The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-10-29
Story of Blind stenographer.

In the Interesting People" Depart
ment OF the American Magazine appears
an article about Miss Grace 4. Keator,
a blind stenographer, who made loss of
sight a step for career, full of happi-
ness and seryiceableness. The following
is an extract from the article.
Twelve years ago, Miss Grace Il.
Keator of Kingston, New York, was pre-
pairing to become a teacher of litera-
ture; then came illness and with illness,
blindness To most women, such crush
ing calamity would have destroyed all
thought of an independent career, but
in Miss keator's case it did nothing OF
the sort. After recovering from the i'll
ness which had taken sight for toll, she
went courageously to study at the lnsti-
tuition for the Blind at Batavia, New
York. Like Miss Helen Keller, she had
to learn to work as well as see with
her hands. She learned to read raised
type and to operate typewglter--she
had never before used such instrument
and then she studied stenography 1t
was serious work. She had determined,
handicapped as she was, to be self-sup'
porting and independent. Her success
was extraordinary and would have Gone
credit to an expert. When the time came
for her to look about for position, she
turned at once to New York City. Her
excellent work in the institution at Ba-
tayia had already attracted attention,
and she soon became private secretary
to Miss Winifred Holt, who is secre
tary of the New York Association for
the Blind at Us East Fifty-Ninth street.
"A visitor to The Light House, as the
association is called, sees the blind hap
PLY at work weaving carpets making
baskets or brooms, Gaming chairs, or do
ing housework; but one of the most in
teresting spectacles of all is to see Miss
Holt and her aid at work-in the back
ground the boss debating, in the fore
ground Miss Keator at her shorthand
machine, her fingers fairly flying, while
under her skillful manipulation rib
bon-shaped manuscript unfolds, the
characters appearing like pinpricks
in the paper. The manuscript re-
minds one of stock brokers' ticker
tape. When dictation is finished the
blind stenographer turns to her type
writer and after passing sensitive fin
gers along the ribbon to read her notes, |
she rapidly transcribes them. The fin
ished work, and indeed all that she does, |
is a model of neatness and accuracy. |
Besides holding the secretaryship to
Miss Holt, the blind stenographer is /
president of the Blind Women's club of |
New York City. In her official capacity |
she meets many notable persons. The |
brilliant example she has set in making |
4 career for herself, and her thorough |
knowledge of the conditions under which |
the blind must work if they are to be |
happy, productive members of society, |
nave made it possible for her to interest
iumbers of people in the work of insti- |
buttons for the blind. She is the first
md, ! believe, the only blind woman to
,arn her living as a stenographer.
Miss Keator is at home in modest |
lpartment on East 65th street. New
York City Here, in cooperation with a
hum. she does light housekeeping. The
wo young women take great pride in
heir home. They find it fun to keep
house. and they have developed a high
y efficient system of domestic team
york; what one cannot accomplish the
'ther can, and each stoutly maintains
hat she has most to be grateful for.
They get along together famously.
Miss Keator is exceedingly femi-
ine.' She takes great pains in the Sc
nction and style of her wardrobe and
he delights in seeing things fresh
rom the shops When women friends
riends call on her she always examines
heir new gowns, lightly passing her
elicate hands over the fabric"