Helen Keller

Hutt News, Volume XXII, Issue 7, 28 July 1948, Page 12

Helen Keller

INSPIRATION TO WORLD VISIT TO IiOWKIt HVTT The visit to Lower Hull of Helen Keller, the American authoress and lecturer whose victory ever the terrible handicaps of blindness and deafness has been an inspiration to the world, is creating tremendous interest. She will give an address in the Horticultural Hall on Tuesday, August 3. In greeting Helen Keller and her constant companion, her "eyes and ears," Polly Thompson; N'ew Zealand ij-i welcoming two wonderful women. Because she has fought her way out of the terrible isolation Of complete blindness and silence, to become one of the most beloved and

inspiring women in history, the name of Helen Keller must always come first. But the complete and beautiful devotion of the companion who has no Rfe away from, the friend to whom she has dedicated herself—lier infinitely compassionate hands are literally the lifeline of Helen Keller—makes Polly Thompson a figure of inspiration in her own right. Strength and Sweetness At 07 Helen Keller is a more than usually handsome woman, immaculately groomed, poised and gracious. The strength and sweetness of her face alone would make her outstanding in any company. Though dependent on those with her, she manages never to appear helpless. She makes no faltering gestures, no tentative movements. When she moves it is with certainty and discipline. Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, the first child of Captain and Mrs. Keller, of Alabama, United States. Until she was 19 months old Helen was a normal child. Then she was attacked by an illness that left her without sight and hearing.

Alone in the Darkness

Children learn to speak by copying adults. This child could not. She was frightened, alone in the darkness and silence. She became untractable, in terror dashed away objects that were held out to her, clawed those who came within reach. She could not. be punished or taught, because she could not be reached. One day Mrs. Keller saw that the Perkins Institute for the Blind, in Boston, bad successfully taught a deaf and blind child to read and write. -Its authorities agreed to send a trained teacher. They sent Anne Sullivan, then 20. She herself had once been blind. She took complete charge of Helen, moved with her into a cottage, where the two of them lived alone. At 20 Helen Keller entered Radcliffe College. Anne Sullivan sat beside her during lectures, passed on by spelling into Helen's hand .the words she could not hear.

Four years later Helen Keller graduated, with a B.A, degree and special mention for English literature. As well, she had mastered Greek, Latin, French, and Italian. She was the first deaf-blind person to graduate from any university. In 1932 she received a Doctor of Laws degree at Glasgow. She has written eleven books.