The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-23
FANNY CROSBY IS 19 AND NOT
 91 SHE STATES
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/''Then again the educators of today pay too little attention to teaching the art of concentration. If two people were in a room with me and engaged in private conversation, I could so concentrate my mind on something they were saying. Their conversa- ton would be just as safe as though I were nol in the room "Not that I would violate a conf dence If should overhear a conver- sation," added Miss Crosby; '1 think that to violate a. confidence is worse than to steal s from a person. You might restore the s but you never could restore the confidence. While I have not been able to see since six weeks of age. I can visualize everything in my mind with great clearness. All my dreams are about seeing, and have the most wonder full visions and see the most beautiful eyes and faces and landscapes. est blessing that could be bestowed upon me. It has enabled me to con- seerate myself to a great work I find that noNhappineSs in the world can compare to the happiness of do- ing something for others. ''I wish that everyone in the world could be brought to strive to make
 
 a cheery greeting in the morning. a hearty hand-hake, a look into the eyes, 1 a pleasant smile, would help immense ly. It would make life so much pleasanter for all."
 Miss Crosby was born on March A, 1920. in the village of South East, Putnam county, New York, the daugh- ter of John and Mercy Crosby. Her family was of old Puritan stock Through disease of the eyes Miss Crosby became blind six weeks after birth. Her early education was re- ceived at home, and at the age of she wrote her first poems. | At 15 she entered the New York In- stitute for the Blind. and there re- mained for many years, first as a pu- pil and then as teacher of grammar. | rhetoric, and Roman and American history. She retained this post for many years.
 Her faculty for hymn writing and l the beauty of some of her compositions | and she numbered among her friends such men as Henry Clay. Presidents Van Buren, Tyler, Polk and Cleveland General Seward, and others of na- | tional prominence.
 | Most of her life was spent in New York, but for the past Il years she has resided with her niece in Bridge
 
 ! bring a countrywide shower of felici- | tations. m
 Miss Crosby declares that although | she is not a native born Bridgeportel she considers this her home city by adoption. She has lived here steadily for about Il years. and was an occa' sonal visitor here many years ago when her mother was married for the second time. She can remember many of the old Bridgeporters whose names figure in the citys history but who art 1 unknown to most of the present gen eration.
 Last night Miss Crosby was the gues of honor at gathering at the Frs Methodist church, at which severa hundred of her friends turned out t( l greet her. The occasion was the regu lar mid-week service. Afterward Miss Crosby addressed the audience briefly in her usual kindly style. | Oh the music, hallowed music, | From that cloudless region bright, Where my Saviour and Redeemer
 Is the glory and the light,
 Where the sunshine of His presence
 Every throb of sorrow stills.
 And the bells of joy are ringing
 On the everlasting hills. Oh the music rolling onward
 Like a mighty ocean tide, How I seem to hear its echoes | While to earth they softly glide, l And there comes to me a vision
 That my soul with rapture thrills, For I stand by faith uplifted 1 On the everlasting hills. l When I rise amid the spIendor That I see but dimly now, | And behold the crown of jewels
 That adorns my Saviour's brow,
 Where eternal spring abide h And the sky no darkness fills, How my grateful heart will praise 1 Him
 On the everlasting hills! l Poem recited by Miss Crosby at the | First Methodist church last evening.