Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/Biographical Sketch
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
FROM THE MAGAZINE OF POETRY
Clarence Hawkes, better known as the "Blind Poet of New England," was born in Goshen, Mass., December 16th, 1869. When nine years of age, he met with an accident while returning from school, which culminated in the amputation of one leg. When thirteen years of age while out hunting he was accidentally shot by his companion and both eyes were injured.
After undergoing several severe operations in hopes of regaining his sight, this hope was abandoned and at the age of fifteen he entered the Perkins Institution for the Blind. Here in addition to the regular course, he studied music and piano tuning, and was graduated after four years, taking the last two years' work in one. The following year he returned to the school for a post-graduate course, and at the same time began the study of law and oratory with teachers from Boston Colleges. After six months of arduous study his health gave way beneath the strain and he returned home to his parents, then located at Cummington, Mass.
One year was then spent in recruiting, and at the age of twenty-one Mr. Hawkes went upon the platform as a public lecturer, and at the same time began writing short stories and poems for local newspapers. Since that time he has written three hundred poems and over fifty short stories and sketches, and lectured in nearly all parts of New England. He is at present a contributor to over a score of the high class periodicals. Mr. Hawkes travels alone on his lecture trips and gets about with the greatest ease. He is a base-ball and football enthusiast, a skillful fisherman and an accomplished chess player, while one of his chief amusements is to visit a picture gallery.