Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-12-21

Moses Schwartz, a trunk manufactur-
er of Bryoklyn, is totally blind, yet he
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
a match in a 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
expression 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 church
yard 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 opend converse
ton with one of them. IL am blind,
and am not going to beg or steal. l
think / can stand here and earn living
as you do. Now tell me where / can
put stock.
The next 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 a good pair of lungs, and make his
fingers serve him in asserting money
and making change. For years he re-
NAMED familiar figure in Broadway.
He found that his sense of hearing be-
came more acute, and he acquired a
sensitive touch. Having a mechanical
urn, he began the manufacturing of
trunks in small way, and now he runs
a factory. He can make trunk a.
well as any 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 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
dignifed 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 padron,
touches his hat if the collision chances
to be with lady, and passes on. at
is foolish, ''he says, "for blind man to
have boy or dog to lead him. II
teaches him dependence, and, from
what l can learn, men who have guides
do not get along as well as / do. :"
"Are you never run over by vehiclese"
Il have been once or twice. / was
knocked down by lady's phaeton in
Schermsrhorn street, once, because /
miscalculated the distance of the vehi-
Gle on account of the pavement, which
| deadened the sound of the wheels. But
| have trick for saving myself when
I'm knocked down"
What is thatP'
al roll over and over just as fast as
can sideways. until I'm sure I'm out of
danger of being crusked. Then I Jump
to my feet, call out I'm all right. and
go on my way"
Few persons know that you are
blind"
Eyes, that's true. Ny present wife
did not know it until after we got in
love with each other. 60 into COM
pany as much as can, and as l can
talk, and sing. l get along pretty we'll!
| had, however, to tell my wife of my
, infirmity on one occasion before we
were married, to excuse my awkward
ness in a dance. / bumped against
some of the others in the figure so often
that they became angry, and had to
confess my blindness. go to the thea
tire very often, and nearly always have
a front seat in the balcony. I'm 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. l can tell you all the differ
ent kinds of leather by simplicity the
oily feeling and smell. never was de-
ceived yet. In fact, ! get along so well
that some Of my rivals have started the
story that am not blind-that l only
pretend to be-"