The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-07-14
Going it Blind.
How slghtlcss Man Disponses with a Guide
and Is Making His Fortune.

How Slghtcss Man Disponses with Guide
and is Making His Fortune.
Moses Schwartz, trunk manufacture
or Of Brooklyn. is totally blind, yet he
is proprietor of several trunk stores,
and is prosperous business man, and
does business with many customers
who do not detect his misfortune. -
When he was boy, says the New York
SIN, he ruined his eyes by putting n
match in pan of gunpowder, and, al
though his sight was ruined for life, and
he was advised TO spend his life in an
asylum for the blind, he resented such
expressions Of sympathy, and said that
he intended to make his way in the
world with his remaining senses. He
was passing st. Pau1s churchyard one
day and being attracted by the noise
made by the 'fakirs" who stand by the
iron fence to sell their wares, he halted
and opened conversation with one of
them. 81 am blind" he said, "and am
not going to beg or steal. | think can
stand here and earn living as YOU do
Now, tell me where ! can buy a stock"
The next day he was at the church
yard fence with small lot of goods,
and he at once found that, though his
sight was gone, he could cry his wares
with good pair of lungs, and make
his fingers serve him in asserting money
and making change. For years he re-
manned Il familiar figure in Broadway.
lie found that his sense of hearing be-
came most acute, and he acquired a
sensitive touch. Having mechanical
turn, he began the manufacture of
trunks in small way, and now he runs
a factory. He has devised several
things in trunk-making, and he AYERS
that one patented article now yielding
a good income to another was origi-
mated by him.
In walking the streets Mr. Schwartz
uses no guide. lie holds his head erect,
and carries cane with which he deity
feels his way His pace is slow, and he
seems to have no difficulty in getting
along. His firmneSs of manner and
dlgnlied bearing create "A space about
him, and persons who do not know his
blindness instinctively turn aside to let
him pass. If by chance he strikes
against any one he politely begs pardon,
touches his hat, if the collision chances
to be with lady, and passes on. 1T
is foclish," he says, ''for blind man 80
have boy or a dog to lead him. 1t
teaches him dependence, and, from
what ! can learn, men who have guides
do not get along as well rs ] do
care you never run over by We
hiclcs?"
IL have been once or twice was
Knocked down by a lady's phnton in
Schemerhorn street once, because mis-
calculated the distance of the vehicle on
account Of the tar pavement, which
deadened the sound of the wheels. But
] have trick for saving myself when
I'm knocked down."
"What is thatg'
Il roll over and over Just as fast as |
can, sideways, until I'm sure I'm out of
danger of being crushed Then Jump
to my feet, call out I'm all right, and 90
on my way"
Few persons know that you are
blind?"
YES, that's true. My present wife
did not know it until after we cot in
love with each other | 90 into COM
pany as much rs | can, and as | can
talk and sing | get along pretty well,
| had, however, to tell my wife of my
intirmity on one occasion before we were
married to excuse my awkwardness in
dance, bumped against some of
the Others in the figure so often that
they became angry, aud ! had to con-
fcss my blindness. ] 60 to the theatre
very often, and nearly always have q
front seat in the balcony. am fond of
the music and like comedy very much"
How do you decide upon your stock
of leather goodsP'
"By the sense of touch and the sense
of smell. | can tell you all the different
kinds of leather by sample by the oily
feeling and smell. never was deceived
yet In fact, get along SO well that
some of my rivals have started the story
that am not blind-that only pretend
TO be-"