Helena weekly herald., 1882-07-06
GOING 1T BLIND.
How Sightless Man Dispenses With a
Guide and Is Making His Fortune.


Moses Schwartz, trunk manufacturer OF
Brooklyn, is totally blind, yet he is proprie-
tor of several trnnk stores and is a prosper
Gus business man, and does business with
many customers who do not detect his mis-
fortune. When he was boy, says the New
York Sun, he ruined his eyes by putting a
match in pan of gunpOwder, and, although
his sight was ruined for life, and he was ad-
vised to spend his life in an asylum for the
blind, he resented such expressions OF SYM
pathy, and said that he intended to make
his way in the world by means of his re-
naming senses. He was passing st Pauls
churchyard one day, and being attracted by
the noise made by "takirs" who stand by the
iron fence to sell their wares, he halted and
opened a conversation with one of them. Il
am blind" he said, 'and l am not going to
beg Orsteal. think can stand here and earn
living as you do. Now, tell me where l
can buy stock"
The next day he was at the churchyard
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 as
sorting money and making change For years
he remained familiar figure in Broadway.
He found that his sense of hearing became
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 originated by
him.
In walking the streets Mr.. Schwartz uses
no guide. He holds his head erect, and car
ries cane with which he deftly feels his
way. His pace is slow, and he seems to
have no difficulty in getting along. His firm
ness of manner and dignified bearing create
a space about him, and persons who did 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. at is foolish" he says, for
a blind man to have boy or 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 vehicles? p
Il have been once or twice was knocked
down by phaeton on Schermerhorn street
once, because / miscalculated the distance on
account of the tar pavement, (which dead
ened the sound of the wheels. But have o
trick for saving myself when Pm knocked
down.
''What is that?'
/ roll over and over just as fast as l can,
sideways, until I'm sure Pm out Of danger
of being crushed. Then / jump to my feet,
call out I'm all right, and go on my way"
Few persons know that you are blind ?"
eyes, that is true. My present wife did
not know it until after we got in love with
each other. go into company as much as l
can, and as l can talk and sing | get along
pretty we'll. I had, however, to tell my wife
of my infirmity on one occasion before we
were married, to excuse my awkwardness in
a dance. 1 bumped against some of the
others in the figure so often that they be-
came angry, and had to confess my blind
ness. 60 to the theatre very often, and
nearly always have front seat in the bal
cony I'm fond of the music and like COM
pany very much"
How do you decide upon your stock of
leather goods?"
"By the sense of touch and the sense of
smell. 1 can tell you all the different kinds
of leather by sample-by the oily feeling
and smell. l have never been deceived 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-"