5 June (1928): Carl Sandburg to Helen Keller

Below are two letters written by poet Carl Sandburg to Helen Keller. The first letter (1928) discusses Sandburg’s discovery of the second letter, written years earlier, which compliments Keller’s vaudeville routine performed at the Palace Theatre in New York City. This would be one of her last performances, as she quit soon after her mother died. Keller was one of the most successful performers of her time, raking in nearly $2,000 a week for only a few 20-minute performances.

[Chicago]

June 5, 1928.

Dear Miss Keller:

Sometime ago when I was on a long vacation and receiving no mail I was asked to write to you on your birthday anniversary. I could not comply with that request then, deeply as I wished to.

However, in moving from one house to another and reorganizing desks, files and papers, I came across a letter written to you six years ago. I did not sign it—nor did I send it to you—just why I do not know—perhaps I felt the style of the letter was a little high flown. Anyhow, I do not feel now that it is high flown and send it to you with greetings and love.

Faithfully yours,

Carl Sandburg

[April 8, 1922]

Dear Helen Keller:

I saw and heard you last night at the Palace and enjoyed it a thousand ways. It was interesting to watch that audience minute by minute come along till they loved you big and far. For myself, the surprise was to find you something of a dancer, shifting in easy postures like a good blooded race horse. I thrilled along with the audience to your saying you hear applause with your feet registering to vibration of the stage boards. Possibly the finest thing about your performance is that those who hear and see you feel that zest for living, the zest you radiate, is more important than any formula about how to live life.

Carl Sandburg

From The Letters of Carl Sandburg. Edited by Herbert Mitgang. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc: New York 1968 pp. 258-9.

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