Dear Time Reader:

You may recall a story in TIME'S Education section called "The Spinning Eyes" (TIME, Oct. 18), the story of Alan Maxwell Palmer, onetime advertising man, who lost a hand in World War II, went to Mexico City to live, and then found that he had permanently lost his sight after undergoing a series of brain tumor operations. During his lonely hours of boredom, Palmer conceived a project that he thought would help other blind people, particularly those among the uncounted thousands of illiterates all over Mexico.

Palmer's project was to provide free long-playing records of Mexican classics, concerts, songs and stories by professional artists, and a series of Mexican travelogues "so that the blind can appreciate the beauties they can never see." The project got off to a smooth start, well-known entertainers offered their services free, a U.S. recording company said it would make the recordings at cost. A campaign was started for public contributions to pay for playing equipment and making the records. But suddenly, as TIME'S story explained, there was an urgent reason to complete the fund-raising campaign in a hurry. Palmer had to undergo another brain operation and was warned by his doctors that he had not long to live.

A few days ago I received a letter from TIME'S Correspondent Dave Richardson in Mexico City, who had just visited Palmer. Wrote Richardson: "No sooner did the TIME story appear," Palmer told me last evening, "than a wealthy Chicagoan telephoned me long-distance to offer to help us in any way. He said he also was handicapped, being stone-deaf, and wanted to help others less fortunate than he. Besides giving us a sizable donation, he agreed to act as our Midwest fund-raising representative."

Palmer went on to tell Richardson how other TIME readers had responded to his story. Within days of the story's appearance, he said, letters began to arrive from all over the U.S., many enclosing checks. One check came from an Ohio pastor, who had read the TIME story to his congregation. The Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale of Manhattan's Marble Collegiate Church wrote that he had used the story of Palmer's project in a sermon. A German lieder singer and a French basso profundo offered to do free recordings. The Cornell Glee Club, which had been on a holiday singing tour in Mexico, made the same offer.

The response, to his story that Palmer enjoyed most came from Frederick Emerson Peters, who is a fabulous impersonator and confidence man. Recently, Palmer received a letter from Peters that was sent from a cell in the Lorton, Va. penitentiary. Peters wrote that he had read the TIME story about Palmer in the prison dentist's office, recalled that he had once met Palmer long ago, and sent him a $50 check for the project.

This month Palmer plans to release the first set of two 12-in. records for the Mexican blind. They will feature such stars as Bing Crosby (singing Spanish songs), Mexican Comedian Cantinflas and Actress Dolores Del Rio, in addition to poetry reading and a variety of instrumental music by Mexican artists. Since funds for Palmer's project are still limited, only 100 sets of the first two records will be made. These will be sent to priests throughout Mexico to play to groups of blind people through arrangement with the Archbishop of Mexico. Later, when more funds are available, additional records will be distributed through hospitals, old people's homes and private institutions.

In the meantime, says Correspondent Richardson, Palmer is in a hospital for a series of deep brain X rays. Although weakened by the treatments, he continues to remain cheery and wisecracking as he dictates letters and works on the details of his project.

Cordially yours,

James A. Linen

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