Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-26
Ry ALICE ROGERS HAGER.

Little lU-NodT-ClQ gil Sdl III
~ her room and looked at the
II thing life had become for her
say she looked" but she
could not really look any
more because the great darkness had
come upon her For months she had
been waiting, after the illness that
had left her with weakened eyes.
knowing in the terror Of her childish
heart that some day she would be
forced to say good-by to the light and
all that ii meant. The cloud had
drawn across the sun; field and tree
had faded; dimmed was the bright
snlendor of wind kissed waters. and
with the heightening of the wall about
her, most tragic Of all. she had lost
the dear faces of those she loved the
most.
Now the agony of the dark loneli-
ness was here With all the years OF
life ahead with the taste of the JOY
of childhood at her lips. suddenly the
cup had been snatched from her. and,
through no fault of her own, sorrow
was hers, with the bitterness of grief
and the shame of dependency. Now
she must feel for a hand to guide her
when she went falteringly about; now
she must sit and wait until 1t pleased
others to serve her. in pity and COM
ma ssion. and hers was a heart that
had desired to offer service. and
spirit that had seen visions of daring
and adventure.
Her brief 10 wears were but sCantN
preparation with which to meet such
a problem. but Adelia Hoyt had one
thing in her heart that could meet 1t.
The same spirit that had yearned shy
" for great deeds to do vas the spirit
that called her to attention when she
was sinking in helplessness and de-
spair. If she could conquer her dis
ability il she could teach her fingers
to do the work Of her lost eyes. why
could she not in the end realize her
dream of helping others? There was
never vet a problem that would not
Weld to determined and persistent eff
fort. Somewhere she could make
hole in the wall. and if she could do
1t for herself she could do 1t for
others.
The conviction was not born all at
once-she was too young for that; but
gradually 1t came to her. out Of the
endless night in which she stood,
faint. f1uttering or hope at hrst that
grew with the years into an accom-
pished fact.
The story of Adelia Hoyt is not an
uncommon one. Others have done as
much as she has In different ways. but
her positions in the Library of Con-
eress and in the American Red Cross
make her, in sense. a national fig
ure. 1t is not a dramatic story. ex-
cept as all the struggles Of the human
soul are drama. and in the peace of
her face now and the cheerfulness of
her voice pain and ceaseiess hours of
toll are hidden. 1t took time to make
her what she Is. A flower must have
time in which to grow. and a life
must have day added to day before 1t
can flower. 1t is the roots that are
important. and when they are wa
tered with tears and their climbing
leaves summed in the rare air Of spir
itual purpose, out of them the blossom
comes forth.
am telling Miss Hoyt's story be-
cause 1t Is universal. 1t has no news
value" and she IL much too modest a
person to desire notoriety. Her only
was that it might help to enlighten'
those of US who have eyes. but see
not" in our relations with the blind.
She was born in Cedar Falls. Iowa.
and after her blindness came she was
sent to Vinton. to the Iowa College for
he Blind taking also at various times
special high school courses and tu-
toring privately in Latin, German and
French. There are shadowy teachers
who gave her encouragement. and
the members of her family were
there to add love and understanding.
But always there was, as always there
must be. the cry within herself to go
on until she stood alone as an indi-
vidual.
Then. school finished. began the ac-