Helen Keller (1880-1968) typewritten letter, signed. The 3-page letter with pencil signature, dated 1923 from Long Island, written in response to a letter from "Miss Bose" in India. In it, Keller discusses her views of Christianity, faith and World War I. "I am an optimist by temperament – not quite so confident, perhaps, as I was before the Great War unmasked the hatred and chaos upon which the Western world had built its house of life. But I still live in the faith that this life is a school, the seemingly harsh discipline of which will be made clear to us in God's own time. Such a faith makes life worth living, and gives one encouragement to struggle on, though the way is often dark." Keller also makes reference to "Your great poet Tagore," and expresses admiration for "the courage with which you and other Indian women have broken away from hampering conditions" and says she is "delighted to hear that there is a school for the blind in Kulpahar." Keller closes with a reference to Anne Sullivan: "My teacher commands me to convey to you her warm appreciation of your beautiful tribute to her." Keller was stricken blind and deaf by illness at the age of two, but with the help of Sullivan learned to read and write. She became the first blind and deaf person to earn a bachelor's degree, and gained fame as a humanitarian and writer. Lot includes Keller related clippings/ephemera and a postcard of Keller's home in Tuscumbia, Alabama. CONDITION: Light toning and scattered spotting, couple of small blue ink stains, old paper clip rust residue upper corner of first and last page.