The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-16
STORIES REC|TEO.
 OF HELEN KELLER.
Birthplace Near Tuscumbia Preserved As Shrine-GirI-
 hood Training RetoId
MUSCLE SHOALS BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD ! Florence. Ala, Dec. l6

Little known incidents In the life of Helen Keller. eighth wonder of the world" are revealed in a sym posium ot interviews with women living in her home town, Tuscumbia, Ala. who knew the blind, deaf and dumb marvel in her infancy.
 A general idea prevails today that Helen Keller was born deaf, dumb and blind. At the age of Is months she became deaf, dumb and blind. These afflictions resulted from period of illness, probably fever. She was just saying her first baby words, none too plainly, when she became affected. Her sense of hearing, sight and voice were not gone previous to her illness It is said that her eyes were first affected and loss of hear ing and voice followed immediately.
 Tt is commonly thought that qui- nine was the direct cause of her af- fliction," says Mrs. J. N. Thompson of Tuscumbia. Helen's birthplace who knew her in childhood.
 Tuscumbia, Ala, is the birthplace of Helen Keller. The house in which she was born still stands there as a memorial to her. There are numbers of people living there now who recall the baby sayings and doing of little Helen Keller. visits old Home.
 Following are a few facts prepared by Mrs. Ottey Figures of Tuscum- bia, who was with Helen Keller dur ing the period previous to her Jour ney to physicians in the north.
 "The dearest impressions l have of Helen Is that, no matter now much fame she has succeeded in
 +h a the old folks, and although we have here of late been separated great deal. she Is able to recognize us on her trips back home.
 T well remember how on one or her visits back home few years ago she was unable to recognize me because I had been forced to put on glasses. However, after l removed them she had no trouble in know proves what remarkable resources she has at her command. One mel dent I recall proves this positively. One bright spring day Helen, her aunt, Mrs. Evelyn Keller, ana l Were returning from town when suuaehiS Helen began screaming, and posi- lively refused to proceed another sten We did our best to comfort her and urge her to proceed hone- ward. but of no avail. About tnis time her brother joined us. We later knew that Helen knew by some msans that her brother was near ana she wanted to walt for him. Pnsrfmages To Homo.
 Another interview with Hrs. E. F. Rand gives a clearer idea of Helen as child: "When I think or Helen Keller my mind recalls dear httie girl. blind, deaf and dumb, put doing her best to overcome these great handicaps. Has she succeeu- ed? Yes. Success has been hers pc cause she did not lose falth Ill hef self
 "The old Keller home stands to, d.v n,id grove of beautiful maenolia trees on the outskirts or Tusoumbta, her birthplace. It IS cared for by a private family Wno have the place leased and 1t stanos as memorial to the great deeds or ths great woman and her apie teacher, Mrs. Sullivan, who attainea such remarkable success herseil III face of similar odds
 "Eath wear the colleges and scbool. in this section have a spe- oial tour of inspection of the Kel- lev home and this alone Is conclusive evidence that the deeds and accom- rIishments of Miss Keller will live forever in the hearts of the Ameri- can, people. I have often said that if was too bad the Life Of Helen Keller was not text DOCK Tn our schools.
 q have seen Helen do several r markable things. one tline w"sn she was back home from school In the east on a vacation she enter tained taH at the guests at party by dis tributing the gloves to the rsspec- tive gentlemen present. In this she never made a mistake"