The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-07-13
Going it Blind.
How sightless Man Dispenses with a Guide
and is Making His Fortune


and is Making His Fortune.
Moses Schwartz, trunk manufacture
erof Brooklyn. is totally blind, ret he
is proprietor of several trunk stores,
AMI Is prosperous business man, and
dos business with many customers
WHO do not detect his MISFORTUNE
Wien he was a boy, says the New York
!Su', he ruined his eyes by putting a
mdch in pan of gunpowder, and, al
though his sight was ruined for life, and
hewas advised to spend his life in an
asylum for the blind, he resented such
expressions Of sympathy, and said that
heintended to make his way in the
world with his remaining senses. He
WIS passing st. PauPs churchyard one
day, and being attracted by the noise
made by the ''fakirs" who stand by the
Irn fence to sell their wares, he halted
AMI opened a conversation with one of
them. Il am blind" he said, ..and am
moi going to beg or steal. think 1 can
stand here and earn living as YOU do.
| Now, tell me where 1 can buy stock"
The next day'he was at the church.
yara fence with a small lot of goods,
ant he at once found that, though his
slgit was gone, he could cry his wares
with good pair of lungs, and make
hisfngers 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-
cane most acute, and he acquired a
sensitive touch. Having mechanical
turn, he began the manufacture of
trunks in small way, and now he runs
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.
Ia walking the streets Mr. Schwartz
useI no guide. He holds his head erect,
and carries cane with which he deity
fees his way. His pace is slow, and he
seems to have no difficulty in getting
along. His frmness of manner and
dlgnified bearing create a space about
him. and persons who do not know his
blindness instinctively turn aside to lot
hin pass. If by chance he strikes
against any one he politely begs pardon,
touches his hat, if the collision chances
to he with lady, and passes on. 1T
is foolish,n he says, '.for blind man to
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 as l do.''
Are you never run over by We
hicesP'
Il have been once or twice | was
knocked down by lady's ph@ton in
Scbemerhorn 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 that?''
81 roll over and over Just as fast as l
can, sideways, until I'm sure I'm out of
danger of being crushed, Then | Jump
easaf1'ew csa persons know that you are
blind?n
Yes, that's true. My present wife
did not know it until after we got in
love with each other. l 90 into COM
pany as much as l can, and as | can
tax and sing get along pretty well.
l mad, however, to tell my wife of my
infirmity on one occasion before we were
married to excuse my awkwardness in
a dance. l bumped against some of
the others in the figure so often that
they became angry, and | had to con-
fe's my blindness. / go to the theatre
vey often, and nearly always have a
trtnt seat in the balcony. I am fond of |
tbs music and like comedy very much.''
How do you decide upon your stock |
of.eather goods?''
BY the sense of touch and the sense
ofsmell. / can tell you all the different
kids of leather by sample-by the oily
feiing and smell. | never was deceived |
ye. In fact, / get along so well that
sone of my rivals have started the story
tht | am not blind-that only pretend
tOoen