The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-13

From Tit-Bits.
 4 short time ago the Baroness won Kranichfeld (nee Miriam Gardnerl, an EnglIshwomen. died in Bucharest. This lady, who was one of the Queen of Rou- mania's personal friends, was writing 2 poem one day when . mist suddenly spread over her eyes. and she thus be- came In her hftieth year totally blind. in spite of her advanced age, however, the baroness attended an English school. to learn the alphabet and the use of the typewriter, and in the end triumphed over her affiction to the ex- tent of being able to make her own clothes and hats without any aid what ever.
 The story of this sightless baroness reminds one that there are quite q number of blind people in the world to-day who have earned name and fame in splte of their afiictlon. Thou aanaa of sightlesE beings owe a debt of gratitude to pr. F. !. Canihell, the bItnd principal Of the Royal Normal College for the Blind at Norwood, who lest his sight in his fourth year. While at play thorn ran into his eye. and by the carelessncss of a doctor he lost the eight of both eyes. Nevertheless. he became . srlepdid musician and ultimately established the Royal Nor lHHI iA9ilSB6 AQI tuUeC 9AAH1lAtAy AItAASNON as himself. At thiss college pupils may learn how to earn a good livelihood and enjoy life in spite of the dark world in which they live. pr. CambeIl himself not only indulges in rowing. riding, and cycling. but Is sueh a skillful and aF- dent mountaineer that Prdf. Tyndall once said to him in switzerland: Look here. Camhell. are you really blind, or only a humbug7"
 The blind pianist Mendal, who has ap- peared with such success on the London and provincial stage. won scholarshlp of f4e q year at the Royal Normal Col legs. MendeI has a repertoire of over 1000 pieces, including all the olassies and modern compositions. and bis re- productive and extemporising powers are not the Ieast wonderful of his fac uities.
 For the past seventeen years the Mid dlesex Chronicle has been edited by s blind Journalist, Mr, John Whal. who occupies the editorial chair of this pa Ter, Is now fifty-five years old. and has been blind since he was thirteen. He was formerly an organist, but became associated with journalism about twenty years ago. He has long been a familiar figure at the nleetings Of municipal bodies and his reports are noted for their accuracy as we'll as Tor their high descriptive qualities.
 MT. W. Wolstenholme, who is known throughout the country by his organ re- citaIs, has been blind from birth, and took his degree at an earlier age than any enc previously. One of his musi- cal tutors was Sid Edward Elgar. who afterward showed his affection for his pupil by acting as his amanuensis when he took his Mus, Bac. at Oxford.
 In Ameriea there is e remarkably large number of blind men and women holding positions of prominence. Apart from the wonderful case of Helen KeIler-who has become so learned in spite of the fact that when baby she suffered an illness which rendered her not only blind, but also deaf ana ouno one might mention Miss Fanny Cros- by (Mrs. Alexander Van Aistynel, of Connecticut. who has written over 5000 hymns, including that grand old tav- orite. "Safe in the Arms of Jesus.