Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-06
HELEN KELLER IS
PUBLIC LECTURER
viii Make Debut at Meeting
in MOntclair To-
night.
NOT AFRAID THAT SHE
WILL HAVE STAGE FRIGHT
Marvellous Deaf and Blind
Woman Tells of Peo-
Piles Failure.

For the first time in her life. Miss
Helen Keller. the marvellous deaf and
blind woman. will speak from pub
lie platform tonight She will ap-
near before an audience in Montclair
and tell her auditors that although
they possess sight and hearing they
are as blind and deaf as she is, be-
cause they don't put their senses to
proper use.
BY way of rehearsal Miss Keller
granted an interview TO number Of
newspaper men and women in The
Hotel Astor, New York Her ex-
hibition was remarkable, mas
much as it showed she has
Knowledge of human affairs and cur
rent events which she has gained
purely through mechanical commune
cation. Mrs. John Macy, who for
IS wears has been her teacher and
companion, held Miss Keller's right
hand and with her fingers spelled the
questions into Miss Keller's palm.
The blind woman placed her left hand
en- Miss Mays cheek, one finger laid
across her mouth, and her sensitive
fingers pulsed to the vibrations of the
speakers lips and aided her in un-
derstanding what was said. All queH-
tons were put to her through this
medium, but she answered for her
self in a voice slightly hollow and
iadistinct but very powerful.
Miss Keller was witty and unem-
barrassed. She was asked about her
likes and dislikes, her impressions OF
people and things.
Il would not change my identity
for that of the ordinary humdruul
person who has eyes and ears, gee
sees not nor hears. The ability TO
understand, and the will to do are
the true lights of life.
MY latest field of interest? So
cialism. 1 am a Socialist because l
believe in fair play"
"Are you interested in dress? one
of her interviewers asked.
'I'm a girl and Eve was she re-
piled.
my father was a Presbyterian,
my mother an Episcopalian, and L
have taken up New Thought. l am
a disciple of Swedenborgia. am
not a vegetarian nor a prohioitionist.
/ like sausages and beer, she said
laughingly.
''Have you a good appetite?' she
was asked.
.Flne, and it's getting bigger every
minute" she replied, clapping her
hands in anticipation
DO you dancer
Il love it. 1 waltzed with Donald
Brian, and I think if I had as much
practise as he and got paid for II
rould waltz better. F"
Can you do the turkey trot?'
'Of course"
In more serious vein, the interest
turned to her various senses, and she
was asked if she appreciated music,
.Gn my deaf way" she answered.
81 feel the notes when they are high,
when they are low, when they are
fast and when they are slow. l can
tell march by the vibration. l feel
the pillows of sound and I can feel
The notes rise and fall like the bill
lows of the sea"
what is your highest ambition
ITO make others see and hear as
well as I can"
DO you anticipate stage fright to-
n ght"''
.No. indeed; but / know | shall feel
very queer about standing there all
alone and not being able TO tell how
the people are taking me. | don't
know if they will be friendly"
what will you tell them?"
I'm going to tell them that many
of them are as deaf and blind as
am, but they don't know II"
Mrs Macy suggested that they
might not like that.
IT'S good for them" responded
Miss Keller with spirit. ITS medi-
cine for them"
Mrs. Macy will be with Miss Keller
on the stage in Montclair tonight.
Mrs. Macy will give an account of
the blind girls life and education.
1.-THE Heart and Hand is the title of
Miss Kellar's address, and il deals
with the right use of our senses.