The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-27
BLIND WRITER IS
 WINNER OF PRIZE
Almost Complete Loss Of Sight No Bar To
 Ambition

When the name of Elizabeth Irons Folsom was read aloud at the dinner of the o. Henry memorial committee of the Society of Arts and Sciences the other night, as the winner of the prize for the best story of less than three thousand words, probably few at the table knew that the small, smiling wom- | an who bowed in response was almost blind, says the New York World. | The success which has been recog- nized-by the o. Henry memorial com mittee has background of difficulties and determination that are in them selves as astonishing as any story that 70. Henry himself ever wrote.
 Sight Always Poor
 As girl, living in Bloomington. H., Mrs. Folsom wrote special articles for l the local paper, the Pantagraph. One day the city editor fell sick and she was asked to help out the staff three weeks. She became its court reporter and stayed fourteen years.
 She had never had normal eyesight. but at that time she could see well enough to go about her work, and she could use typewriter. Day after day she watched the drama of human na- ture as it passed across the stage of the courtrOOms and, night after night, she wrote it for her paper.
 Meantime, her sight was growing worse, but with the responsibility of an invalid mother she could not stop If she had wanted to, which she did not. She loved to write.
 First Story Accepted
 One day riding up to Chicago on the tram she wrote short story on a pad on her knee, guiding her pencil by feel ing rather than sight. She sent the story to Munsey's magazine, and it was accepted. Then she wrote another and another and another. She rose at z in the morining, wrote fiction until 12, then went to the cOurtrOoms and 'covered her peat, then to the office and worked until after midnight. ..- =,
 Her stories succeeded from the first Ihey were that rare thing, real short stories, not long stories condensed or out down. They were generally serious ana often sOmber; and yet they sold. !. Flnally she received an occulist's yer. ulct You are going to be blind"
 Goes To Europe
 In answer to that she went to Europe. There was d specialist there whom she wished to consult. but tbe real reason, she said the other day. was T thought l had better go while | could see a little. and get all that could i"
 The specialists told her that the Inf. tie that could be done, could just as well be done in America. Then for four months she toured Europe, seeing all that she could and storing 1t away in her memory.
 The. little that could be done meant an operation. and that meant, a wear in hospital During that year. with her eyes bandaged, she wrote two stories on tablet lying on her breast.
 When she got back to work again. she decided the time had come to risk de voting herself entirely to fiction.
 More Than Ninety Stories
 She has been in New York ever since. has published more than ninety stories and it was one of them that was hon. ored by the 0. Henry committee.
 Her vision is little better. One eve Is sightless, but with the other she can distinguish light and darkness. forms and colorS. and even some details.
 The distinguishing quality of her stories is their extreme brevity and drama tic quality. She seldom uses five