The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-03
HELEN KILLERS FRIENDS WRITE INTERESTINGLY OF
 THIS WONDERFUL GIRL
Fly CORINNE CHISHOLM

It is a very pleasant memory, when I think of Helen Keller as I knew her. when we were both little girls. Helen was so full of fun and always seemed so glad to see her friends.
 The Keller home was about half way between Sheffield and Tuscumbia not far from the boyhood home of Dr. Albert Sid- ney Johnston. It seemed a very impos- inS place to me, and l shall always re-
 member that big front gate. It was pl letty gate made of bent iron or wire rods Our phaeton wheels would roll over
 two iron levers and the gate would open, and then we'd roll over others that would close it behind us. I enjoyed that gate, and have never seen another one like it.
 Helen was about F years old then, and Miss Sullivan was with her. She always recognized her friends and l remember Just how distinctly she could say my name She liked to take me on her lap and find my curls; and she taught me how to spell a few simple words on my fingers. She was so amused when I did it right. and liked to try to understand
 me by putting her fingers on my lips or
 throat. Sometimes she held big book
 
 Helen was very fond of animals, and she had several big mastiffs (dogs) One of them was named Erie. I thought he was giant pug. One of the dogs bit Mrs. Sullivan on the hand when she was feeding him and l tried to under stand why they were all so much ] alarmed for weeks over such small | bite. Helen also had a small gray donke not much larger than the big martiff.
 For long time my mother kept and prized little note that Helen herself 1 printed, inviting me to her birthday
 party. It was nice party. z femem-
 mer how we all stood around tables and ate ice cream. Helen had ny dark brown curls, the two front ons led back with big bow, and l thougl e looked ! beautiful at her birthday v.
 1 Even at that time Hele ,iad som ! very distinguished friends whom she had attracted while away from home studying l with Miss Sullivan
 | Somebody sent her big toy COW 1 that would say "Moor' when you turned 1 it's head,
 l l suppose there are dozens of people ! in Birmingham who came from north 1 Alabama and remember Helen Keller as
 child but she and Miss Sullivan were | away from Tuscumbia most of the time. 1 Mrs. Macy and Helen came to her home in Florence when I was there at school l hadn't seen her for nearly 15 years, but she remembered me and ! looked for my curls, laughing. She came l with Mrs. Macy (AIiss Sullivan) to our 1 basketball game on the school campus and the ball went wild and rolled all
 over Helen several times. She laughed and enjoyed us very much. She helped
 us make favors for the Christmas dance | We all sat around on Mrs Keller's parlor | floor And Helen came to the dance and enjoyed it, too, for she dances very we'll
 She is such a happy part of any good | life that it would be treat to all of us ! is she could attend one of Birmingham's s 1 big balls. l The thing that most impresses one about Helen is her great vitality, and | her eagerness for contact with people 1 and their affairs. She is independent 1 spirited and humorous.
 1 Those who fail to hear Helen at the Bijou are missing rare treat Grand opera is music for the ears, but Helen 1 keller's philosophy is music for the soul,