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

Chapter 39 Helen Keller Letters (7)
South Boston, October 1893, 4

...Mr. Westervelt, who owns a school for the deaf in Rochester, Washington, and my teacher, Mrs. Pratt, and I suddenly decided to go on a trip with Dr. Bell to visit Mr. Westervelt...

In the afternoon, Mr. Westervelt gave a reception. There were many people present, and some of them asked me curious questions.A gentleman asked me what I think of "beauty".I must admit that I was a bit confused at first, but after 1 minute I answered the question, I said that beauty is kindness.Then he left.One lady was amazed that I couldn't see beautiful colors but still liked flowers.I was quite sure that I did like flowers, and she said, "You can't touch the color of flowers, no doubt about it." But know that we love flowers for more than just their bright colors...

After the reception, we went back to the hotel together.Little did the teacher realize that there was a surprise waiting for her, and she fell asleep quickly, for the fact that Mr. Bell and I had made careful plans that I would take my dear teacher to visit Niagara Falls !I believe she will be pleasantly surprised to hear the news.

The hotel is so close to the Niagara River that I could even feel the rush of the river when I put my hand on the window.The next morning, the rising sun was bright and warm, and we rose quickly, for our hearts were filled with pleasant anticipation...

Unless you have experienced the same magical moment yourself, you must not imagine how I felt when I stood in front of Niagara Falls.I wish I had been able to describe the falls as they really are, as beautiful as they are majestic, as they tumble with irresistible force from the precipices.The raging rapids beneath my feet are sinking into the chasm, like some beings on their way to a terrible fate.In the face of such a huge force, you will only feel helpless and overwhelmed.I had this feeling once before, when I stood by the sea for the first time and felt the sound of the waves lapping on the shore.I think you've felt it too, in the stillness of the night, when you look up at the stars, you feel its presence...

In order to see the violent turbulence and eddies in the canyon, we took the elevator down 120 feet, and there is a suspension bridge less than two miles from the waterfall, which spans the canyon and is 250 feet above the water. At both ends of the bridge there are tall towers built of rock, and the distance between the two towers is [-] feet.When we walked across the drawbridge to the Canadian side, I yelled: "God save the Queen!" The teacher said I was a little traitor, but I didn't think so, since I respected the kind Queen of England, and I arrived Canada, I can only do what Canadians do...

There is a lady named Hooker who is trying to help me improve my oral English.Oh, I wish I could speak fluently one day, dear mother, aren't you very happy to hear that...

Last Saturday night, Mr. Munsell joined us for a chat.How pleasant it was to hear his tales of Venice!None of my friends described the scenery so vividly and so beautifully.His introduction was so vivid that we seemed to be sitting in the beautiful moonlight sailing in the criss-crossing river or in the shadow of St. Mark's Church... When I go to Venice one day in the future, I hope Mr. Munsell will be with me go together.

Helen Keller
In Miss Sullivan's foreword to her experience, she said that people often told her something like this: "Helen sees more things with her fingers than we see with our eyes." Helen wrote to John. P．Mr. Spaulding's letter, describing her visit to the World's Fair, was published in St. Nicholas, and is very similar to the following letter.The chairman of the fair gave Helen this letter:

To the heads of relevant departments and exhibition staff gentlemen
Gentlemen, The bearer of this letter is Helen Keller, who is blind and deaf, but able to converse.According to reports, she is a person with magical ability, she is fully able to understand what she sees, and has high cultural accomplishment and intelligence. At that time, accompanied by Miss Sullivan, she will inspect the various exhibition areas of the expo Conduct a full inspection.Please use all conditions to help her view the exhibits in the exhibition area, and if possible, please take her to visit the exhibition areas of other countries.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

your faithful

Chairman of the Expo

(Autograph) H. N．higgin botham
letter 47

To Miss Caroline Derby
Holden, Pennsylvania, August 1893, 8

...everyone at the fair was very nice to me...they explained everything to me in great detail and almost all the exhibitors were willing to let me touch the exquisite exhibits and by touching them I felt them So lifelike and vivid.Dr. Bell himself took us on a tour of the Electrical Building and he told us about some historical telephones.I seem to have heard what Emperor Pedro said, "to be or not to be", it's a question of "100 years".There was a French gentleman whose name I cannot remember, who showed me great French bronzes, which gave me more pleasure than any other exhibit.Dr. Gillette from Illinois took us on a tour of the Culture Arts and Women's section.I first visited the "Tiffany" diamond booth. These beautiful diamonds are worth up to [-] US dollars. I also touched many rare treasures.I sat in King Ludwig's armchair and felt like a queen when Dr. Gillette said I had many loyal subjects.

In the women's section, we met Princess Maria Skovskaya of Russia, and a beautiful Siberian lady, whom I liked very much.Accompanied by the well-known university lecturer Professor Moss, I visited the Japan exhibition area.I never knew that the Japanese are such a peculiar nation. I didn't have a preliminary understanding until I saw their interesting exhibitions.Japanese books are weird, they have 47 letters in their alphabet.And from the fact that they make a lot of toys, I judge that Japan must be a paradise for children.In addition, the unique Japanese musical instruments and exquisite handicrafts are also very attractive.Professor Moss is well versed in Japanese culture, and he is also a very kind and wise man.On my next visit to Boston, he invited me to visit his museum in Salem.In short, I think it is very pleasant to go boating on a calm lake. Friends around me will tell me about the surrounding scenery, which is more interesting than visiting an exhibition.Once, when the sun was shining on the shore, we sailed on the lake, and the "White City" looked like a dream world, and it was enveloped by a soft rosy light...

Of course, we also visited the Plaisance Playground, which is such a raucous and fascinating place.We did a fries wheel ride, ice luge ride, a whaleback boat ride and camel rides which were so much fun...

Helen Keller
letter 48

In the spring of 1893, a club was established in Tuscumbia, and Mrs. Keller served as the chairman of the club. The first thing Helen had to do was to build a public library.She recorded it thus:
"My friends have responded enthusiastically. In a short period of time, hundreds of books have been sent to me, including many outstanding classics, and some have sent money in support. These generosities The assistance of the Madam has increased confidence, they have collected and purchased many books, and now they have built a large-scale public library in the town."

To Charles E.Mrs Inches
Holden, Pennsylvania, August 1893, 10

…In September, we have been staying at home in Tuscumbia. After experiencing the excitement and exhaustion of the World Expo, our peaceful home is particularly warm and comfortable. The mountains are so quiet and beautiful, and everyone is happy together. very happy.

We live in Holden, Pennsylvania, and this winter I'm taking lessons in arithmetic, Latin, and literature with a tutor, with the help of a teacher.What a joy it is to learn new knowledge, I especially enjoy the class.Every day I will find that I know so little, but I will not be discouraged, because God has given me a perseverance, so that I can learn more.In literature, I'm studying Longfellow's poetry.I have a lot of poems in my heart, because I have been very fond of metaphor in poetry since a long time ago.I used to like arithmetic too much, but now I find arithmetic to be a very useful study, so I have changed my mind.But I must admit that my mind often wanders when it comes to arithmetic!For arithmetic cannot be as captivating as a beautiful poem or an amusing story.

God, time flies so fast.I only have a little time left to answer your question about the Helen Keller Public Library.

First, there is currently no library of any kind in town.That's why I want to start a library.My mother and a few aunts said they would definitely help me, and they have formed a club with the aim of establishing a free public library in Tuscumbia.They now have about a hundred books and a donation of $55, a kind gentleman gave us a piece of land to build a library on.Now the club has rented a small room in the town center, and all the books we have collected are free for people to read.

Second, I think there are about 3000 people in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and about half of them are people of color.

Again, very few of my friends in Boston knew about the library.I don't want to give them any more trouble because I'm trying to raise money for poor Tommy, that is, it's more important for him to get an education than it seems to my folks to have books.

Finally, I don't know what books we have now, I think there are a little bit of all kinds of books...

P.S. My teacher we're going to have the names of the donors on the register and publish them in my dad's Northern Alabamian because she thinks we have to be serious about our fundraising.

H． K．

letter 49

To Dr. Edward Everett Hale
Holden, Pennsylvania, January 1894, 1

Dear cousin, thank you for the pretty little book you sent me, I have long wanted to reply to your warm letter.But I'm too busy now, and I haven't been free since the beginning of the year.I have many subjects to learn, of which arithmetic and Latin are the more difficult ones.You know, Caesar is Caesar, and he is a tyrannical and tyrannical king, and if a little girl wants to understand this great man, his wars and his conquests in beautiful Latin, She has to study and think deeply, and learning and thinking takes time.

Also, after my little story was published in "Friends of Youth", letters flooded in from all sides—I got 61 letters in the last week alone!I'm going to reply one by one.

I am delighted to think of the book you have gifted me, I am sure, you have put your thoughts and emotions into words and I am very grateful that you have greeted me in such a beautiful way.I will forever cherish that little book you sent me, not only for its own value, but also because it is closely related to you...

Helen Keller
letter fifty
Helen Keller and Miss Sullivan returned to Tuscumbia in February.Throughout the spring, they were reading and studying.During the summer, they attended a conference in Chautauqua, New York, sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Language Education for the Deaf.Miss Sullivan read a paper on Helen Keller's education at the meeting.

In the fall, Helen Keller received training in vocalizations and lip reading at the Wright-Humason School in New York.

To Miss Caroline Derby
Wright-Humason School, New York, March 1895, 3

... Dr Hugh Mason is trying to improve my speech.I think my lip-reading has improved a little bit, although I still can't read words that are spoken too fast, but I believe that if I persevere, I will succeed one day.But I don't understand why learning to speak should be so complicated and difficult for a deaf child and so easy for others.However, I still believe that as long as I have perseverance, I will be able to speak freely in the future.Oh, Carrie, if only I could talk like other people!If this wish can be realized, I am willing to study all night.Think, see, if I could speak naturally to my friends, what a joy it would be! ...

Although I have never been free, I have found time to read some books... I just finished Schiller's "William Tell" a while ago, and "The Lost Virgin"... Now I am reading Le Sheen's Clever Nathan and Miss Morlock's King Arthur

... You know, the teachers here are very good at using the way of entertaining and teaching, so that we can learn a lot of knowledge, as long as we are interested, they will take us to visit.On Washington Day we went to the dog show.Madison Square Garden was packed, and the audience was distracted by the barking of the Dog Band, but we were different and enjoyed the afternoon to the fullest.

In dog shows, my favorite is the bulldog.They'll huddle under your arms to avoid your kisses, don't care if they behave well then, and look terrified no matter who touches them.God!How could there be such a cute thing in the world!They are so cute and docile, people can't help but like them.Later, we left the dog show and went to a reception hosted by the Metropolitan Club... It was a huge building, all white marble, and the rooms inside were huge and stately.This club is also known as the millionaire's club.But I must say that such a luxurious venue is really depressing for me.Fancy surroundings don't bring me joy...

Helen Keller
letter 51
To Kate Adams, Mrs Keller

New York, March 1895, 3

... In the afternoon, my teacher and I visited Mr. Hughton's house. We had a great time!Mr. Hughton sent me a lovely glass trinket in the shape of a thistle.This thing originally belonged to his respected mother, and now he regards it as a commemorative gift for welcoming me. . . . We met two men whom I have long admired, Mr. Clemens and Mr. Howells!I never thought I'd be able to meet them in person before, I can't believe I can now talk to them face to face

talk.I am so blessed to have such a great honor befalling me!You have to know that my surprise is not surprising. Think about it, a girl who is only 14 years old can meet so many outstanding people face to face. Am I not a very happy child?I am truly grateful for the many honors that I have been able to enjoy.Two well-known writers are very amiable, and I can't say which I like better.Mr. Clemens told us that he will go to Europe to pick up his wife and daughter back home in a few days, and his daughter Jenny is studying in Paris.According to him, in three and a half years, his daughter had learned so much that if he didn't bring her home, it wouldn't be long before she knew more than he did.

He also told us so many funny stories that brought us to tears of laughter, if only you could listen to his stories too!I think "Mark Twain" would be a perfect nom de plume (French, translated as a pseudonym) for Mr. Clemens, because the name sounds a little funny and fits perfectly with his witty writing .In fact, this name, which is related to nautical terms, presents those profound and wonderful things to us.The teacher said he looked like Paradowski sometimes (don't know if the name is spelled that way).So I think he must be a very handsome gentleman....

Mr. Howells told me some of his favorite things about Venice, and he whispered his tales to the little girl at his side, Winifred (Mr. Howells' late daughter) , she should be on God's side now.He had another daughter, her name was Mildred (same name as Helen's sister, but not the same person), who knew Carrie.I could have seen Mrs Wiggin, the author of A Christmas Carol for Birds, but she had a bad cough and couldn't come.I was very disappointed not to meet her, but I think there will be opportunities to meet in the future.We also met Mr. Rogers, a very warm man, who drove us back to our lodgings in his own carriage.

letter 52

Helen and Miss Sullivan returned to the South when the Wright-Humason School was out for the summer.

To Mrs Lawrence Hughton
Tuscumbia, Alabama, June 1895, 7

(End of this chapter)