AMERICAN NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 11

AMERICAN NOTES.

We have become so used to the telephone (says the "Ladies' Home Journal") that it seems strango to' think that its inventor is not only alive, but is also living right in the midst of us For it is in Washington that Alexander •Graham Bell spends" his winters, although for his summers he goes to Nova Scotia. It isn't every inventor who not only sees the fruition of his invention, but who also reaps the financial benefit of it as Professor Bell has done. And as he is a. man of only sixty-three it is not unlikely that he may live to see the fruition of another invention upon which he is now working, and in which all . his interest is centred—a flying-machine. He calls it the aerodrome, and at his summer place in Nova Scotia ,he industriously- works away at his invention: has tests of his flying-machine,, perfectly confident of the time when we will all travel by air rather than by land. When he is not interested in air-flying ho transfers his interest and time to the deaf and blind girl in whose behalf he has spent a quarter of his lifetime. Helen Keller has no closer man friend than Professor Bell, nor has any one, proved sc great a benefactor to this marvellous girl. Sheep also interest Professor Bell, and recently he imported some Zulu sheep) a new breed having four horns. Professor Bell has a perfectly equipped

laboratory in Nova Scotia, and whh his variety, of interests keeps his min-1 and brain alert and active., ' Every little while, some mercenary book hawker tries to sell a few extra copies of Miss Crosby's books'by telling the prospective purchaser a woeful tale. "Buy a book to/help the poor blind writer who is starving 'in a little garret up in : Connecticut," is'tho heart-' moving uttorance with which, he hopes to coax forth money for his own profit.' The purchaser -buys the volume, and then, if he is curious, consults some publisher or friend of Miss Crosby who knows the facts. '■''■..'

"Is.jt-true that New .England's, great hymn-writer is.starving?" he inquires. ' "Not at. all," is the response. "She is on' the/.pension.list of at least onpublishing firm/ and receives, weekly from them a substantial cheque. This firm paid 300.dollars to furnish a room . for her, where she is living'with her r< latives. She will he supported,, the rest of her life whether she works or not, and when she dies this firm will bury her." '..:■'..'(' Blind and now ninety years, old, Miss Crosby is very far.from being a pathetic spectacle/ . She. is full of fun and life and still writes. She laughingly says that she : intends to live to be -103, for her mother lived 'to be 102,, and slit thinks she can improve on.that record. She need not write unless she chooses, but she loves the work.

No career in American history resembles hers. She has written between six and seven thousand hymns. She has had 105 different noms de plume because her publishers said they d«' not want to have the same- name opposite every hymn in the book. When she lived in New York she used' to write ten or twelve hymns every week. • Her versatility is amazing. She can compose music, and has set one of hei own hymns. Her husband was a musician, and composed the musio for e, number of her hymns. He, too, was blind,' but the two. used to go about New York together without assistance.'; Oneof their friends jokingly said to him: "You know what the Bible says about the blind leading the blind." •.•"Well, it doesn't apply here," he replied. "We travel side by side." Miss Crosby is a. mite of a woman, weighing only about eighty or eightyfive pounds. HlftTS ABOUT YOTJB HAIB AND HOME TREATMENT. If yonr hair ir falling or turning CT ev do not worry, call on Miss Milsom HaiJ Physician and Face Specialist, who di agnoses each case, treats and teach« ladies and gentlemen their proper treat ment.' All massage practised by Mi« Milsom is the most scientific process anproved of by the leading medical' fra! ternity of London and Paris. treatments, from 3s. Gd. All her preS Uona are famous and widespread and will not only cure completely dandruff falling and grey hair, but positively nro' mote a thick, new growth in a very ehort time. Shampooing, Electrolysis Hairdressing done and taught. Hairwork of every description. Correspond, ence invited. Consultation free, lfinp'j Chambers, Willis Street (opp. CarrolFsl Telophone 814.--Advk