The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-10

From the New York Times.
~ REsSED in a becoming evening
- pers, with her dark hahn arranged
| in waves down either side of her race
and tied low on the back of her neck
with a large bow of black ribbon, MISS
Helen Keller, the young woman VINO
though blind and deaf and dumb, has ac-
ouired tho power of speech, talked with
reporters at the Hotel Astor last even-
ing.
Miss Keller likes to talk, and she sent
back gay, crisp answers to the questions
which were repeated to her by Mrs. Macy,
better known as Miss Anne M. Sulil-
van. who for years was Miss Kellers
| devoted teacher.
.srhere are so many fallacies about the
hind" Miss Keller said at the outset
of the interview. 'rhey say we can tell
colors by the sense of touch, but we
can't. | like TO imagine colors and talk
about them, but my idea of color is dlf-
hcult to define. It might not mean much
| to you, but it means great deal TO me.
Fed is my favorite color, because 1t
means health and strength and warmtn.
Roses all have the same general per-
fnms. and vet there are shades of dif-
ference, so that / realize differeht roses
NAV have different colors.
.,And the blind, because they have iost
some of their faculties, are not COM
nensated by a higher development OIL
o,her faculties as many persons suppose.
| The thing that helps them to overcome
;rI,f ic ma
Rv practice and training we overcome
very great obstacles
Some one asked Miss Keller which she
would rather have If she was forced 10
make a choice, her hearing or her sight'
"The sense of hearing is the most I'M
nortant of the Senses she said. Il have
found the greatest difficulty in trying to
cultivate my voice. [ repeat the same
sound over 100 times and l am never
sure I am right until someone tells me.
I am like the Irishman, l feel that l
never open my mouth without putting my
foot in it,
The conversation was carried on IN
sbort questions and answers, Miss Keller
sitting very erect and accompanying her
words with gestures of her hands and
har
lowed her fingers to stray to Mrs. Macys
lips to learn what was going on. Miss
Keller is a socialist, and when she was
ssked il her views were obtained from
Mrs. Macy, Miss Keller's teacher laughed
mo. indeed" she replied. II am not
| socialist
yes said Miss Keller, when she was
told of the question. They think be-
cause am a socialist that I am Chris
tian Scientist and vegetarian.
"I say no indeed l am not, for l eat
meat and | am not teetotaller, either,
for | drink beer" When the laugh which
the thought of the little woman in pink
drinking beer had aroused subsided, Mrs
Macy said slyly, talking aloud and with
her fingers in Miss Keller's hand:
"of course you do; beer and socialism
go together.
| some one asked II Miss Keller would
rather be blind and deaf with the great
reputation which she has acquired or an
unknown person with those senses unim-
paired. She responded Instantly:
"Of course l would rather have my
sight and hearing. because 1t would great
~ increase my powers for service"
.rhe world is full of persons who can
| see and hear said Mrs. Macy, talking
with her fingers in the blind girls palm,
but who do not see and hear and uf,-
derstand as much as you do with no eyes
and ears. Would you rather be one Of
them?'
Never came the reply instantly. Il
would rather be blind. One does not like
to give up ones Identity she continued
after seconds thought. The will to
do and the power to think is the life OF
your life
! There was silence for a moment and
Miss Keller continued:
THAT was very intelligent question.
| II made me sit up and think
Miss Keller forms her first impressions
OF persons by the way they shake hands.
but she said that as with persons who
can see. she sometimes had to change her
| opinion. Persons she first disliked, she
srew to like and vice versa. To show her
power of recognition through her fingers
Mrs. Macy told of how Miss Keller had
recognized a bust Of Phillips Brooks.