The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1909-04-03
The
Talented
Blind.
SlGhlleSS Musicians, Teachers and
Other Professionals.

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A short time ago the Baroness Won
Kranichfeld (nee Miriam Gardner, an
English woman, died in Bucharest.
This lady. who was one Of the Queen
OF Roumania's personal friends, was
writing a poem one day when a mist
suddenly spread over her eyes, and
she thus became In her fiftieth year
totally blind. In spite of her advanced
age, however. the Baroness attended
an English school TO learn the alpha
bet and the use of the typewriter,
and in the end triumphed over her
affliction TO the extent of being able
to make her own clothes and hats
without any aid whatever.
The story Of this slghtless Baroness
reminds one that there are quite a
number Of blind people in the world
today who have earned name and
fame in spite of their affliction. Thou
sands of sightless beings owe debt
OF gratitude to Dr. f. J. Campbell,
the blind principal Of the Royal Nor
NAL College for the Blind at Norwood,
who lost his sight In his fourth year
While at play a thorn ran into his
eye, and by the carelessness of a doc
tor he lost the sight Of both eyes.
Nevertheless he became a splendid
musician and ultimately established
the Royal Normal College for those
similarly afflicted as himself At this
college pupils may learn how to earn
a good livelihood and enjoy life in
spite of the dark world in which
they live. DR.. Campbell himself not
only INDUCES in rowing, riding and
cycling, but is such a skilful and ar
dent mountaineer that Prof Tyndall
once said to him in Switzerland,
Look here. Campbell, are you really
blind or only humbug?"
The blind pianist Mendel, who has
appeared with such success on the
London and provincial stage, won a
scholarship of $40 a year at the
Royal Normal College. Mendel has
a repertory of over 1000 pieces, in
GLIDING all the classics and modern
compositions. and his reproductive
and extemporizing powers are not the
least wonderful of his faculties.
For the past seventeen years the
MiddleseX Chronicle has been edited
by blind journalist. Mr.. John Wha!l,
who occupies the editorial chair Of
this paper. is now So years old, and
has been blind since he was Is. He
was formerly an organist, but became
associated with journalism about
twenty years ago. He has long been
a familiar figure at the meetings of
municipal bodies, and his reports are
noted for their accuracy as we'll as
for their high descriptive qualities.
Mr.. w. Wolstenholme. who Is
known throughout the country by his
organ recitals, has been blind from
birth. and took his degree at an earlier
age than any one previously. One of
his musical tutors was Sir Edward
ElgaT, who afterward showed his af-
lection for his pupil by acting as his
amanuensis when he took his Mus.
IBac. at oxford.
In America there Is a remarkably
large number OF blind men and won
en- holding positions OF prominence.
Apart from the wonderful case OF
Helen Keller-who has become so
learned in spite of the fact that when
a baby she suffered an Illness which
rendered her not only blind, but also
deaf and dumb-one might mention
Miss Fanny Crosby MRS. Alexander
Van Alstyne) OF Connecticut who has
written over 5000 hymns, including
that grand old fayOrlte. Safe in the
Arms OF Jesus"
Edward de Mile Campbell. director
OF the Chemical laboratory OF the Uni