The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-12
On His Way to Ellsworth

Harris Taylor of 9O4 Lexington
avenue, New York City, was in town
last Saturday. Mr.. Taylor came to
this state fifteen years ago, intending
by a brief personal investigation, to
disprove the persistent claim of his
friends that Maine was the most beau
tiful spot on the American continent.
Quite contrary to his expectations he
found this supposedly extravagant
laudation true or SO nearly so that
he has been coming ever SINCE, He
married an Ellsworth girl, rebuilt an
abandoned farm house on his wife's
family estate and now comes every
year to occupy it.
On this particular trip he first went
to Belleville, Ontario, where he at
tended convention of the American
Association to promote teaching of
speech to the blind, of which he is
president. To this gathering came
representatives from all over Ameri-
ca and to some extent from foreign
countries. Incidentally. Mr.. Taylor
remarks that Maine has good school
at Portland for the work in which
he is so much interested This is
in charge of Elizabeth r. Taylor, the
similarity of family names, however.
in this case not being significant of
a relationship.
The American Association above re-
ferred to was founded by Alexander
Graham Bell of telephone fame. This
distinguished man received, it seems,
the Volta prize of twenty-five thou
sand francs from the French Govern
ment in recognition of the benefits he
had conferred upon the world in his
origination of che telephone. This
fund Mr.. Bell invested in telephone
stock and it has increased in value
to approximately 100000 Mr.. Bell
has used this sum as an endowment
to further the work of the American
Association above referred to. The
Association maintains the Volta Blu
reau for the diffusion of knowledge
concerning the deaf. This Bureau
was founded by Alexander Graham
Bell and Mr.. Taylor is its president
Among the directors are Mrs. Cool
idge, wife of the Vice President; Dr.
Gilbert Grosevnor, Editor of the Ma
tional Geographic Magazine. The
Bureau takes its name from French
scientist and the term volt" used
as a measurement for electrical ener-
gy, comes from the same source.
The American Association, which
has recently held it's international
convention in Canada, maintains a
school in New York City for the in
struction of those who are to go into
the education of the deaf This nor
NAL class has the benefit of the funds
which permit them to accept a few
prospective teachers at decidedly
nominal rates. The course is for
forty weeks, and includes tuition.
board, lodging and laundry. All
this Is furnished for $3.50. 1t is
said that normal students never fail
to receive good positions upon the
completion of their studies. Mr..
Taylor states that the best pupils
come from northern New England
Any young woman interested in this
matter might write to him at the adj
dress above given.
Mr.. Taylor had plans which would
have taken him on fishing trip about
100 miles northwest of the city of
Quebec. The recent forest fires,
however, in that section have caused
the Canadian Government to excluded
hunters and fishermen from that ter
ritory for the time being. Mr.. Tay
1or therefore plans to go instead to
the woods country around Moosehead
Lake, quite possibly in the vicinity of
Mt. Katahdin.