The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-11
MODERN M|RACLE"
AMAzES AUDIENCE
MISS HELEN KELLER SEEN AND
HEARD by CULTURED CROWD
AT MASONIC TEMPLE.
TEARS AND APPLAUSE
DENOMINATION OF MOST WON
DERFUL MENTAL DEVELOPMENT
WORLD HAS KNOWN ATTRACTS
MANY RICHMONDERs.
TEARS AND APPLAUSE

Miss Helen Keller. aptly character
lied by her teacher as the modern
miracle" personally demonstrated to
a cultured audience that packed the
Masonic temple auditorium last night.
the most marvellous development Of
mentality of which the world has
knowledge.
Born blind, deaf and dumb, after
years OF patient effort. this wonderful
woman has learned to talk intelli-
gibly, and while she neither sees nor
fed by Providence and patient instruc-
ton to the point where she feels in
tuitively every emotion OF the normal
person.
Is Pretty Woman.
A statuesque blonde. with face
pretty in repose or smiling, Miss KEEL
Ter talked for FIVE minutes to her audi
ence. Speaking rapidly in a large au-
ditorium. much of her address was
unintelligible. but later. in the demon
stration of the method by which she
was taught to speak. Miss Keller an
swered a score of questions from the
audience, and speaking slowly. every
syllable was distinct. This demonstra-
ton was the most impressive part OF
the program. With two fingers placed
on the lips OF her teacher. Miss Keller
repeated the questions asked by the
audience and gave her answers.
Though she can neither see nor
hear. she hesitates, bows and smiles
when the audience appiauds- she was
asked how she knew that the audience
lad a
felt the vibration In her breast, ana
IL gave her Joy" and asked az to how
she could tell whether she had a small
or large audience stated that this was
Indicated to her by the density OF the
atmosphere, naively remarking, with
q wave Of the hand. that she was rae
ing a big crowd then. From every side
Questions were put to this wonderful
woman and with the two fingers on
her teachers lips she read them and
repeated them without hesitation. IRE
ouently, In her eagerness. starting IN
before the teacher had completed the
sentence. It was all impressive ana NOT
only drew involuntary exciamatlons OF
surprise, but tears from some quarters
at what appeared to be the Manifesto
ton Of q divine providence
Introduced by Teacher.
Almost as interesting as the Won
derful performance of this marvellous
woman was the address of her teach
err, Mrs. Macy, who, for twenty-five
years has been her preceptor, ana mas
led this remarkable mind from dark
ness into light. Mrs. Macy detailed
every step Of the process, which was
without system or method. but mark
ed by deep personal interest. from the
time she took charge of the inanimate
being as a child. until she brought
her through Radcliffe college a radiant
woman, with the degree Of bachelor
of arts. and the master OF four Ian
guages, which she cannot only speak.
but write on the raised-letter type
writing machine which was made for
her purpose. All these details and
many more have become familiar to
Richmonders through the medium of
magazine articles. as well as the fact
that her autobiography has been
translated into fifteen languages.
1t was hard to say which was the
most interesting character of this un-
usual drama to the audience-the
portly. motherly woman, whom one
/ could hardly believe had devoted
twenty-five years even to life itself
| except for the tinge of gray in her
| hair. and who is intensely charming
| in manner and speech. 7or the wonder
| full pupil with the captivating smile,
/ of whom all the world has heard.
From every standpoint it was treat.
| Those who were there wouldn't have
missed 1t for worlds; those who didn't
| so missed half their lives.
The lecture was given under the
auspices OF the Virginia Randolph
Ellet Alumnae Association Of Byrn
Mawr college. and the proceeds will
be devoted to the establishment Of
n Hcholarahin nj that institution