Evening star., 1936-10-25
EYES Of WOMAN
LIGHTED 3 LIVES
Tragic Death of Helen keI-
Ier's Teacher Reveals Role
of Her Secretary.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, october 24.-The Sc
cret eyes through which Helen Keller
the famous blind woman, sees the
world were revealed today by the Sec
ond great tragedy Of her life.
The story is that of Scotch woman
who lived three lives for IA years and
had to see everything she looked az IN
three different ways.
Today that woman-Mlss Polly
Thomson. Miss Keller's secretary
lives only twice. Her third SELF Mrs.
Anne Sullivan Macy, Miss keilers
teacher, died this week.
Until Mrs. Macy's death, the woman
from the Scottish Highlands was an
unsung heroine of one of history's
most amazing households. For
decade and a half she buried her
identity in the task of serving as eyes
for the blind, deaf Miss Keller and
the virtually blind teacher VINO iee
Miss Keller to international fame.
While she lived the teacher held the
spotlight for her accomplishment IN
teaching her pupil to speak ana 10
''hear" through her hands.
Tn death. to Miss Keller a tragedy
second only to her afiiction, the
teacher gave the world secret only
few friends had known:
It was not Mrs Macy, great though
her contribution was, but Miss Tnom-
son through whom Miss Keller saw
life. saw it almost as clearly as thougn
the ewes were her own.
Kept Normal Household.
To keep her employer abreast OF
current events, Miss Thomson maii-
tanned a blind household on lines
astoundngly close to normal.
The mere fact that her two COM
panions could not see did not prevent
their reading their favorite newspaper
at breakfast every morning.
propping it up, in traditional break
fast fashion. the secretary would reao
as she served the meal. Mrs. Macy
Who could hear. would hold MISS
Keller's hand and relay the news 70
her in flnger-tip writing" Miss kel-
Ter would comment in her monotone
voice, and discussion would pass from
hand to hand.
If the news were particularly inter-
esting, the three would retire TO tne
living room and talk it over In detail
After that on an average day.
would come the sorting OF the mall
More often than not, Miss Keller
would have a speech or plea OF some
sort to write for aid to the blind.
While she went to the third floor TO
write it. finding her own way to her
study. Miss Thomson would go through
the incoming envelopes.
If there was an urgent letter, tile
secretary would stamp her foot on the
floor. Miss Keller would feel the VI
bration upstairs, and hurry down 70
compose an answer.
Heard" Radio Vibrations.
II the telephone or the doorbell
rang. the secretary must answer. II
guests came, she must serve tea, ana
act as Interpreter between hostesses
and guests.
When evening came, there was en-
tertainment to think Of. They might
stay home and listen to the radio,
with Miss Thomson writing tne
broadcast in Miss Keller's palm. II
there was music. Miss Keller's hnsers
would rest on the loudspeaker to PICK
up vibration.
They went to movies, too, ana plays
Miss keller saw the scenes as they
f1ickered on and off the screen, thanks
again to her secretary's nimble fingers.
If Mrs. Macy went along, the relay
worked again.
A day like this is wearing for the
manual alphabet they use Is stren-
uous exercise.
It was because of Mrs. Macy's fall
ing eyesight that the 29-year-old
woman from Glasgow became MISS
Keller's secretary in 1914.
Miss Keller was on a lecture tour
Of the country then, and some one
was needed to handle mechanical de-
tails. She must be secretary on the
road, a cook in the kitchen, CO.
hostess in the parlor and gardener
in the back yard.
Miss Thomson has been all those
things, living two lives-Miss Keller's
and her own-for % years. In 1922
in Toronto, Canada, the glare of the
footlights began drawing the final
curtain over Mrs. Macy's eyes. The
teachers sight had never been good.
She knew people by their voices rather
than their faces She read only coarse
print, and could not interpret street
signs. The footlights drove her from
the platforms where Miss Keller ap-
peared.
Miss Thomson took her place, thus
acquiring a third existence.