If You Give Me Three Days of Light: The Best Collection of Helen Keller

Chapter 19 The Second Half of My Life (Continued) (4)
After moving to Lianshan, I thought more seriously about the issue of the blind.From my point of view, there are two most urgent matters: the first is how to enable every blind person to learn a skill so that he can earn his own living.At the same time, in order to make it easier for the blind to communicate with each other, and to make it easier to carry out occupational surveys, there should be a national organization; the second thing is to improve the educational level of the blind. Several types of Braille are unified.

One day Dr. Moro of New York, after a long journey, came to our committee and proposed a method of preventing blindness.He said: "Currently, about two-thirds of the children in the Institute for the Blind are blind because their eyes were infected by germs at birth. In this case, if we disinfect and prevent the children before they are born, it is Absolutely avoidable."

Dr. Moro, therefore, strongly advocates that the eyes of infants should be disinfected at birth, and he also believes that this should be expressly stipulated in the law.In order to achieve this goal, he hopes that our committee can actively promote public opinion.

"Since you know the cause of the disease, why haven't you taken any action?" We all asked him in unison.He said helplessly: "To be honest, the so-called bacterial infection means that the parents of these children have done dishonorable things and contracted an ulterior disease. Even doctors can't tell the truth about this situation. The newspaper , magazines are also avoided talking about it, of course I have no choice, so I come to ask you for help." It turns out that there is this kind of hindrance.When all the members of the committee listened to Dr. Moro's explanation, they agreed to do their best to carry forward the work.

But as Dr. Moro said, it is not as simple as it seems, because doctors and mass media are deeply stereotyped, unwilling to easily break the habit of avoiding talking about such issues, so they can't help us.

After two years of this, when I went to Kansas City in 1907, I spoke to an ophthalmologist about the matter.He said, "This is the kind of thing that gets the best publicity in the newspapers. Why don't you call on the editor-in-chief of the Kansas City Star? Maybe he'll let you talk about blind children in the paper."

I immediately called on Mr. Nelson, the editor-in-chief of the Kansas City Star, but he rebuffed my request very simply.I was very disappointed at the time.Maybe it was my dejected look that moved him.He quickly changed his tone and said, "Well, please feel free to write whatever you want to write, but whether to publish it is up to us to decide, how about it?"

I quickly wrote a few real examples and sent them over, and Mr. Nelson put the manuscript on the first page of the Star newspaper.So far, our efforts have finally made initial progress.

Ladies' Magazine also published an article on the same issue that same year.I wrote several articles one after another, and many newspapers and magazines across the country reprinted them one after another, thus expanding the scope of discussion.Since then, "World of the Blind", "Journal for the Blind" and other magazines dedicated to the issue of the blind have also been established one after another.

I was also commissioned to publish a paper on the blind in the Encyclopedia of Education.Since then, my workload has gradually increased, and I am even a little overwhelmed with manuscript requests. I often have to attend various meetings and speeches.The pace of my life has also suddenly become rushed. I often rush to a meeting venue, and when I go home after the end, another invitation is already waiting for me.Sometimes, I have to see five or six venues in a row in the same day.

In addition, there are too many letters, and the time for processing letters has increased accordingly.Due to overwork, the teacher and I were a little bit overwhelmed, and our bodies were exhausted.Although we were very busy, we were still struggling in our daily life. For a while, we couldn't even afford a maid.Therefore, Mrs. Sullivan took Mr. Macy to the train station every morning, and stopped by to buy vegetables on the way back.At this time, when I am at home, I have to clean the tables and chairs, tidy the room, make the bed, and then go to the garden to pick flowers and insert them, or start the windmill to store water and remember to turn off the windmill, etc.

In 1906, at the recommendation of the governor, I served as a commissioner on the Massachusetts Commission for the Education of the Blind.Every time the committee meets, Mrs. Sullivan will sit next to me and convey the content of the meeting to me in sign language.My feeling is that every committee member likes to give long and boring speeches, and those bureaucratic articles such as questions and answers are even more exhausting. Therefore, after four or five months in this position, I resigned.

However, if we want to truly benefit the blind, we must rely on the power of social groups, because only by doing so can we arouse the attention and support of public opinion.So I still have to go out and about in various public places, like going to meetings of medical associations or other associations.For this reason, I must practice my speech skills more in order to be more convincing when facing the public.

Based on this goal, I have learned expression skills from many teachers, but unfortunately the results are not satisfactory.At this time, I met Mr. White in Boston. He is a master of music theory and has a lot of research on human vocalization. I took a chance and asked him for help.

"I don't know how far I can do it. But for me, this is also a kind of research work. Let's try, Mr. White readily agreed to me. So from 1910, Mr. White every Saturday They all came to Lianshan, stayed at our house, and only went back on Sunday. The time he stayed was also my class time.

When I was 10 years old, Mrs. Sullivan took me to Mr. Howrah, and that was the first time I learned pronunciation.At that time, in order for me to understand the vibration caused by the sound, Mr. Howrah grabbed my hand and put it on his face, and said "arm" slowly

voice, and asked me to imitate it as best I could.We practiced repeatedly like this, but I was too nervous, and the sound I could barely make was very messy.

"Keep your throat soft and don't force your tongue too hard." He patiently pointed out to me that I should develop my vocal organs before practicing pronunciation, and I should practice continuously from childhood, so that my voice will be perfect. You can practice better and remember more words at the same time.Therefore, I hope that deaf education can teach deaf children to practice vocalization as early as possible.

Mr. White originally came here with the intention of giving it a try, but the more he taught, the more interested he became. He taught me for 3 consecutive years, and he lived in Lianshan almost all the time in the summer of two of them.Teacher White's training method is to start with the training of vocal organs, then practice pronunciation, and finally teach rhythm, stress, sound quality and pitch of voice.In this way, after three years of hard training, I can barely speak in front of the public.

Mrs. Sullivan and I first gave a test lecture in Montacre, New Jersey.That speech was very strenuous, and I still have lingering fears in retrospect.I stood on the podium, my whole body trembling all the time, and I couldn't say a word.Although the speech script I had prepared long ago was spinning in my throat, I just couldn't make any sound.Finally, I finally gathered up enough courage to shout out with all my strength. At this moment, I felt like firing a cannon, but someone told me later that my voice was as small as a mosquito.

After stepping down from the podium, I couldn't help crying, and said angrily: "For me, speaking is really too difficult. I'm overestimated. There is nothing I can do if I can't do it. "

However, after all, I am not a person who is willing to admit defeat easily. I did not really lose confidence because of this. On the contrary, I regained my courage and started to practice more diligently.Now, I can finally speak in front of everyone. Although my voice is not beautiful enough, I have improved a lot compared to not being able to speak.So far, part of my dream has finally come true.

on the podium

Since I have just learned to speak, I am not yet proficient, so I am afraid to give speeches outside, because I often don't know what to say.However, because Mrs. Sullivan and I were very popular, we had the courage to start speaking everywhere.

Every time I give a speech, there are always audiences from all walks of life, including the elderly and children, rich and poor, and even blind, deaf, dumb and other physically handicapped people.When I think of so many of my listeners who are as unfortunate as I am, I try to find ways to comfort and encourage them.

Teacher Sullivan's speech usually takes about an hour. At this time, I sat silently and read the Braille books I brought with me.She is a born speaker. Her vivid descriptions often move the listeners deeply, especially after listening to how the teacher painstakingly taught me, everyone couldn't help but be moved.

After Mrs. Sullivan finished speaking, it was my turn.Someone will come and guide me up to the podium.I will put my finger on the teacher's lips first, to prove to the audience in the audience that I can know what the teacher is talking about through the movement of the teacher's lips; then, I start to answer the questions raised by the audience.Usually, I take the opportunity to show them that with confidence, perseverance and perseverance, human potential can often reach a level that we can hardly imagine.At the same time, I also explain the principle that human beings should help each other and cooperate.

What worries me is that although I have been on the speaking circuit for a while, I have not improved much in my speaking skills.I feel that my pronunciation is not accurate enough, so that the audience sometimes doesn't know what I'm talking about; or when I speak halfway, I will suddenly make strange noises; sometimes, my voice appears monotonous and low.Although I tried my best to improve it, it was difficult to make a clear and pleasant sound.

Whenever I tried to emphasize a sentence so that the audience could hear it, my throat became even more against me, and my tongue became so dull that I could hardly make a sound.At this time, of course I was nervous and anxious, but the more anxious the worse, not to mention how embarrassing it was!In such situations, I would always feel very uncomfortable thinking that my speech was terrible, and believing that if there was any sound in the room, my voice would be completely drowned out.It is also because of this that when I feel a chair move in the lecture hall, or the sound of a car passing by outside, I can't help but suddenly become anxious.What moved me was that the audience always listened to the end very patiently.And whenever I finish speaking, no matter how much I understand, I always give the warmest applause.Some people even stepped forward to encourage me with words.Although my speech was very clumsy, Teacher Sullivan's speech was very wonderful. In most cases, she told the audience how to educate me.Because of her good eloquence, everyone was fascinated, sometimes even I was so moved by the teacher's speech that I forgot to applaud.

At first, we spoke only around New England and New Jersey, but we gradually expanded our reach to more distant places.

In 1913, we traveled to Washington to speak.When we arrived in Washington, it was just before the inauguration of President Wilson, so the Associated Press asked me to report the grand occasion of the inauguration to readers, so I was able to experience the whole process of the ceremony.On the day of the ceremony, the sky was cloudy, which is the most ideal weather for a military parade.On this day, downtown Washington was extremely lively. Everyone ran to a high place, hoping to find the best place to watch the military parade.

The military band walked in the forefront and played a majestic march, all of which were so enthusiastic.The marching army is full of vigor, the soldiers are all in high spirits, and the audience is also in high spirits.

I couldn't help thinking at the time: "I hope these lovely young soldiers will not be involved in the cruel war. They just need to wear neat and beautiful military uniforms and salute the president."

Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the First World War to break out.Although I am against war, there is nothing I can do about it!yes!What can I, a little person, do?

Mr. Carnegie's Support
Mr. Lodge used to send us living expenses on a regular basis, which was cut in half after the teacher got married.Originally, we hoped that the manuscript fee could make up some of it, but we couldn't.So when we returned to Lianshan exhausted from our long lecture trip, our finances became more and more difficult, and Teacher Sullivan and I couldn't help but feel at a loss about the future.

Our poverty is no secret, there are people who offer to help us automatically, Mr. Carnegie, the steel magnate, is one of them.He heard about us from nowhere, and he offered to give us a sum of money to my friend Farah.Farah relayed the matter to me, but I asked him to decline it for me without loss of courtesy.At that time, I was young and energetic, and I thought that I could live without relying on others.However, though I refused, Mr. Carnegie kindly begged me to consider the matter seriously, and offered me a sum of money whenever I felt it necessary.

Two years later, once my teacher and I went to New York, the Carnegies invited us to their home.The Carnegies were very amiable, and their precious daughter, Miss Margaret, a beautiful girl who was loved by everyone, was only 16 years old at the time.While we were talking, the lady ran into the room. Mr. Carnegie looked at his daughter lovingly and pitifully, and said with a smile: "This is our little philanthropist who whispers in our ears all day long. Come on, tell us how we can help those in need."

We chatted relaxedly while drinking black tea.Suddenly, Mr. Carnegie asked me: "Are you still unwilling to accept the grant I mentioned in the past?"

I smiled and replied: "Yes, I still refuse to admit defeat."

"I can understand your feelings, but have you thought about it from the standpoint of others? If you can feel the rejection of the other party, will you still stick to your own opinion?"

His words surprised me, because it never occurred to me that Monopoly had his obligations.And he attaches so much importance to the feelings and happiness of his family, which moved me even more!Afterwards, Mr. Carnegie emphasized again that as long as I need it, I am not polite, and I can talk to him at any time.He also talked about my speech with the teacher, asking what we were going to talk about, how much an admission ticket was, and so on.

"I'm going to give a speech on the topic of 'happiness', and the admission ticket is about $1 to $1." I answered him like this.

But he said, "Ah! It's too expensive. I think if it was 50 cents a ticket, there would be more income. That's right! That's how it should be. The ticket price must not exceed 75 cents."

My teacher and I still continue to live the life of speaking.That fall, because the teacher had a major operation, he was too weak to continue traveling and giving lectures.Luckily I wrote half a dozen articles over the summer, so I didn't have to turn to anyone for a short while.After struggling like this for a while, I had to face the dilemma of surrendering.It was April of the following year, and we were going to speak in Maine.We were driving into town by ourselves when it suddenly became very cold.When I woke up the next morning, I found that the teacher was sick, and quite seriously.We came to this place for the first time, we were unfamiliar with the place, and we had no friends nearby, so we really didn't know what to do.In the end, it took a lot of effort to ask the people in the hotel to send us a car to take us home.A week later I had to write to Mr. Carnegie for help.He wrote me back promptly, along with a check.He said in the letter: "To be honest, I feel that fate is too good for me. You are so noble and kind in people's minds, and you are willing to give me this opportunity, which makes me feel extremely happy. Giving is more rewarding than receiving." Happiness. Therefore, it is I who should say thanks, not you."

In this way, the teacher and I don't have to worry about the economy for the time being.But at this time another thing happened that made me sad. Mr. Macy and Mr. Sullivan separated.Mr. Macy does have his own difficulties, but everything is not that simple. Of course, there are other reasons that lead to this result, and it is inconvenient for me to make any comments on this.

anti war movement
In the fall of 1913 we were busy again with visits and lecture trips.In Washington, we rode the rickety country trolley; In Texas and Louisiana, it was just after the flood, so there was still a lot of water on the road.The train we were on, with an uprooted tree dragging on its front, went a long way.Although we were sitting in the car, we could still feel the torrential flood beating against the car.The corpses of many dead cows and horses floating on the water are uncomfortable to watch.Suddenly, there was a loud noise.The passengers stretched out their heads and looked out. It turned out that a thick piece of wood floating on the water hit the carriage.

(End of this chapter)