MISS HELEN KELLER

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25566, 6 August 1948, Page 6

MISS HELEN KELLER

IMPRESSIONS OF N.Z. TOUR DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR IN CHRISTCHURCH An overwhelming love of beauty and an intense, all-comprehending altruism are the two dominant characteristics which must impress all who meet. Miss Helen Keller, the distingished blind and deaf American author, whose name has become synonymous with victory over possibly the cruellest of human afflictions. Miss Killer and her secretary, Miss Polly Thompson, arrived in Christchurch yesterday afternoon from Wellington. Immaculately dressed in a grey tailored suit ana smart white-trimmed hat, Miss Keller stepped from the aeroplane at the Harewood airport, obviously pleased at the prospect of making new friends and seeing—for, through her remarkable gifts of perception, she may well be said to see -new places. About 20 minutes later, Still attired in her travelling clothes, she received seven reporters and a photographer in her hotel suite. Overshadowed only by Miss Keller’s own remarkable gifts is the amazing manner in which Miss Thompson, her constant companion for 34 years, interprets to her the speech of others. Miss Thompson is able to transmit speech to Miss Keller at a speed of up to 85 words a minute by means of “hand language.” Alternatively, Miss Keller can “hear” by placing her fingers over the lips and nose of Miss Thompson, and of other persons, Miss Thompson, whose intellectual unity with Miss Keller is immediately apparent, jocularly accuses her of “eavesdropping 6 through this alternative method of “hearing.” . Miss Keller’s speech .is often readily comprehensible to the average person, but generally Miss Thompson “interprets” for her. Yesterday Miss Keller pronounced “Kaikoura” with unusual accuracy for a visitor previously unacquainted with Maori names. Impressions of Christchurch

“I am delighted to be in this sweet English town, with hedges around the gardens and the little River Avon,” said Miss Keller. “I have already been impressed with its many bicycles. And what a welcome I have received. This lovely bouquet in my room is from the disabled servicemen, and their gesture has touched me deeply. “Flowers mean a great deal to me. All my life flowers have been among the few things I have been able to feel physically. . I derive the same joy from them as I think you derive from light, colour and music.” Miss Keller said she had had a splendid flight from Wellington. and she had enjoyed a wonderful view of the Kaikoura ranges, which had reminded her of the Swiss Alps. “Christchurch must be very picturesque,” she continued. “I am still dazzled by the very beauty of New Zealand, which outshines any mental picture I have had.

“I have seen the picturesquenesg of Auckland, between its two harbours. I have seen Wellington with its gorgeous cliffs and winding roads, which reminded me of Cornwall. My impressions have been very deep. I have seen the yellow gorse. . . . “Helen, that is a pest in this country: you mustn’t talk about it,” interjected Miss Thompson. “Ah, ales,” replied Miss. Keller, with an expressive gesture. Then, replying to ,a reporter’s question, she said she indeed had smelt the gorse, and also the wattles. New Zealand People “I love the New Zealand people; they are splendid, strong, healthy, and hearty, and warm,” she continued. “I’m told they are reserved, but I don’t feel it. I feel their love around ’me, and I would not exchange it for all the wealth in the kingdoms of the world, and I have been lifted up to a peak and shown both.” Miss Keller said she had come to New Zealand to see. her friends, the deaf, tb'' blind, and the seeing, but she had bee'>. met with tributes to her own attributes. She had met several Maoris, but wanted to see more of them. “What great explorers they were in the thirteenth century, and what fine navigators, though they did not have our modern methods,” she commented. “They must be a very highly intelligent people. They must be something like the ancient Greeks in their fearless exploits.” Referring to her home life in America Miss Keller said she definitely preferred the country to the towns. “The city smells bother me, also the noises in New York, and I don’t like pavements and brick buildings,” she addfed.

Miss Keller's astounding sensitivity was shown when a photographer unexpectedly took a flashlight picture. Her rapid gesture showed that she kpew the photograph had been taken, and she said, in response to a question, that this was so.

Miss Thompson explained to “The Press" that Miss Keller’s favourite music was Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. She listened to radio music by placing her hand on the receiver, and she could “hear” a piano also, by touching it. Film and play dialogue was interpreted to her verbatim, by Miss Thompson. “But, Miss Thompson added quickly. “I’m always glad when it is not a Shaw play, because the dialogue is so rapid. Still, when it comes to Shakespeare, Shaw, and Ibsen, Helen knows the plays so well that she can fill in the gaps for herself.” Toscanini is one of Miss Keller’s close friends, and she derived great pleasure from the performances of orchestras which he conducts. At the Harewood airport yesterday, Miss Keller was welcomed on behalf of the City Council by its public relations officer (Mr T. H. Langford), the chairman of the Christchurch advisory committee of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind (Mr H. Sweney),the secretary-manager of the committee (Mr G. F. C. Ashdowne), the American Consular Agent in Christchurch <Wfr H. P. Bridge), and Mr A. J. McEldowney, a member of the Christchurch advisory committee of the Institute for the Blind. The principal of the Burwood Girls’ Training Centre (Miss K. J. Scotter), who had brought a group of girls „from the centre to see Miss Keller arrive, was also introduced to Miss Keller and Miss Thompson. * ,