Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-02-04
Edison Is Helen Kellars Hope
Inventor Speaks Of Plans for Friction Printing; Blind Gin
Tells Him Of Interest in Talking Pictures

~ asa. SSAANAss0 sSSNASO @. s
aread? Books for the blind now cos,
so much.Ds, NJ ,
1t was one Of the very rare refer
%ences to the limitations life had laid
upon her which ever escaped hel
lips; and this seemed far more a plea
for others less fortunate than Tor
herself.
Books for the Blind.
Printed books for the blind, Mr.
Edison assured her. are one, OF the
likeliest of probabilities. A very
smooth paper, q friction" ink, a
type larger than the ordinary book
type-and the thing is done. Highly
sensitive finger.tips will read these
books almost as readily and swiftly
as normal eyes read the ordinary
/ printed pages. TX.
Helen Keller feels deeply and in
tensely; and expresses her feelings
with the abandon and freedom OF q
Child. She was deeply stirred 10y the
retaliation that she was indeed face
to face with the man whom she had
SO long desired to meet, and her in
tense feeling moved everyone in tie
room. >.t IT,
"My hand is to me what your hear.
ing and sight, together, are. to YOU"
she says in 1.-THE World | Live In"
that rare book Of revelation. 1T Is
the hand that binds me to the world
Of men and women
And this, hand, delicate, sensitive,
responsive to every contact with the
world around her, caught and held
the hand of Edison, striving to secure
the Impressions Of personality which
come to others through undimmed
eyes; and freedom of speech.
1T is the God.hand," she said once.
the fingers t%iuttering on Edis0n's
hand. 1T is the hand Of the .crea-
tor.
And Edison on his side was Inn
pressed and stirred by the blind
girls marvellous keenness and deli
cacy Of touch perception, and the
possibilities it held. He explained
to her and to the, others who listen
ed, that science would make posi-
BILE in the near future the transla-
tons, and that these electrical vibra-
tions, carried through those, sensitive
fingers to that highly developed brain
would register there the aietials per-
ceptions of sound which CONF to
those Of normal hearing through the
ears. s}h, ) s; s::='"
Just how, That is the miracle
which is to be worked out in Edison's
brain and laboratory.
Two further incidents Of. that after
noon will linger always as fragrant
memories. -
Once, when Helen Keller went into
the spacious hail. where the maids
of the household were gathered,
greetings and shaking hands with
each, with, the cordialand gracious
manner that wins all from the first
moment. The other, the hour when
Mr.. Edison played record after. REQ
ord on q beautiful Victrola, watching
with the pleasure of the host and the
interest of the man of science, Helen
Keller's delight as she listened" her
hand against one side of the large
horn. What did she get? Who cal
tell for a certainty Intense enjoy.
ment-that was; beyond all question
To any spirited music, her free hand
kept: perfect time. A beautiful ydtce
and violin selection brought quick ex'
preston In words of swift and sym,
pathetic appreciation. Remember
she was never told unless she asked
what the selections were.t And once
when a beautiful bird ssoliEt was sbs
ing given, she said: ). .,.,,n Il
"Now | begin to know how il
sounds when a bird sings. l heard a
rooster crow once l held him in my
hands SO long he had to crow. But
! never could make a bird sing in my
hands,"
Tie rich, happy, hopeful afternoon
came I'd" all end all too soon-Miss
Keller and Mrs. Macy were due ia
catch the express for the west at it's
first stop outside New York.
What do you think of MI. lEdi.
SOM" asked q friend as the little
party waited a moment for the train,
what everyone else thinks OF
him." came the quick response.
"'And that?" -s..
THAT he is the greatest man in the
world.
Mrs. Macy, tile friend and. teacher,
whose patience and love have
wrought the miracle Of Helen gKel
ler's education, heard and smiled.
"The calamity Of the blind Isl i'm.
mense. irreparable'-the quotation
again is. from "The World Five In
But 1t does not take away our share
Of the things that count-service,
friendship, humor, imagination, wis
dom"