CHAPTER XXIII

Influence of several people

Among the people who greatly added to Helen's happiness were some
famous literary persons and some unknown to the world. The important days
according to Helen, are those when we meet those who thrill us like a fine poem
When we meet such people we forget weals and woes of our life. When our
friends are near, we feel that all is well. Helen finds some people boring and
avoidable. She does not like the calls of the stupid and curious, especially of
newspaper reporters. She also dislikes the hypocrites.

The religion of love

It was from Bishop Brooks that Helen learnt a lot about God and the
spiritual world. In her childhood she would sit on his knee and clasp his hand
with one of hers. Miss Sullivan, then, would spell into her other hand his beautiful
words. The Bishop told Helen:
There is one universal religion, Helen-the religion of love. Love your
Heavenly Father with your whole heart and soul, love every child of God as
much as ever you can..."
He told her that the darkest clouds would break and though "Might be worsted,
wrong shall not triumph." Since his death she had read the Bible and some
philosophical works on religion. But she found no system or creed more soul
satisfying than Bishop Brooks creed of love.

Dr. Oliver Wendella Holmes

Helen remembers the first time she saw Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes one
Sunday afternoon, in the company of Miss Sullivan. They met him in his study
Helen happened to touch a book of Tennyson's poems. She recited one of his
poems on Miss Sullivan's bidding :

Break, break, break
On thy cold gray stones, O sea!
She suddenly stopped as she felt tears on her hand. She had made
beloved poet-Holmes-weep. After that she saw Holmes many times and
to love the man as well as the poet.

Whittier

Miss Sullivan and Helen, one beautiful summer day, shortly after their meeting
with Dr. Holmes, visited Whittier in his quiet home on the Merrimac. His gentle
manner and quaint speech won Helen's heart. She had read one of his poems "In
School Days". She asked him many questions about the poem. He explained the
poem to her. Then she recited "Laus Deo." In his study he wrote his autograph for
Miss Sullivan. Then he led Helen to the gate and kissed her tenderly on her forehead

Dr. Edward Everett Hale

Dr. Hale was one of Helen's very old friends. He had been a source of
courage to her in times of trial and sorrow. He had shown people what it is to
believe, live and be free. He had been a prophet and an inspirer of men and a
mighty doer of the Word', the friend of all his race.

Dr. Alexander Graham Bell

Helen had already told about his meeting with Dr. Bell the World's Fair
Since then she had spent many happy days with him at Washington. He told her
a lot about his experiments. He had a humorous and poetic side, too. He was
very fond of children.

Mr. Laurence Hutton

Helen thinks that it was a great privilege to meet Mr. and Mrs. Hutton in
their lovely home. Mr. Hutton had the well-known faculty of bringing out in every
one the best thoughts and kindest sentiments. No one needed to read his "A Boy
I Knew" to know this. Mrs. Hutton was a true and tried friend. Mr. Hutton
introduced Helen to many of his literary friends, greatest of whom were
Dr. William Dean Howells and Mark Twain.

Some other people in Helen's life

Mr. Hutton introduced Helen to many of his literary friends such as
Mr. William Dean Howells and Mark Twain. She also met Mr. Richard Watson
Gilder and Mr. Edmund Clarence Stedman. She also knew Mr. Charles Dudley
Warner, a delightful storyteller and a good, sympathetic friend. Once Mr. Warner
brought to see her the popular poet of the woodlands-Mr. John Burroughs. Then
there was Mr. Richard Watson Gilder who told Helen about his moonlit journeys
across the vast desert to the Pyramids. Helen heard one or two of goods stories
from Mark Twain's lips.
Helen met many people in New York. Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge, an editor
and Mrs. Riggs (Kate Douglas Wiggin), the author of "Patsy". She recalls
meeting William Thaw of Pittsburgh and another friend, and feels grateful to
them for their inspiring words. About all her friends and well-wishers, she says.

"In a thousand ways they have turned my
limitations into beautiful privileges, and
enabled me to walk serene and happy in the
shadow cast by my deprivation.

These people, indeed, made the story of her life.