Helen Keller Here On Visit

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1948, Page 4

Helen Keller Here On Visit

AUCKLAND, Thu. (Sp.)—Miss Helen Adams Keller, the world famous deaf and blind American writer, arrived at Auckland from Sydney yesterday. Miss Keller, who is aged 68. was accompanied by her interpreter and companion, Miss Polly Thomson.

Miss Keller “hears” in two ways—when Miss Thomson’s fingers tap sentences into her hand at 65 words a minute, or when she places her thumb and two fingers on Miss Thomson’s face, including her lips, nose and throat, to feel their movement on guttural, labial and nasal sounds. Her own speech, though often comprehensible, is interpreted by Miss Thomson, who has been her companion for 34 years.

“Thai is the first time in all these years I have been asked that,” said Miss Keller with interest, when asked whether her life was a lonely one. “FULL OF WARMTH”

“No, indeed, it is not. It is full of warmth and friendship and interesting work.”

Giving a message to the blind and deaf people in New Zealand, Miss Keller said she was eagerly waiting to see them and to say how proud she was of their brave fight to “turn their islands of limitation into a world of accomplishment.” Miss Keller enjoys a musical programme.

“I get the mood and rhythm of the piece played,” she explained. “Different instruments have different vibrations which suggest various kinds of symbolism. There is the violin, so delicately modulated like the human voice; and the harp, which makes me think of winds in the pines and willows,” she said.

“And then tjere is the organ—my favourite—on whose majestic notes my soul climbs as on wings. And how I love to hear Bach.”