Helen Keller's Busy Day - 1954 скачать в хорошем качестве

Helen Keller's Busy Day - 1954

We observe the famous deaf-blind writer and social activist Helen Keller and her companion Polly Thomson as they share a typical day in the 1950s, Polly Thomson became Helen Keller's main companion after the death of Helen's teacher Anne Sullivan in 1936. Transcript - Subtitle - "A Typical Day in Helen Keller's Life. Arcan Ridge, Connecticut USA.". " Mornings at Arcan Ridge begin around 5'oclock." "For Helen, they begin as they end. With the Bible." "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmaments show us his handy work. Day unto day affirm his speech, and night unto night show his knowledge.There is no speech, no language where their voice is not heard. Polly meanwhile has brought up the breakfast. Sometimes something is missing from the tray. And it is Helen who goes downstairs to fetch it. Polly knows it pleases Helen to wait upon her when she can. Everywhere else, except in her own familiar home, it is Helen who must be waited upon by Polly. Here, where every table, every chair, every dish in the cupboard is her intimate friend, Helen can move freely and independently. Though in this quiet house, Polly need not speak aloud to Helen, she usually does. It helps to drive back the silence. In her dressing, Helen is completely independent. She knows her clothes and where to find them, even to a stray belt. Every morning Helen goes for a walk along a thousand foot handrail. Built by a loving friend to guide her. A thousand feet where she is alone and free. The walk seldom varies. But for Helen it is always full of small unexpected events. Helen has known from childhood what those with sight cannot realize. That one does not need eyes to see the world. By 8'oclock Polly and Helen have made their beds. Polly has finished the household tasks. And their business of the day begins. Even at home they carry the responsibilities and obligations of public figures. Their desk is never clear. The mail piles up while they are away. And every morning more comes in. The bulky packages are books in Braille. They must wait. The letters will be gone through after Polly finishes spelling out the morning headlines. Helen is emphatic about keeping in touch with world events. But the mail looms large. A few of the letters are personal ones from friends. But most of them are requests for something. From New Zealand, "Would you kindly send a message to the Royal Blind Institute." From Massachusetts, "I have written a pamphlet on teaching the deaf, Please read read it and let me have your comments." From India, "I am going slowly blind. In the United States is a cure.Can you help me?" From New York, "I have chosen you as the subject of my term paper. Would you write me a long letter telling me all about yourself?" After the mail Helen goes to her own study to work. There are reports to be made out. Speeches and articles to be prepared. So far as possible she does her own research. She located her research books by the Braille lettering along the edge. In her work she will not indulge herself because she is handicapped. Everyone has his own handicaps, Helen says. It just happens to be the handicap of the blind that they cannot see. Of the deaf that they cannot hear. She does her own typing. For speeches she does on her braille typewriter so she can go over them herself for corrections. The machine has only six keys because all Braille letters are made by the combination and placement of six raised dots. For her letters she uses a regular typewriter. She is fast and accurate.But she has Polly check her letters. Being blind, she cannot permit herself the casual mistakes of the seeing. If there are mistakes Helen types the letter again. From the vibrations of a buzzer, Helen knows when it is time for lunch. The glint of crystals is one thing Helen thinks she remembers seeing as a baby before she went blind. Flowers are among her greatest pleasures. Helen's home is not a sad place. Because she is not a sad woman. She's extraordinarily gay. She goes toward each new experience with the joy of a child. On weekdays there are only three for lunch. Helen and Polly, and Anne who comes in to help them with the housework. Their days are too full for social engagements. But at teatime they relax and catch up with their personal mail. Friends may come in. The talk may turn to politics or world affairs. Helen has strong views on these. And she has the courage to express them even when thy are not popular. She also like a good story and appreciates a joke as much as anyone else.