The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-03-25

because they could not only have seen
her but understood her by lip reading
Ones first impulse Is To shield Miss
Kpllers mhrmitiea from public gaze,
10 hide the inevitable gaucheries incl
lent 10 her limitations, 20 snatch her
from being show TO make a Roman
holiday Tears Of infintte pity we'll
TO the eyes on first btAolding this love
Iy woman but after while this feel,
ing passes one sees the grandeur Of
her intellect, the superiority OF her
character She 10 no mere afflicted
creature shown as a marvel, but, q
woman Of thought and ideals and
her present purpose 10 raise money
for the ameloration Of the condition
~ the bllnd is SO la,Idahle as To justify
any personal sacrifiee. Her audiences
do not regards her as show, but as
miracle. accomplished By the human
Intelligence. patience aud Industry OF
herself and her teachers, Applause
was frequent upon her utteranees,
Asked II she could realize the applause
she said that she "eould feel II with
her feet. and showed her pleasure,
and that vast audience, responsive to
a generous desire 10 communicate thus
wi.h her through tter feet gave answer
that Numbered through the building
The deaf all realize sound Iii this
way, bui never before did the writer
observe this meats of communication
so feeIingly shown. senHitiseness to
sibFation is the key 10 Miss kellers
ability to knew most Of what goes on
about her .sbul the most wonderful thing
she did Mas 10 keep perfect time when
America" was sung By the audience,
accompanied by full strlnged orehes.
ira of the blind Even when interrupted
he could take uD the measure, and
resume her motions In perfect time
fhe deaf should JON in sympathy aud
love for Miss Keller She is the
apotheosis of their particular inflrmity
as well as that of blindness.
having been born and reared Ia
Baton Rouge, where the state schools
for the blind and the deaf are located
the writer has seen many wonderful
things accomplished By persons al
iiieted with the loss Of either sight or
hearing. There are blind In Baton
Rouge that can do many things that
Helen Keller cannot do; not referring
only lo their musical achievements,
fhty walk out more freely. finding
their way about in tbs town. aided by
The sense OF hearing, In MOST eases
apparently the more acute on account
Of the lack OF sight. They can do many
things she has probably never attempt
ed Similarly there are many deaf per.
sous who can speak more distinctly
than Helen Keller, but they have the
advantage OF sight ia noting the manner
~ which other people speak. Bat this
wonderful creature can neither hear
nor see, yet she has acquired an eduea.
ton al one OF The most advanced col
Iegas for women In the United States;
Radclffe College of Harvard Hnlyef.
sity She has learned TO speak, while
not With perfect articulation, yet with
amazing freedom and much sweetness
of tone, remarkable on account of it's
being purely mechanical Her physical
activities have probably been sacrificed
to her intellectual training, but these
also are remarkable. The writer has
seen but once other deaf and blind
| person. tAmelia - also dumb. for
though she spent most Of her life at
the state school for the blind. she was
not receptive Of much teaching.
Hut Helen Keller comes before you
a charming young woman, graceful
and more easy af movement than
| many that have not her limitations
Her blue. blue eyes do not look blind,
There Is tense gaze In them. az II
the soul within Mas stralning To see,
| and when her teacher, Mrs. Macy,
talks and Miss Keller by laying her
hand lightly on the speakers threat.
| lips and nose. understands what IL
said. there Ii the intent LISTENING"
look peculiar to the partially deaf. as
II her ears were reaching osli tor the
sound Miss Keller has the set patient
! smile of the blind. but her eyes have
| not that blank look characteristic OF
the slghlless. Her gestures are grace
fll being natural, and her quaint
title curtsies have an oidworld era.
riousness about them. Like any modern
Girl, Miss Keller wears high.heel shoes,
| and her lettering about on them Is not
| verse than that Of her seeing sisters,
| She loves pretty clothes she says --