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Helen Keller Talks To Waldorf Audience

Creator: n/a
Date: January 16, 1907
Publication: New York Times
Source: Available at selected libraries

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As Miss Keller took her seat again site seemed in high spirits. Not knowing that Bishop Greer was asking that the association's endowment of $25,000 be raised to $150,000, she began speaking aloud to her teacher, who with fingers flying between those of her pupil checked her.

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Miss Keller was then taken into the Astor Gallery, where there was an exhibit of blind workers. She had with her a rose-decked basket which was to receive checks for the association's fund.

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"I do not wish to be a beggar." she said to the throng of curious, some of whom were staring at her through lorgnettes. "but I hope this basket will be filled with checks."

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During the earlier part of the programme in the ballroom Miss Keller enjoyed the proceedings as heartily as any one in the room. For a greater part of the time she sat between her teacher, Mrs. Macy, and Dr. Bell, who, alternately clasping her hand, tapped on its sensitive palm a clear account of all that was being enacted before their senses.

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Occasionally she would bury her face in a bouquet of roses, then inhale deeply the fragrance of each rose separately. When through with the roses she borrowed Mrs. Macy's bouquet of violets.

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When Ebert P. Morford of the Brooklyn Home for the Blind and himself a blind man spoke with annoyance of the absence of a picture from the collection being thrown on the screen as though he himself saw it, Miss Keller laughed aloud as the occurrence was translated to her. Dr. Lyman Abbott spoke of the demands of friends of the blind as just

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"It is based on justice. Just as is our school system," he said. "The American heart has been stirred about the Japanese. We don't demand that more Japanese be allowed to come, but that the children here, whether they're black, yellow, or green, be allowed a chance to do what they can."

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When this was translated to her, Miss Keller fairly rocked with laughter, as she clapped her hands together vigorously.

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