Transcription of Letter

May 2, 1931.

Dear Mrs. Hoover,

It was wonderful! The kindness with which the President and you received the delegates to the world congress of workers for the blind last Wednesday, and the President not only spoke words of encouragement, but shook hands with them all! Then the delightful hospitality you bestowed upon Mrs. Macy, Miss Thomson and myself! We are all still talking about that happy visit, your sweet thoughtfulness and the President's interesting talk, your friendly guests, the flowers breathing sweet welcome and the White House we saw in such a new way through your eyes. There is such a distance between the transitory value of words and our constant sense of gratitude, we shall not attempt to thank you for being so cordial to us, so understanding and gentle in your place of severe responsibility. We shall simply say, we shall treasure the memory of the golden hour we spent with you both always.

I accept with eagerness the revelation of your friendship. I need not tell you who have greatly lived and greatly felt that such a support of sympathy is the greatest help we can give each other in my work. You and the President know that giving help to human beings requires thought, imagination, organization and independence of spirit. For the end is not the success of achievement, but to realize the ideal of service. So you see how much it means to me to know that the President and you are so generously with the blind whose well-being is the desire of my life.

Yet there is something even deeper in me, as there is in every woman, and your love of children and your earnest endeavors in their behalf thrill me to my soul. Only by intelligent, faithful care for all its children can a nation long continue to live and achieve and advance civilization. Whole-heartedly I stand with you in your efforts to guard the shrine and the source of America's life--the joy and vigor of its young generation.

Please pardon this long note, and interpret it as the affectionate regard of one who has long known and admired you. With our united greetings to the President and yourself, I am

Sincerely your friend,

P.S. - I wonder if the President can remember what he said to the delegates--it was a little gem of good will and kindness to all men. The delegates would so like to have it to incorporate in their report of the Conference.

H.K.