The Osceola times., 1882-07-29
A BLIND MANUFACTURER.
How q sightIess Man Dispenses with a
Gutds and In making His Fortune.

Guide and Is making His Fortune.
Moses Schwartz, a trunk manufacturer
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 he ruined his eyes by putting
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 by means of his remaining senses.
He was passing st. Paul's 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 a conversation with
one of them. 81 am blind" he said,
"and am not going to beg or steal. l
think | can stand here and earn a living
as you do. Now, tell me where l can
| buy stock"
The n xt day he was at the church
yard fence with a 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 fin.
gers serve him in asserting money and
making change. For years he re-
mained familiar figure in Broadway.
He found that his sense Of hearing had
became most acute, and he acquired a
most sensitive touch Having mechan-
ical turn, he began the manufacture OF
trunks in small way, and now runs a
factory. He can make trunk as well
as anv of his workmen. He has devised
several things in trunk making, and he
AYERS that one patented article now
yielding good income to another was
originated by him.
In walking the streets Mr.. Schwartz
uses no guide. He holds his head erect
and carries a cane with which he deity
feels his way. His pace is slow, and he
J seems to have no difficulty in getting
along. His tirmness of manner and dig
nitied bearing create space about hun
and persons who do moi know his blind
ness instinctlvely turn aside to let HIN
pass. If BY chance he strikes against
any onehe politely begs pardon, touches
his hat if the collision chances to be
lady, and passes on. at is foolish" IA,
saws, "for blind man to have boy ol
dog TO lead him. IL teaches him de
pendence, and from what | can learn
men who have guides do not get alonI
as well as do"
Are you never run over by vehl
!, cles 2"
II have been once or twice. l wa
knocked down by lady's pheton IL
, Schermerhorn street once, because
miscalculated the distance of the vehl
cles on account of the tar pavement
which deadened the sound of the wheels
But | have trick for saving myseI
when Pm knocked down.
: 81 roll over and over just as fast as
? can, sideways, until Pm sure I'm out o
. danger of being crushed. Then juml
J to my feet, call out Pm all right and g
: Oh my way"
Few persons know you are blind 2
!, ayes, that's true. My present wife di'
not know it until after We got in low
with each other. go into company a
: much as | can, and as | can talk am
0 sing, | get along pretty well. | ha'
+ however, to tell my wife of my intirmity
on one occasion before we were marie,
to excuse my awkwardness in a dance,
D bumped against others in the iigur
so often that they became angry, and
had to confess my blindness. 20 t
T the theatre very often, and nearly al
a ways have front seat in the balcony
q | am fond of the music and like th
y comedy very much
s How do you decide upon your sto G.
e OF leather goods p
u "By the ssnse of touch and the gems
I OF SMELL | can tell you all the difleren
y kinds leather by sample--by the oil
: feeling and smell. never was deceive
l. yet. In fact, get along SO well tha
+ some of my rivals have startled the stor
5 that am not blind-that | only preten
= to be.