The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-24
WONDERFUL HELEN KELLER
LECTURES IN GREENWOOD

Miss Helen Keller, the world
marvel of her kind, with her
mother, Mrs. Keller, and her teach
er, Mrs. Macy (Anne NJ. Sullivan
and her personal attendant, Miss
Thompson, visited Greenwood
Wednesday, stopping at the Rel
man House, and on that evening
Miss Keller delivered her famous
lecture, Happiness" at the Green
wood Theatre to a large and ap-
preciative audience.
Miss Keller and her party were
visited at the Reiman by repre-
sentatiyes of the local press, and
gave a short interview to the
reporter of The Commonwealth.
Miss Keller talked most instruc-
lively on all subjects and advanc-
ed no assertion that she did not
quickly give satisfactory reasons
for her views. When asked of
woman suffrage, Miss Keller said:
why, of course, l am a suffra-
gette. | would not be true to
myself if l were not. It is grow
ing as it deserves, and l think we
will have national suffrage for
women in the near future"
When asked for her ideas on
preparedness, Miss Keller was en-
phatic in her holding against pre-
paredness, saying: Il don't be-
lieve in preparedness for it means
inevitable war. Take the European
countries, for instance, Prepared
ness on their part is the real cause
for the present dreadful war. and
these countries became beligerent
for their preparedness and, war
was the consequential result of
the deplorable throes in which
they are now hopelessly thrown"
Il am not a democrat" said
Miss Keller; Pm a socialist"
When asked what she thought of
President Wilson, Miss Keller re-
piled: "Of course, he is a great
man, but he changes his front too
easily"
Probably no woman holds a
firmer place in the hearts of
Americans than Helen Keller.
Deaf and blind, and for many years
dumb, Miss Keller has won the
sympathy and love of countless
people in all classes of life. And
now that she has acquired the
power Of speech, she delights in
expressing her Joy in what she
calls her new BIRTH" the dawn of
what to her is a new existence.
A large and appsyeiative audi
ence gathered at the Greenwood
Theatre Wednesday evening to
hear her teacher, Mrs. Macy, and
Miss Keller in her lecture on" Hap
piness." DR.. Jos. Rennie, of the
First Presbyterian Church, intro
duced Mrs. Macy, who told of the
story of Miss Keller's life.
Mrs. Macy, the lifelong teach
er of Miss Keller, described her
experience with this interesting
pupil, who has been in her con-
slant companionship and tutelage
from the time Miss Keller was Z
years old. She told how this truly
great woman has overcome the
dreadful misfortune of deafness
and blindness, and how by the
dint Of her uncomfortable SUPER
human will, she brought into her
life light from darkness, misery
into happiness and sunshine out
of darkness.
Miss Keller also related with her
own lips the real story of her life,
a story that in its revelations of
finer sensibilities, of indomitable
courage and patience, Of a perfect
mind struggling to the light, and
it carried a message Of rare in
spiration. Miss Keller evidenced
her intense interestedness in the
trials, burdens and troubles of the
poor and lowly, and she willingly
gave the aid necessary to lessen
the many hardships that they are
made to bear. Her lecture was
couched in simple but wonderful
words, and the sincerity of her
amazing optimism sparkles and
teaches her listeners how prere-
quisite is unselfishness to acquire
real happiness.
| Her audience appreciated the
honor of paying tribute of their
presence to this most gifted
woman, and were greatly benefit
ted by having the opportunity to
see and hear her.
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