The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-03
Social Service Department By MRS. SIDNEY NJ. ULLMAN

Much of interest has been written Of Helen Keller her lecture and her books, but 1t is always more interesting to have the knowledge of any celebrity first hand. Therefore, it was with a great deal of pleasure we induced one of Miss Keller's friends now visiting her.
 Mrs. R. D. Radcliffe of New York, sis
 ter of Mrs. R. E. L. Rust, was a school mate of Miss Keller and knows the real
 womanly woman side of her nature, and the sweet demonstrative girl as she really is. Both of these friends attended the Wright Oral school in New York, and it was there that Miss Keller again endeared herself to the people she came in contact with.
 Mrs. Radcliffe, in speaking of Helen Keller, said she would always remember her as she came down the steps the day Mr. Wright gave the house warming at his new school, and at which time Miss Keller was a guest of honor and was spending several days with her old teach CT in the new school. Miss Keller never
 likes to attract attention to her defects, and therefore is very independent. Mrs.
 Radcliffe also said it was wonderful that she never met with an accident, for she always resented any help that was avoid able.
 On this particular occasion, before any of the guests arrived, Helen came down
 the steps alone, all dressed in the dainty clothes she always wears with her lovely light hair becomingly combed and her head held high. No one would have be- lieved this pretty, attractive girl bloom ing with youth and happiness, was so af- flicted.
 At the reception, celebrities from all over New York were invited guests. Among them was Joseph Jefferson, and although he came late after a matinee,
 Helen was delighted to meet him, and was in her charming simple manner glad to show her pleasure.
 At the school were many children that had attended when Miss Keller was a pupil. These little ones had grown a great deal, for this was several years after Miss Keller had attended the school. As the children came to her she was so glad to be with them again, each had to have a separate hug and to tell every little thing that had happened since she went away The children were all studying lip language, but often the little ones did not understand what she had to say, so the sentence was carefully re- peated and the children helped through the generous patience of their lovely friend
 Mrs Macy, said Mrs Radcliffe, is the constant companion of Miss Keller, and Helen relies good deal upon her. She always calls Mrs. Macy teacher as she did when child.
 One day while Miss Keller was visiting
 at the school Mrs. Radcliffe picked up a
 book, and handing it to Helen, said What book is this, Helen?" She took il in her hands, felt it one moment and then said: "Oh. that's my darling book and pressed it to her heart. The book was the
 story of her life, written by herself When MT Wright, her teacher asked her to write in one of her books for him she wrote:,
 Dear MT. Wright From Helen Keller with just oceans of love-
 Isn't this evidence of her real woman,y | nature and love of effusion? ] But you are intedested to know some | thing of Mrs. Radcliffe, and no wonder | Hers, too, is an interesting story. First and most important in the eyes of this
 woman, far above her friendship fol | Helen Keller, is the fact that she is the
 mother of 5-months-old baby. That is
 wonderful specimen of babyhood, ane
 although his mother and father met
 loved and became engaged at the Wright i school. both being deaf. the baby hears everything. This fine youngster is called Alexander Graham Bell Radcliffe whicf l is some name especially as he is called
 for no lesser person than the inventor | of the telephone. Mir. Bel, and the baby'l grandfather were intimate friends | Miss Helen Keller will give one of hel l charming lectures at the Bijou theatre to
 night, assisted by her teacher and friend Mrs. Macy It is useless to say that or AJ--
 such an International figure on accoun 1 of her wonderful writings and on ac
 count of her being an Alabama woman 1 she Is welcome to her Alabama. It il
 with love and pride We greet you. Heller
 Keller