TO MR. JOHN D. WRIGHTCambridge, December 9, 1900.Do you think me a villain and—I can't think of a word bad enoughto express your opinion of me, unless indeed horse-thief willanswer the purpose. Tell me truly, do you think me as bad asthat? I hope not; for I have thought many letters to you whichnever got on paper, and I am delighted to get your good letter,yes, I really was, and I intended to answer it immediately, butthe days slip by unnoticed when one is busy, and I have been VERYbusy this fall. You must believe that. Radcliffe girls are alwaysup to their ears in work. If you doubt it, you'd better come andsee for yourself.Yes, I am taking the regular college course for a degree. When Iam a B.A., I suppose you will not dare call me a villain! I amstudying English—Sophomore English, if you please, (though Ican't see that it is different from just plain English) German,French and History. I'm enjoying my work even more than Iexpected to, which is another way of saying that I'm glad I came.It is hard, very hard at times; but it hasn't swamped me yet. No,I am not studying Mathematics, or Greek or Latin either. Thecourses at Radcliffe are elective, only certain courses inEnglish are prescribed. I passed off my English and advancedFrench before I entered college, and I choose the courses I likebest. I don't however intend to give up Latin and Greek entirely.Perhaps I shall take up these studies later; but I've saidgoodbye to Mathematics forever, and I assure you, I was delightedto see the last of those horrid goblins! I hope to obtain mydegree in four years; but I'm not very particular about that.There's no great hurry, and I want to get as much as possible outof my studies. Many of my friends would be well pleased if Iwould take two or even one course a year, but I rather object tospending the rest of my life in college....TO MR. WILLIAM WADE14 Coolidge Avenue, Cambridge,December 9, 1900....Since you are so much interested in the deaf and blind, I willbegin by telling you of several cases I have come across lately.Last October I heard of an unusually bright little girl in Texas.Her name is Ruby Rice, and she is thirteen years old, I think.She has never been taught; but they say she can sew and likes tohelp others in this sort of work. Her sense of smell iswonderful. Why, when she enters a store, she will go straight tothe showcases, and she can also distinguish her own things. Herparents are very anxious indeed to find a teacher for her. Theyhave also written to Mr. Hitz about her.I also know a child at the Institution for the Deaf inMississippi. Her name is Maud Scott, and she is six years old.Miss Watkins, the lady who has charge of her wrote me a mostinteresting letter. She said that Maud was born deaf and lost hersight when she was only three months old, and that when she wentto the Institution a few weeks ago, she was quite helpless. Shecould not even walk and had very little use of her hands. Whenthey tried to teach her to string beads, her little hands fell toher side. Evidently her sense of touch has not been developed,and as yet she can walk only when she holds some one's hand; butshe seems to be an exceedingly bright child. Miss Watkins addsthat she is very pretty. I have written to her that when Maudlearns to read, I shall have many stories to send her. The dear,sweet little girl, it makes my heart ache to think how utterlyshe is cut off from all that is good and desirable in life. ButMiss Watkins seems to be just the kind of teacher she needs.I was in New York not long ago and I saw Miss Rhoades, who toldme that she had seen Katie McGirr. She said the poor young girltalked and acted exactly like a little child. Katie played withMiss Rhoades's rings and took them away, saying with a merrylaugh, "You shall not have them again!" She could only understandMiss Rhoades when she talked about the simplest things. Thelatter wished to send her some books; but she could not findanything simple enough for her! She said Katie was very sweetindeed, but sadly in need of proper instruction. I was muchsurprised to hear all this; for I judged from your letters thatKatie was a very precocious girl....A few days ago I met Tommy Stringer in the railroad station atWrentham. He is a great, strong boy now, and he will soon need aman to take care of him; he is really too big for a lady tomanage. He goes to the public school, I hear, and his progress isastonishing, they say; but it doesn't show as yet in hisconversation, which is limited to "Yes" and "No."...TO MR. CHARLES T. COPELANDDecember 20, 1900.My dear Mr. Copeland;I venture to write to you because I am afraid that if I do notexplain why I have stopped writing themes, you will think I havebecome discouraged, or perhaps that to escape criticism I havebeat a cowardly retreat from your class. Please do not thinkeither of these very unpleasant thoughts. I am not discouraged,nor am I afraid. I am confident that I could go on writing themeslike those I have written, and I suppose I should get through thecourse with fairly good marks; but this sort of literarypatch-work has lost all interest for me. I have never beensatisfied with my work; but I never knew what my difficulty wasuntil you pointed it out to me. When I came to your class lastOctober, I was trying with all my might to be like everybodyelse, to forget as entirely as possible my limitations andpeculiar environment. Now, however, I see the folly of attemptingto hitch one's wagon to a star with harness that does not belongto it.I have always accepted other peoples experiences and observationsas a matter of course. It never occurred to me that it might beworth while to make my own observations and describe theexperiences peculiarly my own. Henceforth I am resolved to bemyself, to live my own life and write my own thoughts when I haveany. When I have written something that seems to be fresh andspontaneous and worthy of your criticisms, I will bring it toyou, if I may, and if you think it good, I shall be happy; but ifyour verdict is unfavorable, I shall try again and yet againuntil I have succeeded in pleasing you...TO MRS. LAURENCE HUTTON14 Coolidge Avenue, Cambridge,December 27, 1900....So you read about our class luncheon in the papers? How in theworld do the papers find out everything, I wonder. I am sure noreporter was present. I had a splendid time; the toasts andspeeches were great fun. I only spoke a few words, as I did notknow I was expected to speak until a few minutes before I wascalled upon. I think I wrote you that I had been electedVice-President of the Freshman Class of Radcliffe.Did I tell you in my last letter that I had a new dress, a realparty dress with low neck and short sleeves and quite a train? Itis pale blue, trimmed with chiffon of the same color. I have wornit only once, but then I felt that Solomon in all his glory wasnot to be compared with me! Anyway, he certainly never had adress like mine!...A gentleman in Philadelphia has just written to my teacher abouta deaf and blind child in Paris, whose parents are Poles. Themother is a physician and a brilliant woman, he says. This littleboy could speak two or three languages before he lost his hearingthrough sickness, and he is now only about five years old. Poorlittle fellow, I wish I could do something for him; but he is soyoung, my teacher thinks it would be too bad to separate him fromhis mother. I have had a letter from Mrs. Thaw with regard to thepossibility of doing something for these children. Dr. Bellthinks the present census will show that there are more than athousand in the United States alone [The number of deaf-blindyoung enough to be benefited by education is not so large asthis; but the education of this class of defectives has beenneglected.]; and Mrs. Thaw thinks if all my friends were to unitetheir efforts, "it would be an easy matter to establish at thebeginning of this new century a new line upon which mercy mighttravel," and the rescue of these unfortunate children could beaccomplished....TO MR. WILLIAM WADECambridge, February 2, 1901....By the way, have you any specimens of English brailleespecially printed for those who have lost their sight late inlife or have fingers hardened by long toil, so that their touchis less sensitive than that of other blind people? I read anaccount of such a system in one of my English magazines, and I amanxious to know more about it. If it is as efficient as they say,I see no reason why English braille should not be adopted by theblind of all countries. Why, it is the print that can be mostreadily adapted to many different languages. Even Greek can beembossed in it, as you know. Then, too, it will be rendered stillmore efficient by the "interpointing system," which will save animmense amount of space and paper. There is nothing more absurd,I think, than to have five or six different prints for theblind....This letter was written in response to a tentative offer from theeditor of The Great Round World to have the magazine published inraised type for the blind, if enough were willing to subscribe.It is evident that the blind should have a good magazine, not aspecial magazine for the blind, but one of our best monthlies,printed in embossed letters. The blind alone could not supportit, but it would not take very much money to make up theadditional expense.To THE GREAT ROUND WORLDCambridge, Feb. 16, 1901.The Great Round World,New York City.Gentlemen: I have only to-day found time to reply to yourinteresting letter. A little bird had already sung the good newsin my ear; but it was doubly pleasant to have it straight fromyou.It would be splendid to have The Great Round World printed in"language that can be felt." I doubt if any one who enjoys thewondrous privilege of seeing can have any conception of the boonsuch a publication as you contemplate would be to the sightless.To be able to read for one's self what is being willed, thoughtand done in the world—the world in whose joys and sorrows,failures and successes one feels the keenest interest—that wouldindeed be a happiness too deep for words. I trust that the effortof The Great Round World to bring light to those who sit indarkness will receive the encouragement and support it so richlydeserves.I doubt, however, if the number of subscribers to an embossededition of The Great Round World would ever be large; for I amtold that the blind as a class are poor. But why should not thefriends of the blind assist The Great Round World, if necessary?Surely there are hearts and hands ever ready to make it possiblefor generous intentions to be wrought into noble deeds.Wishing you godspeed in an undertaking that is very dear to myheart, I am, etc.TO MISS NINA RHOADESCambridge, Sept. 25, 1901....We remained in Halifax until about the middle of August....Day after day the Harbor, the warships, and the park kept us busythinking and feeling and enjoying.... When the Indiana visitedHalifax, we were invited to go on board, and she sent her ownlaunch for us. I touched the immense cannon, read with my fingersseveral of the names of the Spanish ships that were captured atSantiago, and felt the places where she had been pierced withshells. The Indiana was the largest and finest ship in theHarbor, and we felt very proud of her.After we left Halifax, we visited Dr. Bell at Cape Breton. He hasa charming, romantic house on a mountain called Beinn Bhreagh,which overlooks the Bras d'Or Lake....Dr. Bell told me many interesting things about his work. He hadjust constructed a boat that could be propelled by a kite withthe wind in its favor, and one day he tried experiments to see ifhe could steer the kite against the wind. I was there and reallyhelped him fly the kites. On one of them I noticed that thestrings were of wire, and having had some experience in beadwork, I said I thought they would break. Dr. Bell said "No!" withgreat confidence, and the kite was sent up. It began to pull andtug, and lo, the wires broke, and off went the great red dragon,and poor Dr. Bell stood looking forlornly after it. After that heasked me if the strings were all right and changed them at oncewhen I answered in the negative. Altogether we had great fun....TO DR. EDWARD EVERETT HALE [Read by Dr. Hale at the celebrationof the centenary of Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, at Tremont Temple,Boston, Nov. 11, 1901.]Cambridge, Nov. 10, 1901.My teacher and I expect to be present at the meeting tomorrow incommemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of Dr. Howe'sbirth; but I very much doubt if we shall have an opportunity tospeak with you; so I am writing now to tell you how delighted Iam that you are to speak at the meeting, because I feel that you,better than any one I know will express the heartfelt gratitudeof those who owe their education, their opportunities, theirhappiness to him who opened the eyes of the blind and gave thedumb lip language.Sitting here in my study, surrounded by my books, enjoying thesweet and intimate companionship of the great and the wise, I amtrying to realize what my life might have been, if Dr. Howe hadfailed in the great task God gave him to perform. If he had nottaken upon himself the responsibility of Laura Bridgman'seducation and led her out of the pit of Acheron back to her humaninheritance, should I be a sophomore at Radcliffe Collegeto-day—who can say? But it is idle to speculate about what mighthave been in connection with Dr. Howe's great achievement.I think only those who have escaped that death-in-life existence,from which Laura Bridgman was rescued, can realize how isolated,how shrouded in darkness, how cramped by its own impotence is asoul without thought or faith or hope. Words are powerless todescribe the desolation of that prison-house, or the joy of thesoul that is delivered out of its captivity. When we compare theneeds and helplessness of the blind before Dr. Howe began hiswork, with their present usefulness and independence, we realizethat great things have been done in our midst. What if physicalconditions have built up high walls about us? Thanks to ourfriend and helper, our world lies upward; the length and breadthand sweep of the heavens are ours!It is pleasant to think that Dr. Howe's noble deeds will receivetheir due tribute of affection and gratitude, in the city, whichwas the scene of his great labors and splendid victories forhumanity.With kind greetings, in which my teacher joins me, I amAffectionately your friend,HELEN KELLER.TO THE HON. GEORGE FRISBIE HOARCambridge, Mass., November 25, 1901.My Dear Senator Hoar:—I am glad you liked my letter about Dr. Howe. It was written outof my heart, and perhaps that is why it met a sympatheticresponse in other hearts. I will ask Dr. Hale to lend me theletter, so that I can make a copy of it for you.You see, I use a typewriter—it is my right hand man, so tospeak. Without it I do not see how I could go to college. I writeall my themes and examinations on it, even Greek. Indeed, it hasonly one drawback, and that probably is regarded as an advantageby the professors; it is that one's mistakes may be detected at aglance; for there is no chance to hide them in illegible writing.I know you will be amused when I tell you that I am deeplyinterested in politics. I like to have the papers read to me, andI try to understand the great questions of the day; but I amafraid my knowledge is very unstable; for I change my opinionswith every new book I read. I used to think that when I studiedCivil Government and Economics, all my difficulties andperplexities would blossom into beautiful certainties; but alas,I find that there are more tares than wheat in these fertilefields of knowledge....
TO MR. JOHN D. WRIGHTCambridge, December 9, 1900.Do you think me a villain and—I can't think of a word bad enoughto express your opinion of me, unless indeed horse-thief willanswer the purpose. Tell me truly, do you think me as bad asthat? I hope not; for I have thought many letters to you whichnever got on paper, and I am delighted to get your good letter,yes, I really was, and I intended to answer it immediately, butthe days slip by unnoticed when one is busy, and I have been VERYbusy this fall. You must believe that. Radcliffe girls are alwaysup to their ears in work. If you doubt it, you'd better come andsee for yourself.Yes, I am taking the regular college course for a degree. When Iam a B.A., I suppose you will not dare call me a villain! I amstudying English—Sophomore English, if you please, (though Ican't see that it is different from just plain English) German,French and History. I'm enjoying my work even more than Iexpected to, which is another way of saying that I'm glad I came.It is hard, very hard at times; but it hasn't swamped me yet. No,I am not studying Mathematics, or Greek or Latin either. Thecourses at Radcliffe are elective, only certain courses inEnglish are prescribed. I passed off my English and advancedFrench before I entered college, and I choose the courses I likebest. I don't however intend to give up Latin and Greek entirely.Perhaps I shall take up these studies later; but I've saidgoodbye to Mathematics forever, and I assure you, I was delightedto see the last of those horrid goblins! I hope to obtain mydegree in four years; but I'm not very particular about that.There's no great hurry, and I want to get as much as possible outof my studies. Many of my friends would be well pleased if Iwould take two or even one course a year, but I rather object tospending the rest of my life in college....
TO MR. WILLIAM WADE14 Coolidge Avenue, Cambridge,December 9, 1900....Since you are so much interested in the deaf and blind, I willbegin by telling you of several cases I have come across lately.Last October I heard of an unusually bright little girl in Texas.Her name is Ruby Rice, and she is thirteen years old, I think.She has never been taught; but they say she can sew and likes tohelp others in this sort of work. Her sense of smell iswonderful. Why, when she enters a store, she will go straight tothe showcases, and she can also distinguish her own things. Herparents are very anxious indeed to find a teacher for her. Theyhave also written to Mr. Hitz about her.I also know a child at the Institution for the Deaf inMississippi. Her name is Maud Scott, and she is six years old.Miss Watkins, the lady who has charge of her wrote me a mostinteresting letter. She said that Maud was born deaf and lost hersight when she was only three months old, and that when she wentto the Institution a few weeks ago, she was quite helpless. Shecould not even walk and had very little use of her hands. Whenthey tried to teach her to string beads, her little hands fell toher side. Evidently her sense of touch has not been developed,and as yet she can walk only when she holds some one's hand; butshe seems to be an exceedingly bright child. Miss Watkins addsthat she is very pretty. I have written to her that when Maudlearns to read, I shall have many stories to send her. The dear,sweet little girl, it makes my heart ache to think how utterlyshe is cut off from all that is good and desirable in life. ButMiss Watkins seems to be just the kind of teacher she needs.I was in New York not long ago and I saw Miss Rhoades, who toldme that she had seen Katie McGirr. She said the poor young girltalked and acted exactly like a little child. Katie played withMiss Rhoades's rings and took them away, saying with a merrylaugh, "You shall not have them again!" She could only understandMiss Rhoades when she talked about the simplest things. Thelatter wished to send her some books; but she could not findanything simple enough for her! She said Katie was very sweetindeed, but sadly in need of proper instruction. I was muchsurprised to hear all this; for I judged from your letters thatKatie was a very precocious girl....A few days ago I met Tommy Stringer in the railroad station atWrentham. He is a great, strong boy now, and he will soon need aman to take care of him; he is really too big for a lady tomanage. He goes to the public school, I hear, and his progress isastonishing, they say; but it doesn't show as yet in hisconversation, which is limited to "Yes" and "No."...
TO MR. CHARLES T. COPELANDDecember 20, 1900.My dear Mr. Copeland;I venture to write to you because I am afraid that if I do notexplain why I have stopped writing themes, you will think I havebecome discouraged, or perhaps that to escape criticism I havebeat a cowardly retreat from your class. Please do not thinkeither of these very unpleasant thoughts. I am not discouraged,nor am I afraid. I am confident that I could go on writing themeslike those I have written, and I suppose I should get through thecourse with fairly good marks; but this sort of literarypatch-work has lost all interest for me. I have never beensatisfied with my work; but I never knew what my difficulty wasuntil you pointed it out to me. When I came to your class lastOctober, I was trying with all my might to be like everybodyelse, to forget as entirely as possible my limitations andpeculiar environment. Now, however, I see the folly of attemptingto hitch one's wagon to a star with harness that does not belongto it.I have always accepted other peoples experiences and observationsas a matter of course. It never occurred to me that it might beworth while to make my own observations and describe theexperiences peculiarly my own. Henceforth I am resolved to bemyself, to live my own life and write my own thoughts when I haveany. When I have written something that seems to be fresh andspontaneous and worthy of your criticisms, I will bring it toyou, if I may, and if you think it good, I shall be happy; but ifyour verdict is unfavorable, I shall try again and yet againuntil I have succeeded in pleasing you...
TO MRS. LAURENCE HUTTON14 Coolidge Avenue, Cambridge,December 27, 1900....So you read about our class luncheon in the papers? How in theworld do the papers find out everything, I wonder. I am sure noreporter was present. I had a splendid time; the toasts andspeeches were great fun. I only spoke a few words, as I did notknow I was expected to speak until a few minutes before I wascalled upon. I think I wrote you that I had been electedVice-President of the Freshman Class of Radcliffe.Did I tell you in my last letter that I had a new dress, a realparty dress with low neck and short sleeves and quite a train? Itis pale blue, trimmed with chiffon of the same color. I have wornit only once, but then I felt that Solomon in all his glory wasnot to be compared with me! Anyway, he certainly never had adress like mine!...A gentleman in Philadelphia has just written to my teacher abouta deaf and blind child in Paris, whose parents are Poles. Themother is a physician and a brilliant woman, he says. This littleboy could speak two or three languages before he lost his hearingthrough sickness, and he is now only about five years old. Poorlittle fellow, I wish I could do something for him; but he is soyoung, my teacher thinks it would be too bad to separate him fromhis mother. I have had a letter from Mrs. Thaw with regard to thepossibility of doing something for these children. Dr. Bellthinks the present census will show that there are more than athousand in the United States alone [The number of deaf-blindyoung enough to be benefited by education is not so large asthis; but the education of this class of defectives has beenneglected.]; and Mrs. Thaw thinks if all my friends were to unitetheir efforts, "it would be an easy matter to establish at thebeginning of this new century a new line upon which mercy mighttravel," and the rescue of these unfortunate children could beaccomplished....
TO MR. WILLIAM WADECambridge, February 2, 1901....By the way, have you any specimens of English brailleespecially printed for those who have lost their sight late inlife or have fingers hardened by long toil, so that their touchis less sensitive than that of other blind people? I read anaccount of such a system in one of my English magazines, and I amanxious to know more about it. If it is as efficient as they say,I see no reason why English braille should not be adopted by theblind of all countries. Why, it is the print that can be mostreadily adapted to many different languages. Even Greek can beembossed in it, as you know. Then, too, it will be rendered stillmore efficient by the "interpointing system," which will save animmense amount of space and paper. There is nothing more absurd,I think, than to have five or six different prints for theblind....
This letter was written in response to a tentative offer from theeditor of The Great Round World to have the magazine published inraised type for the blind, if enough were willing to subscribe.It is evident that the blind should have a good magazine, not aspecial magazine for the blind, but one of our best monthlies,printed in embossed letters. The blind alone could not supportit, but it would not take very much money to make up theadditional expense.
To THE GREAT ROUND WORLDCambridge, Feb. 16, 1901.The Great Round World,New York City.Gentlemen: I have only to-day found time to reply to yourinteresting letter. A little bird had already sung the good newsin my ear; but it was doubly pleasant to have it straight fromyou.It would be splendid to have The Great Round World printed in"language that can be felt." I doubt if any one who enjoys thewondrous privilege of seeing can have any conception of the boonsuch a publication as you contemplate would be to the sightless.To be able to read for one's self what is being willed, thoughtand done in the world—the world in whose joys and sorrows,failures and successes one feels the keenest interest—that wouldindeed be a happiness too deep for words. I trust that the effortof The Great Round World to bring light to those who sit indarkness will receive the encouragement and support it so richlydeserves.I doubt, however, if the number of subscribers to an embossededition of The Great Round World would ever be large; for I amtold that the blind as a class are poor. But why should not thefriends of the blind assist The Great Round World, if necessary?Surely there are hearts and hands ever ready to make it possiblefor generous intentions to be wrought into noble deeds.Wishing you godspeed in an undertaking that is very dear to myheart, I am, etc.
TO MISS NINA RHOADESCambridge, Sept. 25, 1901....We remained in Halifax until about the middle of August....Day after day the Harbor, the warships, and the park kept us busythinking and feeling and enjoying.... When the Indiana visitedHalifax, we were invited to go on board, and she sent her ownlaunch for us. I touched the immense cannon, read with my fingersseveral of the names of the Spanish ships that were captured atSantiago, and felt the places where she had been pierced withshells. The Indiana was the largest and finest ship in theHarbor, and we felt very proud of her.After we left Halifax, we visited Dr. Bell at Cape Breton. He hasa charming, romantic house on a mountain called Beinn Bhreagh,which overlooks the Bras d'Or Lake....Dr. Bell told me many interesting things about his work. He hadjust constructed a boat that could be propelled by a kite withthe wind in its favor, and one day he tried experiments to see ifhe could steer the kite against the wind. I was there and reallyhelped him fly the kites. On one of them I noticed that thestrings were of wire, and having had some experience in beadwork, I said I thought they would break. Dr. Bell said "No!" withgreat confidence, and the kite was sent up. It began to pull andtug, and lo, the wires broke, and off went the great red dragon,and poor Dr. Bell stood looking forlornly after it. After that heasked me if the strings were all right and changed them at oncewhen I answered in the negative. Altogether we had great fun....
TO DR. EDWARD EVERETT HALE [Read by Dr. Hale at the celebrationof the centenary of Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, at Tremont Temple,Boston, Nov. 11, 1901.]Cambridge, Nov. 10, 1901.My teacher and I expect to be present at the meeting tomorrow incommemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of Dr. Howe'sbirth; but I very much doubt if we shall have an opportunity tospeak with you; so I am writing now to tell you how delighted Iam that you are to speak at the meeting, because I feel that you,better than any one I know will express the heartfelt gratitudeof those who owe their education, their opportunities, theirhappiness to him who opened the eyes of the blind and gave thedumb lip language.Sitting here in my study, surrounded by my books, enjoying thesweet and intimate companionship of the great and the wise, I amtrying to realize what my life might have been, if Dr. Howe hadfailed in the great task God gave him to perform. If he had nottaken upon himself the responsibility of Laura Bridgman'seducation and led her out of the pit of Acheron back to her humaninheritance, should I be a sophomore at Radcliffe Collegeto-day—who can say? But it is idle to speculate about what mighthave been in connection with Dr. Howe's great achievement.I think only those who have escaped that death-in-life existence,from which Laura Bridgman was rescued, can realize how isolated,how shrouded in darkness, how cramped by its own impotence is asoul without thought or faith or hope. Words are powerless todescribe the desolation of that prison-house, or the joy of thesoul that is delivered out of its captivity. When we compare theneeds and helplessness of the blind before Dr. Howe began hiswork, with their present usefulness and independence, we realizethat great things have been done in our midst. What if physicalconditions have built up high walls about us? Thanks to ourfriend and helper, our world lies upward; the length and breadthand sweep of the heavens are ours!It is pleasant to think that Dr. Howe's noble deeds will receivetheir due tribute of affection and gratitude, in the city, whichwas the scene of his great labors and splendid victories forhumanity.With kind greetings, in which my teacher joins me, I amAffectionately your friend,HELEN KELLER.
TO THE HON. GEORGE FRISBIE HOARCambridge, Mass., November 25, 1901.My Dear Senator Hoar:—I am glad you liked my letter about Dr. Howe. It was written outof my heart, and perhaps that is why it met a sympatheticresponse in other hearts. I will ask Dr. Hale to lend me theletter, so that I can make a copy of it for you.You see, I use a typewriter—it is my right hand man, so tospeak. Without it I do not see how I could go to college. I writeall my themes and examinations on it, even Greek. Indeed, it hasonly one drawback, and that probably is regarded as an advantageby the professors; it is that one's mistakes may be detected at aglance; for there is no chance to hide them in illegible writing.I know you will be amused when I tell you that I am deeplyinterested in politics. I like to have the papers read to me, andI try to understand the great questions of the day; but I amafraid my knowledge is very unstable; for I change my opinionswith every new book I read. I used to think that when I studiedCivil Government and Economics, all my difficulties andperplexities would blossom into beautiful certainties; but alas,I find that there are more tares than wheat in these fertilefields of knowledge....