1891～1895
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TEE R. KREHL Institution for the Blind, South Boston, Mass., March 20, 1891.My Dear Friend, Mr. Krehl:--I have just heard, through Mr. Wade, of your kind offer to buy me a gentle dog, and I want to thank you for the kind thought. It makes me very happy io know that I have such dear friends in other lands. It makes me think that all people are good and loving. I have read that the English and Ameris are cousins; but I am sure it would be much truer to say that we are brothers and sisters. My friends have told me about yreat and magnifit city, and I have read a great deal that wise Englishmen have written. I have begun to read "Enoch Arden," and I know several of the great poets poems by heart. I am eager to cross the o, for I want to see my English friends and their good and wise queen. Ohe Earl of Meath came to see me, aold me that the queen was much beloved by her people, because of her gentleness and wisdom. Some day you will be surprised to see a little strange girl ing into your office; but when you know it is the little girl who loves dogs and all other animals, you will laugh, and I hope you will give her a kiss, just as Mr. Wade does. He has an for me, ahinks she will be as brave and faithful as my beautiful Lioness. And now I want to tell you what the dog lovers in America are going to do.
They are going to send me some money for a poor little deaf and dumb and blind child. His name is Tommy, and he is five years old. His parents are too poor to pay to have the little fellow sent to school; so, instead of giving me a dog, the gentlemen are going to help make Tommys life as bright and joyous as mine. Is it not a beautiful plan? Education will bring light and musito Tommys soul, and then he ot help being happy.
From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.
TO DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES [South Boston, Mass., April, 1891.] Dear Dr. Holmes:--Your beautiful words about spring have been making musi my heart, these bright April days. I love every word of "Spring" and "Spring Has e." I think you will be glad to hear that these poems have taught me to enjoy and love the beautiful springtime, even though I ot see the fair, frail blossoms which proclaim its approach, or hear the joyous warbling of the home-ing birds. But when I read "Spring Part II. Letters(1887-1901)82
Has e," lo! I am not blind any longer, for I see with your eyes and hear with your ears. Sweet Mother Nature have s from me when my poet is near. I have chosen this paper because I want the spray of violets in the er to tell you of my grateful love. I want you to see baby Tom, the little blind and deaf and dumb child who has just e to our pretty garden. He is poor and helpless and lonely now, but before another April education will have brought light and gladness into Tommys life. If you do e, you will want to ask the kind people of Boston to help brighten Tommys whole life. Your loving friend, HELEN KELLER.
TO SIR JOH MILLAIS Perkins Institution for the Blind, South Boston, Mass., April 30, 1891.
My Dear Mr. Millais:--Your little Ameri sister is going to write you a letter, because she wants you to know how pleased she was to hear you were ied in our poor little Tommy, and had sent some moo help educate him. It is very beautiful to think that people far away in England feel sorry for a little helpless child in America. I used to think, when I read in my books about yreat city, that when I visited it the people would be strao me, but now I feel differently. It seems to me that all people who have loving, pityis, are not strao each other. I hardly atiently for the time to e when I shall see my dear English friends, and their beautiful island home. My favourite poet has written some lines about England which I love very much. I think you will like them too, so I will try to write them for you.
"Hugged in the ging billows clasp, From seaweed frio mountaiher, The British oak with rooted grasp Her slender handful holds together, With cliffs of white and bowers of green, And o narrowing to caress her, And hills and threaded streams between, Our little mother isle, God bless her!”
You will be glad to hear that Tommy has a kind lady to teach him, and that he is a pretty, active little fellow.
He loves to climb much bet<cite></cite>ter than to spell, but that is because he does not know yet what a wonderful thing language is. He agine how very, very happy he will be when he tell us his thoughts, and we tell him how we have loved him so long.
Tomorroril will hide her tears and blushes beh the flowers of lovely May. I wonder if the May-days in England are as beautiful as they are here.
Now I must say good-bye. Please think of me always as your loving little sister, HELEN KELLER.
TO REV. PHILLIPS BROOKS So. Boston, May 1, 1891.
My Dear Mr. Brooks: Helen sends you a loving greeting this bright May-day. My teacher has just told me that you have been made a bishop, and that your friends everywhere are rejoig because one whom they love has beely honored. I do not uand very well what a bishops work is, but I am sure it must be good and helpful, and I am glad that my dear friend is brave, and wise, and loving enough to do it. It is very beautiful to think that you tell so many people of the heavenly Fathers tender love for all His children evehey are not gentle and noble as He wishes them to be. I hope the glad news which you will tell them will make their hearts beat fast with joy and love. I hope too, that Bishop Brooks whole life will be as ri happiness as the month of May is full of blossoms and singing birds. From your loving little friend, HELEN KELLER.
Before a teacher was found for Tommy and while he was still in the care of Helen and Miss Sullivan, a reception was held for him at the kindergarten. At Helens request Bishop Brooks made an address. Helen wrote letters to the neers which brought many generous replies. All of these she answered herself, and she made public aowledgment iers to the neers. This letter is to the editor of the Boston Herald, enclosing a plete list of the subscribers. The tributions amouo more than sixteen hundred dollars.
TO MR. JOHN H. HOLMES South Boston, May 13, 1891. Editor of the Boston Herald: My Dear Mr.
Holmes:--Will you kindly print in the Herald, the enclosed list? I think the readers of your paper will be glad to know that so much has been done for dear little Tommy, and that they will all wish to share in the pleasure Part II. Letters(1887-1901)83
of helping him. He is very happy i the kindergarten, and is learning something every day. He has found out that doors have locks, and that little sticks and bits of paper be got into the key-hole quite easily; but he does not seem very eager to get them out after they are in. He loves to climb the bed-posts and uhe steam valves much better than to spell, but that is because he does not uand that words would help him to make new and iing discoveries. I hope that good people will tio work for Tommy until his fund is pleted, and education has brought light and musito his little life. From your little friend, HELEN KELLER.
TO DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES South Boston, May 27, 1891. Dear, Gentle Poet:--I fear that you will think Helen a very troublesome little girl if she writes to you too often; but how is she to help sending you loving and grateful messages, when you do so muake her glad? I ot begin to tell you how delighted I was when Mr. Anagnos told me that you had sent him some moo help educate "Baby Tom.”
Then I khat you had not fotten the dear little child, for the gift brought with it the thought of tender sympathy. I am very sorry to say that Tommy has not learned any words yet. He is the same restless little creature he was when you saw him. But it is pleasant to think that he is happy and playful in his bright new home, and by and by that strange, wonderful thing teacher calls MIND, will begin to spread its beautiful wings and fly away in search of knowledge-land. Words are the minds wings, are they not?
I have been to Andover since I saw you, and I was greatly ied in all that my friends told me about Phillips Academy, because I knew you had been there, and I felt it lace dear to you. I tried to imagine my gentle poet when he was a school-boy, and I wondered if it was in Andover he learhe songs of the birds and the secrets of the shy little woodland children. I am sure his heart was always full of musid in Gods beautiful world he must have heard loves sweet replying. When I came home teacher read to me "The School-boy," for it is not in our print.
Did you know that the blind children are going to have their e exercises i Temple, uesday afternoon? I enclose a ticket, hoping that you will e. We shall all be proud and happy to wele our poet friend. I shall recite about the beautiful cities of sunny Italy. I hope our kind friend Dr. Ellis will e too, and take Tom in his arms.
With much love and a kiss, from your little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.
TO REV. PHILLIPS BROOKS South Boston, June 8, 1891. My dear Mr. Brooks, I send you my picture as I promised, and I hope when you look at it this summer your thoughts will fly southward to your happy little friend. I used to wish that I could see pictures with my hands as I do statues, but now I do not often think about it because my dear Father has filled my mind with beautiful pictures, even of things I ot see. If the light were not in your eyes, dear Mr. Brooks, you would uaer hoy your little Helen was wheeacher explaio her that the best and most beautiful things in the world ot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart. Every day I find out something which makes me glad. Yesterday I thought for the first time what a beautiful thing motion was, and it seemed to me that everything was trying to get o God, does it seem that way to you? It is Sunday m, and while I sit here in the library writing this letter you are teag hundreds of people some of the grand aiful things about their heavenly Father.
Are you not very, very happy? and when you are a Bishop you will preaore people and more and more will be made glad. Teacher sends her kind remembrances, and I send you with my picture my dear love. From your little friend HELEN KELLER.
When the Perkins Institution closed in June, Helen aeacher went south to Tuscumbia, where they remained until December. There is a hiatus of several months iters, caused by the depressing effe Helen and Miss Sullivan of the "Frost King" episode. At the time this trouble seemed very grave and brought them muhappiness. An analysis of the case has been made elsewhere, and Miss Keller has written her at of it.
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TO MR. ALBERT H. MUNSELL Brewster, Mar. 10, 1892. My dear Mr. Munsell, Surely I need not tell you that your letter was very wele. I enjoyed every word of it and wished that it was longer. I laughed when you spoke of old unes wild moods. He has, in truth, behaved very strangely ever since we came to Brewster. It is evident that something has displeased his Majesty but I agine what it be. His expression has been so turbulent that I have feared to give him your kind message. Who knows! Perhaps the Old Sea God as he lay asleep upon the shore, heard the soft music of growing things--the stir of life in the earths bosom, and his stormy heart was angry, because he khat his and Winters reign was almost at an end. So together the unhappy monarch[s] fought most despairingly, thinking that gentle Spring would turn and fly at the very sight of the havoc caused by their forces. But lo! the lovely maiden only smiles more sweetly, and breathes upon the icy battlements of her enemies, and in a moment they vanish, and the glad Earth gives her a royal wele. But I must put away these idle fancies until we meet again. Please give your dear mother my love. Teacher wishes me to say that she liked the photograph very mud she will see about having some wheurn. Now, dear friend, Please accept these few words because of the love that is linked with them. Lovingly yours HELEN KELLER.
This letter was reproduced in facsimile in St. Nicholas, June, 1892. It is undated, but must have been written two or three months before it ublished.
To St. Nicholas Dear St. Nicholas: It gives me very great pleasure to send you my autograph because I want the boys and girls who read St.
Nicholas to know how blind children write. I suppose some of them wonder how we keep the lines sht so I will try to tell them how it is done. We have a grooved board which we put between the pages when we wish to write. The parallel grooves correspond to lines and when ressed the paper into them by means of the blunt end of the pencil it is very easy to keep the words even. The small letters are all made in the grooves, while the long oend above and below them. We guide the pencil with the right hand, and feel carefully with the forefinger of the left hand to see that we shape and space the letters correctly. It is very difficult at first to form them plainly, but if we keep it gradually bees easier, and after a great deal of practice we write legible letters to our friends. Then we are very, very happy. Sometime they may visit a school for the blind. If they do, I am sure they will wish to see the pupils write. Very sincerely your little friend HELEN KELLER.
In May, 1892, Helen gave a tea in aid of the kindergarten for the blind. It was quite her own idea, and was given in the house of Mrs. Mahlon D. Spaulding, sister of Mr. John P. Spaulding, one of Helens ki and most liberal friends. The tea brought more than two thousand dollars for the blind children.
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY South Boston, May 9, 1892. My dear Miss Carrie:--I was much pleased to receive your kier. Need I tell you that I was more than delighted to hear that you are really ied in the "tea"? Of course we must not give it up. Very soon I am going far away, to my own dear home, in the sunny south, and it would always make me happy to think that the last thing which my dear friends in Boston did for my pleasure was to help make the lives of many little sightless children good and happy. I know that kind people ot help feeling a tender sympathy for the little ones, who ot see the beautiful light, or any of the wonderful things which give them pleasure; and it seems to me that all loving sympathy must express itself in acts of kindness; and when the friends of little helpless blind children uand that we are w for their happiness, they will e and make our "tea" a success, and I am sure I shall be the happiest little girl in all the world. Please let Bishop Brooks know our plans, so that he may arrao be with us. I am glad Miss Eleanor is ied. Please give her my love. I will see you to-morrow and then we make the rest of our plans. Please give your dear aunt teachers and my love and tell her that we enjoyed our little visit very mudeed. Lovingly yours, HELEN KELLER.
TO MR. JOHN P. SPAULDING South Boston, May 11th, 1892. My dear Mr. Spaulding:--I am afraid you will think your little friend, Heleroublesome when you read this letter; but I am sure you will not Part II. Letters(1887-1901)85
blame me when I tell you that I am very anxious about something. You remember teacher and I told you Sunday that I wao have a little tea in aid of the kindergartehought everything was arranged: but we found Monday that Mrs. Elliott would not be willing to let us invite more than fifty people, because Mrs.
Howes house is quite small. I am sure that a great many people would like to e to the tea, and help me do something thten the lives of little blind children; but some of my friends say that I shall have to give up the idea of having a tea unless we find another house. Teacher said yesterday, that perhaps Mrs. Spaulding would be willing to let us have her beautiful house, and [I] thought I would ask you about it. Do you think Mrs. Spaulding would help me, if I wrote to her? I shall be so disappointed if my little plans fail, because I have wanted for a long time to do something for the poor little ones who are waiting to ehe kindergarten.
Please let me know what you think about the house, and try tive me for troubling you so much.
Lovingly your little friend, HELEN KELLER.
TO MR. EDWARD H. CLEMENT South Boston, May 18th, 1892. My dear Mr. Clement:--I am going to write to you this beautiful m because my heart is brimful of happiness and I want you and all my dear friends iranscript office to rejoice with me. The preparations for my tea are nearly pleted, and I am looking forward joyfully to the event. I know I shall not fail. Kind people will not disappoint me, when they know that I plead for helpless little children who live in darkness and ignorahey will e to my tea and buy light,--the beautiful light of knowledge and love for many little ones who are blind and friendless. I remember perfectly when my dear teacher came to me. Then I was like the little blind children who are waiting to ehe kindergarten. There was no light in my soul. This wonderful world with all its sunlight ay was hidden from me, and I had never dreamed of its loveliness. But teacher came to me and taught my little fio use the beautiful key that has unlocked the door of my dark prison a my spirit free.
It is my ear wish to share my happiness with others, and I ask the kind people of Boston to help me make the lives of little blind children brighter and happier. Lovingly your little friend, HELEN KELLER.
At the end of June Miss Sullivan and Hele home to Tuscumbia.
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY Tuscumbia, Alabama, July 9th 1892.
My dear Carrie--You are to look upon it as a most positive proof of my love that I write to you to-day. For a whole week it has been "cold and dark and dreary" in Tuscumbia, and I must fess the tinuous rain and dismalness of the weather fills me with gloomy thoughts and makes the writing of letters, or any pleasant employment, seem quite impossible. heless, I must tell you that we are alive,--that we reached home safely, and that we speak of you daily, and enjoy your iiers very much. I had a beautiful visit at Hulton. Everything was fresh and spring-like, aayed out of doors all day. We even ate our breakfast out on the piazza. Sometimes we sat in the hammock, and teacher read to me. I rode horsebaearly every evening and once I rode five miles at a fast gallop. O, it was great fun! Do you like to ride? I have a very pretty little cart now, and if it ever stops raining teacher and I are going to drive every evening. And I have another beautiful Mastiff- the largest one I ever saw--and he will go along to protect us. His name is Eumer. A queer name, is it not? I think it is Saxon. We expect to go to the mountai week. My little brother, Phillips, is not well, ahink the clear mountain air will be him. Mildred is a sweet little sister and I am sure you would love her. I thank you very much for your photograph. I like to have my friends pictures even though I ot see them. I was greatly amused at the idea of your writing the square hand. I do not write on a Braille tablet, as you suppose, but on a grooved board like the piece which I enclose. You could not read Braille; for it is written in dots, not at all like ordinary letters. Please give my love to Miss Derby and tell her that I hope she gave my sweetest love to Baby Ruth. What was the book you sent me for my birthday? I received several, and I do not know which was from you. I had one gift which especially pleased me. It was a lovely cape crocheted, for me, by an old gentlemay-five years of age. And every stitch, he writes, represents a kind wish for my health and happiness. Tell your little cousins I think they had better get upon the feh me until after the ele; for there are so many parties and didates that I doubt if such youthful politis would make a wise sele. Please give my love to Rosy when you write, and believe me, Your Part II. Letters(1887-1901)86
loving friend HELEN KELLER. P.S. How do you like this type-writteer? H. K.
TROVER CLEVELAND My dear Mrs. Cleveland, I am going to write you a little letter this beautiful m because I love you and dear little Ruth very mudeed, and also because I wish to thank you for the loving message which you sehrough Miss Derby. I am glad, very glad that such a kind, beautiful lady loves me. I have loved you for a long time, but I did not think you had ever heard of me until your sweet message came. Please kiss your dear little baby for me, and tell her I have a little brother nearly sixteen months old. His name is Phillips Brooks. I named him myself after my dear friend Phillips Brooks. I send you with this letter a pretty book which my teacher thinks will i you, and my picture. Please accept them with the love and good wishes of your friend, HELEN KELLER. Tuscumbia, Alabama.
November fourth. [1892.] Hitherto the letters have been given in full; from this point on passages are omitted and the omissions are indicated.
TO MR. JOHN HITZ Tuscumbia, Alabama, Dec. 19, 1892.
My Dear Mr. Hitz, I hardly know how to begin a letter to you, it has been such a long time since your kier reached me, and there is so much that I would like to write if I could. You must have wondered why your letter has not had an answer, and perhaps you have thought Teacher and me very naughty indeed. If so, you will be very sorry when I tell you something. Teachers eyes have been hurting her so that she could not write to any one, and I have been trying to fulfil a promise which I made last summer. Before I left Boston, I was asked to write a skety life for the Youths panion. I had inteo write the sketch during my vacation: but I was not well, and I did not feel able to write even to my friends. But when the bright, pleasant autumn days came, and I felt strong again I began to think about the sketch. It was some time before I could plan it to suit me. You see, it is not very pleasant to write all about ones self. At last, however, I got something bit by bit that Teacher thought would do, and I set about putting the scraps together, which was not an easy task: for, although I worked some on it every day, I did not finish it until a week ago Saturday. I sent the sketch to the panion as soon as it was finished; but I do not know that they will accept it. Sihen, I have not been well, and I have been obliged to keep very quiet, a; but to-day I am better, and to-morrow I shall be well again, I hope.
The reports which you have read in the paper about me are not true at all. We received the Silent Worker which you sent, and I wrht away to the editor to tell him that it was a mistake. Sometimes I am not well; but I am not a "wreck," and there is nothing "distressing" about my dition.
I enjoyed your dear letter so much! I am always delighted when anyone writes me a beautiful thought which I treasure in my memory forever. It is because my books are full of the riches of which Mr. Ruskin speaks that I love them so dearly. I did not realize until I began to write the sketch for the panion, recious panions books have been to me, and how blessed even my life has been: and now I am happier than ever because I do realize the happihat has e to me. I hope you will write to me as often as you .
Teacher and I are always delighted to hear from you. I want to write to Mr. Bell and send him my picture. I suppose he has been too busy to write to his little friend. I often think of the pleasant time we had all together in Boston last spring.
Now I am going to tell you a secret. I thieacher, and my father and little sister, and myself, will visit Washingto March!!! Then I shall see you, and dear Mr. Bell, and Elsie and Daisy again! Would not it be lovely if Mrs. Pratt could meet us there? I think I will write to her and tell her the secret too.... Lovingly your little friend, HELEN KELLER. P.S. Teacher says you want to know what kind of a pet I would like to have. I love all living things,--I suppose everyone does; but of course I ot have a menagerie. I have a beautiful pony, and Part II. Letters(1887-1901)87
a large dog. And I would like a little dog to hold in my lap, or a big pussy (there are no fis in Tuscumbia) or a parrot. I would like to feel a parrot talk, it would be so much fun! but I would be pleased with, and love any little creature you send me. H. K.
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY Tuscumbia, Alabama, February 18, 1893. ...You have often been in my thoughts during these sad days, while my heart has been grieving over the loss of my beloved friend [Phillips Brooks died January 23, 1893], and I have wished many times that I was in Boston with those who knew and loved him as I did... he was so much of a friend to me! so tender and loving always! I do try not to mourn his death too sadly. I do try to think that he is still near, very near; but sometimes the thought that he is not here, that I shall not see him when I go to Boston,--that he is gone,--rushes over my soul like a great wave of sorrow. But at other times, when I am happier, I do feel his beautiful presence, and his loving hand leading me in pleasant ways. Do you remember the happy hour we spent with him last June when he held my hand, as he always did, and talked to us about his friend Tennyson, and our own dear poet Dr. Holmes, and I tried to teach him the manual alphabet, and he laughed so gaily over his mistakes, and afterward I told him about my tea, and he promised to e? I hear him now, saying in his cheerful, decided way, in reply to my wish that my tea might be a success, "Of course it will, Helen. Put your whole heart in the good work, my child, and it ot fail." I am glad the people are going to raise a moo his memory....
In March Helen and Miss Sulliva North, and spent the few months traveling and visiting friends.
In reading this letter about Niagara one should remember that Miss Keller knows distand shape, and that the size of Niagara is within her experieer she has explored it, crossed the bridge and gone down in the elevator. Especially important are such details as her feeling the rush of the water by putting her hand on the window. Dr. Bell gave her a down pillow, which she held against her to increase the vibrations.
TO MRS. KATE ADAMS KELLER South Boston, April 13, 1893. ...Teacher, Mrs. Pratt and I very uedly decided to take a journey with dear Dr. Bell Mr. Westervelt, a gentleman whom father met in Washington, has a school for the deaf in Rochester. We went there first....
Mr. Westervelt gave us a receptioernoon. A great many people came. Some of them asked odd questions. A lady seemed surprised that I loved flowers when I could not see their beautiful colors, and when I assured her I did love them, she said, "no doubt you feel the colors with your fingers." But of course, it is not alone for their bright colors that we love the flowers.... A gentleman asked me what BEAUTY meant to my mind. I must fess I uzzled at first. But after a minute I answered that beauty was a form of goodness--and he went away.
When the reception was over we went back to the hotel and teacher slept quite unscious of the surprise which was in store for her. Mr. Bell and I pla together, and Mr. Bell made all the arras before we told teacher anything about it. This was the surprise--I was to have the pleasure of taking my dear teacher to see Niagara Falls!...
The hotel was so he river that I could feel it rushing past by putting my hand on the window. The m the sun rose bright and warm, a up quickly for our hearts were full of pleasant expectation.... You ever imagine how I felt when I stood in the presence of Niagara until you have the same mysterious sensations yourself. I could hardly realize that it was water that I felt rushing and plunging with impetuous fury at my feet. It seemed as if it were some living thing rushing on to some terrible fate. I wish I could describe the cataract as it is, its beauty and awful grandeur, and the fearful and irresistible plunge of its waters over the brow of the precipice. One feels helpless and overwhelmed in the presence of such a vast force. I had the same feeling once before when I first stood by the great o a its waves beating against the shore. I suppose you feel so, too, when you gaze up to the stars iillness of the night, do you not?... We went down a hundred and twenty feet in aor that we might see the violent eddies and whirlpools in the deep ge below the Falls. Within two miles of the Falls is a wonderful suspensie.
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It is thrown across the ge at a height of two hundred and fifty-eight feet above the water and is supported on each bank by towers of solid rock, which are eight hundred feet apart. When we crossed over to the adian side, I cried, "God save the Queen!" Teacher said I was a little traitor. But I do not think so. I was only doing as the adians do, while I was in their try, and besides I hlands good queen.
You will be pleased, dear Mother, to hear that a kind lady whose name is Miss Hooker is endeav to improve my speech. Oh, I do so hope and pray that I shall speak well some day!...
Mr. Munsell spent last Sunday evening with us. How you would have enjoyed hearing him tell about Venice!
His beautiful word-pictures made us feel as if we were sitting in the shadow of San Marco, dreaming, or sailing upon the moonlit al.... I hope when I visit Venice, as I surely shall some day, that Mr. Munsell will go with me. That is my castle in the air. You see, none of my friends describe things to me so vividly and so beautifully as he does....
Her visit to the Worlds Fair she described in a letter to Mr. John P. Spaulding, which ublished in St.
Nicholas, and is much like the followier. In a prefatory note which Miss Sullivan wrote for St.
Nicholas, she says that people frequently said to her, "Helen sees more with her fihan we do with our eyes." The President of the Exposition gave her this letter: TO THE CHIEFS OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF BUILDINGS AND EXHIBITS GENTLEMEN--The bearer, Miss Helen Keller, apanied by Miss Sullivan, is desirous of making a plete iion of the Exposition in all Departments. She is blind and deaf, but is able to verse, and is introduced to me as one having a wonderful ability to uand the objects she visits, and as being possessed of a high order of intelligend of culture beyond her years. Please favour her with every facility to examihe exhibits in the several Departments, aend to her such other courtesies as may be possible.
Thanking you in advance for the same, I am, with respect, Very truly yours, (signed) H. N. HIGINBOTHAM, President.
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY Hulton, Penn., August 17, 1893.
...Every o the Fair was very kind to me... Nearly all of the exhibitors seemed perfectly willing to let me touch the most delicate things, and they were very nice about explaining everything to me. A French gentleman, whose name I ot remember, showed me the great French bronzes. I believe they gave me more pleasure than anything else at the Fair: they were so lifelike and wonderful to my touch. Dr. Bell went with us himself to the electrical building, and showed us some of the historical telephones. I saw the ohrough which Emperor Dom Pedro listeo the words, "To be, or not to be," at the tennial. Dr. Gillett of Illinois took us to the Liberal Arts and Womans buildings. In the former I visited Tiffanys exhibit, ahe beautiful Tiffany diamond, which is valued at one huhousand dollars, and touched many other rare and costly things. I sat in King Ludwigs armchair a like a queen when Dr. Gillett remarked that I had many loyal subjects. At the Womans buildi the Princess Maria Schaovskoy of Russia, and a beautiful Syrian lady. I liked them both very much. I went to the Japanese department with Prof. Morse who is a well-knowurer. I never realized what a wonderful people the Japanese are until I saw their most iing exhibit. Japan must indeed be a paradise for children to judge from the great number of playthings which are manufactured there. The queer-looking Japanese musical instruments, and their beautiful works of art were iing. The Japanese books are very odd. There are forty-seveers in their alphabets. Prof.
Morse knows a great deal about Japan, and is very kind and wise. He invited me to visit his museum in Salem the ime I go to Boston. But I think I ehe sails oranquil lagoon, and the lovely ses, as my friends described them to me, more than anything else at the Fair. Once, while we were out oer, the su dowhe rim of the earth, and threw a soft, rosy light over the White City, making it look Part II. Letters(1887-1901)89
more than ever like Dreamland....
Of course, we visited the Midlaisa was a bewildering and fasating place. I went into the streets of Cairo, and rode on the camel. That was fine fun. We also rode in the Ferris wheel, and on the ice-railway, and had a sail in the Whale-back....
In the spring of 1893 a club was started in Tuscumbia, of which Mrs. Keller resident, to establish a public library. Miss Keller says: "I wrote to my friends about the work and enlisted their sympathy. Several hundred books, including many fine ones, were sent to me in a short time, as well as money and encement. This generous assistanced the ladies, and they have gone on colleg and buying books ever since, until now they have a very bbr>..</abbr>respectable public library iown.”
TO MRS. CHARLES E. INCHES Hulton, Penn., Oct. 21, 1893. ...We speember at home in Tuscumbia... and were all very happy together.... Our quiet mountain home was especially attractive aful after the excitement and fatigue of our visit to the Worlds Fair. We ehe beauty and solitude of the hills more than ever.
And now we are in Hulton, Penn. again where I am going to study this winter with a tutor assisted by my dear teacher. I study Arithmetic, Latin and literature. I enjoy my lessons very much. It is so pleasant to learn about hings. Every day I find how little I know, but I do not feel disced since God has given me ay in which to learn more. In literature I am studying Longfellows poetry. I know a great deal of it by heart, for I loved it long before I knew a metaphor from a synecdoche. I used to say I did not like arithmetic very well, but now I have ged my mind. I see what a good and useful study it is, though I must fess my mind wanders from it sometimes! for, nid useful as arithmetic is, it is not as iing as a beautiful poem or a lovely story. But bless me, how time does fly. I have only a few moments left in which to answer your questions about the "Helen Keller" Public Library.
1. I think there are about 3,000 people in Tuscumbia, Ala., and perhaps half of them are colored people. 2. At present there is no library of any sort iown. That is why I thought about starting one. My mother and several of my lady friends said they would help me, and they formed a club, the object of which is to work for the establishment of a free public library in Tuscumbia. They have now about 100 books and about $55 in money, and a kileman has given us land on which to erect a library building. But in the meahe club has rented a little room in a tral part of the town, and the books which we already have are free to all.
3. Only a few of my kind friends in Boston know anything about the library. I did not like to trouble them while I was trying to get money for poor little Tommy, for of course it was more important that he should be educated than that my people should have books to read. 4. I do not know what books we have, but I think it is a miscellaneous (I think that is the word) colle....
P.S. My teacher thinks it would be more businesslike to say that a list of the tributors toward the building fund will be kept and published in my fathers paper, the "North Alabamian." H. K.
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY Hulton, Penn., December 28, 1893. ...Please thank dear Miss Derby for me for the pretty shield which she se is a very iing souvenir of bus, and of the Fair White City; but I ca<q></q>nnot imagine what discoveries I have made,--I mean new discoveries. We are all discoverers in one sense, being born quite ignorant of all things; but I hardly think that is what she meant. Tell her she must explain why I am a discoverer....
TO DR. EDWARD EVERETT HALE Hulton, Pennsylvania, January 14, [1894]. My dear Cousin: I had thought to write to you long before this in ao your kier which I was so glad to receive, and to thank you for the beautiful little book which you sent me; but I have been very busy sihe beginning of the Part II. Letters(1887-1901)90
New Year. The publication of my little story in the Youths panion has brought me a large number of letters,--last week I received sixty-one!--and besides replying to some of these letters, I have many lessons to learn, among them Arithmetid Latin; and, you know, Caesar is Caesar still, imperious and tyrannical, and if a little girl would uand so great a man, and the wars and quests of which he tells in his beautiful Latin language, she must study mud think much, and study and thought require time.
I shall prize the little book always, not only for its own value; but because of its associations with you. It is a delight to think of you as the giver of one of your books into which, I am sure, you have wrought your own thoughts and feelings, and I thank you very much for remembering me in such a very beautiful way....
In February Helen and Miss Sullivauro Tuscumbia. They spent the rest of the spring reading and studying. In the summer they attehe meeting at Chautauqua of the Ameri Association for the Promotion of the Teag of Speech to the Deaf, where Miss Sullivan read a paper on Helen Kellers education.
In the fall Helen and Miss Sullivaered the Wright-Humason School in New York, which makes a special of lip-reading and voice-culture. The "singing lessons" were tthen her voice. She had taken a few piano lessons at the Perkins Institution. The experiment was iing, but of course came to little.
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY The Wright-Humason School. 42 West 76th St. New York. Oct. 23, 1894.
...The school is very pleasant, and bless you! it is quite fashionable.... I study Arithmetiglish Literature and Uates History as I did last winter. I also keep a diary. I enjoy my singing lessons with Dr.
Humason more than I say. I expect to take piano lessons sometime....
Last Saturday our kind teachers planned a delightful trip to Bedloes Island to see Bartholdis great statue of Liberty enlightening the world.... The a on, which look seaward, wear a very menag expression; but I doubt if there is any unkindness in their rusty old hearts.
Liberty is a gigantic figure of a woman in Greek draperies, holding in her right hand a torch.... A spiral stairway leads from the base of this pedestal to the torch. We climbed up to the head which will hold forty persons, and viewed the se on which Liberty gazes day and night, and O, how wonderful it was! We did not wohat the great French artist thought the place worthy to be the home of his grand ideal. The glorious bay lay calm aiful iober sunshine, and the ships came a like idle dreams; those seaward going slowly disappeared like clouds that ge from gold to gray; those homeward ing sped more quickly like birds that seek their mothers ....
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY The Wright-Humason School. New York, March 15, 1895. ...I think I have improved a little in lip-reading, though I still find it very difficult to read rapid speech; but I am sure I shall succeed some day if I only persevere. Dr. Humason is still trying to improve my speech. Oh, Carrie, how I should like to speak like other people! I should be willing to work night and day if it could only be aplished. Think what a joy it would be to all of my friends to hear me speak naturally!! I wonder why it is so difficult and perplexing for a<bdo></bdo> deaf child to learn to speak when it is so easy for other people; but I am sure I shall speak perfectly some time if I am only patient....
Although I have been so busy, I have found time to read a good deal.... I have lately read "Wilhelm Tell" by Schiller, and "The Lost Vestal."... Now I am reading "Nathan the Wise" by Lessing and "King Arthur" by Miss Mulock.
...You know our kind teachers take us to see everything which they think will i us, and we learn a great deal in that delightful way. On Gee Washingtons birthday we all went to the Dog Show, and although there was a great crowd in the Madison Square Garden, ae the bewilderment caused by the variety of sounds made by the dog-orchestra, which was very fusing to those who could hear them, we ehe Part II. Letters(1887-1901)91
afternoon very much. Among the dogs which received the most attentiohe bulldogs. They permitted themselves startling liberties when any one caressed them, crowding themselves almost into ones arms and helping themselves without ceremony to kisses, apparently unscious of the impropriety of their duct.
Dear me, what uiful little beasts they are! But they are so good natured and friendly, one ot help liking them.
Dr. Humason, Teacher, and I left the others at the Dog Show ao a reception given by the "Metropolitan Club."... It is sometimes called the "Millionaires Club." The building is magnifit, being built of white marble; the rooms are large and splendidly furnished; but I must fess, so much splendor is rather oppressive to me; and I didnt envy the millionaires in the least all the happiheir geous surroundings are supposed t them....
TO MRS. KATE ADAMS KELLER New York, March 31, 1895. ...Teacher and I spent the afternoon at Mr.
Huttons, and had a most delightful time!... We met Mr. Clemens and Mr. Howells there! I had known about them for a long time; but I had hought that I should see them, and talk to them; and I scarcely realize now that this great pleasure has been mine! But, much as I wohat I, only a little girl of fourteen, should e in tact with so many distinguished people, I do realize that I am a very happy child, and very grateful for the maiful privileges I have ehe two distinguished authors were very gentle and kind, and I could not tell which of them I loved best. Mr. Clemens told us maertaining stories, and made us laugh till we cried. I only wish you could have seen and heard him! He told us that he would go to Europe in a few days t his wife and his daughter, Jeanne, baerica, because Jeanne, who is studying in Paris, has learned so mu three years and a half that if he did n her home, she would soon know more than he did. I think Mark Twain is a very appropriate nom de plume for Mr. Clemens because it has a funny and quaint sound, and goes well with his amusing writings, and its nautical significe suggests the deep aiful things that he has written. I think he is very handsome indeed.... Teacher said she thought he looked something like Paradeuski. (If that is the way to spell the name.) Mr. Howells told me a little about Venice, which is one of his favorite cities, and spoke very tenderly of his dear little girl, Winnifred, who is now with God. He has another daughter, named Mildred, who knows Carrie. I might have seen Mrs. Wiggin, the sweet author of "Birds Christmas Carol," but she had a dangerous cough and could not e. I was much disappointed not to see her, but I hope I shall have that pleasure some other time. Mr. Hutton gave me a lovely little glass, shaped like a thistle, which beloo his dear mother, as a souvenir of my delightful visit. We also met Mr. Rogers... who kindly left his carriage t us home.
When the Wright-Humason School closed for the summer, Miss Sullivan and Hele South.
TO MRS. LAURETON Tuscumbia, Alabama, July 29, 1895. ...I am spending my vacation very quietly and pleasantly at my beautiful, sunny home, with my loving parents, my darling little sister and my small brother, Phillips My precious teacher is with me too, and so of course I am happy I read a little, walk a little, write a little and play with the children a great deal, and the days slip by delightfully!...
My friends are so pleased with the improvement which I made in speed lip-reading last year, that it has been decided best for me to tinue my studies in New York another year I am delighted at the prospect, of spending another year in yreat city I used to think that I should never feel "at home" in New York, but since I have made the acquaintance of so many people, and look back to such a bright and successful wihere, I find myself looking forward to year, and anticipating still brighter aer times iropolis Please give my ki love to Mr Hutton, and Mrs Riggs and Mr Waroo, although I have never had the pleasure of knowing him personally As I listen Venicewards, I hear Mr Huttons pen dang over the pages of his new book It is a pleasant sound because it is full of promise How much I shall enjoy reading it!
Please pardon me, my dear Mrs Hutton, for sending you a typewritteer across the o I have tried Part II. Letters(1887-1901)92
several times to write with a peny little writing mae since I came home; but I have found it very difficult to do so on at of the heat The moisture of my hand soils and blurs the paper so dreadfully, that I am pelled to use my typewriter altogether And it is not my "Remington" either, but a naughty little thing that gets out of order on the slightest provocation, and ot be io make a period...
TO MRS. WILLIAM THAW New York, October 16, 1895. Here we are once more in the great metropolis!
We left Hulton Friday night and arrived here Saturday m. Our friends were greatly surprised to see us, as they had not expected us before the last of this month. I rested Saturday afternoon, for I was very tired, and Sunday I visited with my sates, and now that I feel quite rested, I am going to write to you; for I know you will want to hear that we reached New York safely. We had to ge cars at Philadelphia; but we did not mind it much. After we had had our breakfast, Teacher asked one of the train-men iation if the New York train was made up. He said no, it would not be called for about fifteen minutes; so we sat down to wait; but in a moment the man came bad asked Teacher if we would like to go to the train at once. She said we would, aook us way out orad put us on board our train. Thus we avoided the rush and had a nice quiet visit before the train started. Was that not very kind? So it always is. Some one is ever ready to scatter little acts of kindness along our pathway, making it smooth and pleasant...
We had a quiet but very pleasant time in Hulton. Mr. Wade is just as dear and good as ever! He has lately had several books printed in England for me, "Old Mortality," "The Castle of Otranto" and "King of No-land."...
TO MISS CAROLINE DERBY New York, December 29, 1895. ...Teacher and I have been very gay of late.
We have seen our kind friends, Mrs. Dodge, Mr. and Mrs. Hutton, Mrs. Riggs and her husband, a many distinguished people, among whom were Miss Ellen Terry, Sir Henry Irving and Mr. Sto! Werent we very fortunate? Miss Terry was lovely. She kissed Teacher and said, "I do not know whether I am glad to see you or not; for I feel so ashamed of myself when I think of how much you have done for the little girl." We also met Mr. and Mrs. Terry, Miss Terrys brother and his wife. I thought her beauty angellid oh, what a clear, beautiful voice she had! We saw Miss Terry again with Sir Henry in "King Charles the First," a week ago last Friday, and after the play they kindly let me feel of them a an idea of how they looked. How noble and kingly the King was, especially in his misfortunes! And how pretty and faithful the poor Queen was! The play seemed so real, we almost fot where we were, and believed we were watg the genuine ses as they were acted so long ago. The last act affected us most deeply, and we all wept, w how the executioner could have the heart to tear the King from his loving wifes arms.
I have just finished reading "Ivanhoe." It was very exg; but I must say I did not enjoy it very much. Sweet Rebecca, with her strong, brave spirit, and her pure, generous nature, was the only character which thhly won my admiration. Now I am reading "Stories from Scottish History," and they are very thrilling and abs!...
The wo letters were written just after the death of Mr. John P. Spaulding.
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