man.
Co. has enjoyed the friendships of many
sovereigns.
After reigning as a beauty, a woman
of eminince, she had never really been
before the public. At the death of her
husband. Walker Fearn, six years ago,
she felt that her active life was ended.
Marriage had claiamed the children that
death had left her
In her period of deepest mourning the
queen asked her old friend to take UP
the cause of the sightless, to bear a
message of love to humanity. She con-
sented, became a missionary and sci
out on the worldwide journey of cheer
and love. In her graphic descriptions OF
the various scenes which she gives II
her addresses the blind say that she mac
made them "see" the scenes.
Chose Field in America
The queen wished her to go fret Il
England and begin her work under thu
patronage of the queen. But Mrs. Fear1
said that she would return to her owl
country and open her work here, eithel
to succeed or fail in her own land. Las
February she delivered her first public
address. This lecture was given In Wash
ington and attracted widespread atten
ton.
She has been travelling over the coun
try. visiting the various institutions fol
the sightless, speaking in all the larger
cities, and in every way helping those
with whom she comes in contact.
She represents no one movement, bul
goes to the various cities and brirg'
her fund of knowledge of the blind the
world over to bear on the local condl'
tions She gives advice when necessary
of her lectures to the local work.
"You see I try to help the local peo-
ple. to start them on their work says
Mrs Fearn. "but then l cannot stay tc
see il succeed. I must go on to another
city and help them start. The queer
evidertly thinks I am to live forever
else how can l carry on the work she
has already mapped out for me? Afte1
visiting all the institutions in America
am to go to China, Japan and india
and tell of the work there. Then am tc
return to Roumania and tell them oi
what is being done in the various cour'
tries for the blind"
Mrs. Fearn Enthusiastic
Mrs. Fearn is a woman of wealth. She
is enthusiastic.
Mrs Fearn says that it is not sym
pathy that the bind want 1t is help
She always speaks of the marvellous
printing press invented by blind Rou
manian that promises to revolutionize th'
blind world. It is simple, comparative
ly Inexpensive and prints rapidly. L
will thereby open the world of literature
to the blind, who are almost completely
shut out fre-n it. The books now printed
for the blind are bulky and extremely
expensive.
1t is the hope of Mrs. Fearn that
move may be taken in Los Angeles t.
institute a work among the blind ant
to establish a weekly paper for them
Miss Foley and George Wharton james
are actively interested in the project AM
promise to carry 1t forward