New Britain herald., 1928-07-28
BLIND FROM BIRTH
 NOW SHE GAN SEE
Woman Tells of Happiness After
 20 Years Of Darkness

Mlwa ukee. July es-Faces and colors are the two most interesting things in the world to 20 year old Marcella Calkins.
 Marcella was born blind. 4 few weeks ago a series of delicate sur gical operations gave her her sight. and for the first time in her life she could use her eyes And now she is quite sure that she is the happiest girl in the world.
 On the first evening that the doc tors took the bandages off her eyes and let her look about her. Mar celia stood on the lawn of the hos pital and watched the red sun so down beyond the horizon.
 Tt was marvellous" she said. The colors-I never dreamed such colors existed. And 10 think that they come every night"
 Then. a little later. she went on to say that she could never get tired of looking at faces,
 "I was just as surprised by the appearance of my own face as I was by the faces of my friends. !" she said, When. by accident. I first saw myself in mirror l didn't know who it was. And I had 10 get acquainted with my friends all over again. Everyone was strange to me until they spoke-then l recognized them. Now, of course, I am coming to know them by sight" They're All Handsome
 Incidentally. Marcella has no standards by which to judge whether any particular face is homely or beautiful. All are eaual- ly absorbing to her: Bull Montana and John Gilbert undoubtedly. would interest her exactly the same.
 Living in world of light is different matter from living in a world of darkness. When her eyes were first opened Marcella had to learn to walk all over again When she went to climb up or down stairs she had to shut her eyes 10 keep from falling, Doors bothered her greatly and the sight of her own feet moving about seemed inexpres- sibly funny to her. But faces. and bright colors. were the things that | interested her most.
 She has been spending her days since the operation in simply going about and looking at things. The commonest trip down the street Is great adventure. A visit to the shore of Lake Michigan en- chanted her. She looked out over the blue water, and gazed for a long time at the white, billowy clouds overhead.
 Its beautiful" she said quietly T have never been able to pictuN clouds
 She went to the zoo and was en- thralled. A nurse took her to the theater one night. and Marcella was overjoyed.
 Tt was marvellous" she said afterward. Tt was the greatest thrill of my life.''
 Not FIInny-Interceting The moving pictures came upon the screen bit too fast for her unaccustomed eyes. but she was thrilled nevertheless The movies gave her her first glimpse of an arplane. a balloon, and a steam- ship. Then newsreel pictures of Gov. Al Smith were flashed on the screen. and the nurse explained to her that this was the Democratic presidential nominee. She studied his face closely. and remarked that the change of expressions on it was extremely interesting.
 Then the vaudeville program, with its bright lights. gay colors and lively movements. fascinated her.
 The comedians aren't funny to me-" she explained. But they arc interesting because of their ex- pressions and movements. never imagined anything like their mo- tions or those of the dancers"