Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-22
BLIND DELEGATES
VISIT WHITE HOUSE
Helen Keller Takes First Air
Ride to Attend-AIex-
andria on Program.

A reception at the White House by
President and Mrs. Hoover today at
l2:45 o'clock was a highlight of today's
program for delegates to the World
Conference on Work fer the Blind.
which met in New York, now visiting
this city.
Following the reception at the White
House, the delegates went to Alexan-
dria, Va. where they were the lunch
con guests of the Alexandria Chamber
Of Commerce at Gadsby's Tavern. SUBJ
sequently they left for a tour of Mount
Vernon
Members Of the diplomatic corps from
the various embassies and legations here
were in attendance at the luncheon in
Alexandria
The group here is headed by Helen
Keller, whose accomplishments, in spite
of impediments, are known throughout
the world. Miss Keller, with her teach
er, Mrs. Anne Sullivan Macy, and her
secretary, Miss Polly Thomson, remained
at the White House for luncheon with
President and Mrs. Hoover and were
to join the delegation again this after
noon.
Miss Keller has Just added to her
many other experiences by the thrill
OF her first airplane ride. AT home in
the clouds" in her own words, Miss
NChCA oOdACO duiOIlB IllGul 1OT Tie IlT6L
time when she few from Newark to
Washington for her luncheon at the
White House.
Sensitive to Vibration.
Sensitive nerves painted the picture
Of the flight for her, she said, as va
riationS in speed were transmitted by
vibrations in the craft She informed
friends with her they were landing
when the motor died down and the en-
gines idled. Miss KelIer's friends de-
scribed scenes below TO her by tapping
their messages on her hand as they
few
Il felt free and unafraid," Miss KEEL
Ter said, adding that she was perfectly
at home in the clouds" and that she
got great kick" out of the trip.
There are some ITO persons from 81
nations in the delegation here. OF
these somewhat less than so per cent
are blind The remainder, with the
blind member, have long been promi-
nent in work for the blind in various
organizations and groups throughout
the world.
Prior to the reception at the White
House today, the itinerary of the dele
gates included trip to the Columbia
Polytechnic Institute for the Blind on
H street to the National Library for
Union Building, where they were re-
ceived by a special committee, headed
by DR.. L. S. Rowe, director of the
union.
Spend Busy Day.
Arrangements for the visit to the
latter building, the trip to Mount Yer
non and Alexandria were made through
Representative Sol Bloom of the George
W1chinOfnT1 PipoF0farTfa1 ef0
and Dorothea E. Jennings Of the Braille
department Of the organization.
This morning Capt Iran Fraser, for
ner member of the British Parliament
and now head of the st. Dunstan's Hos
tel for the Blind, leading organization
for the work for the bling in England.
visited Arlington Cemetery and placed
wreath on the Tomb Of the Unknown
Soldier
The delegation will leave Washington
tonight for Pittsburgh, from where after
visit there they are to go to Cleveland,
later to Buffalo, and Niagara Falls.
All delegates seemed in happy frame
OF mind as they journeyed about the
National Capital and nearby Virginia,
the totally blind members of the party
seemingly enjoying the trip equally with
those who have perfect sight.
Given Official Welcome.
The delegates were met at Union
Station upon their arrival yesterday
afternoon by a group headed by DR..
Luther II. Reichelderfer. chairman of
the Board of District Commissioners.
who officially welcomed them in behalf
of the District.
Others in the group included DR.. l..
S. Rowe, director of the Pan American
Union, and representatives of various
groups and organizations. These per-
sons included Miss Eta Josselyn Grit
fin, Miss Mary S. Lawrence, Miss Adelia
Hoyt, Mrs. NJ. Nichols, Miss Henrietta
MetZerott, H. w. r. Miles, Mrs. George
Morris, Mrs. A. Kaufman. M. D. Rosen-
berg, William Father, B. l.. Frisbie,
Representative Sol Bloom, H. c. Cor
pening and Col. E. L. Mattice.
Those who volunteered as interpre-
tiers for the delegates were: DR.. Ste
phanie Hertz of the National Catholic
School Of Social Workers. Miss Tinto of
the Italian embassy. A. c. Carter of the
an-Amerlcan Union. FRANCHISE Lemon
nier Of the French legation and DR.. B.
Angelinovitch of the Jugoslav legation.