Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-05-27
WHAT A BLIND MAN CAN DO.
He Can Run a Store without Help IN
without Making a Mistake,

without Making Mistake.
NcR York Sun.
When in the employ of the New Jersey
Southern railroad, few years ago, Charles
II. Fennimore, of Farmingdale, had the
misfortune to lose the sight of one eye, the
result Of getting hot cinder from the loco
motive in it. About a year afterward,
while working in a mari pit at Lower
Squankum, he got a small pebble in the
other eye. He was taken to an infirmary
in New York, where every effort was made
to save the sight, but he became totally
blind.
Revolving in his mind various projects
for the support of his family, he deter
mined to try keeping country store. His
friends endeavored to dissuade him from
the undertaking, but he was resolute and
opened small store in Lower Squankum,
three miles frons Farmingdale. He soon
showed an aptitude for the business, and
accomplished things which seemed marvel
Gus.
His dwelling house is over mile distant
from his store. At first his little daughter
regularly took him by the hand at morn
ing and evening and conducted him to and
from his occupation. A little later he said
he could 60 alone, and has done 80 ever
since. His method is to count the steps
from the front Of his house to his store,
and he has experienced no difficulty in
reaching both in safety. He locks and
unlocks the door and opens and closes the
shutters without assistance. His son
sweeps out and dusts the store, but he ex-
poets soon to do this without assistance.
His sense of touch and memory are
simply wonderful. Every sort Of goods
put up In packages IL 30 arranged under
bis direction that he can deal out anything
in his stock that is called for. This he
does by counting the steps from either end
Of the counter, and the number of shelves,
beginning with number one at the bottom,
and enumerating the dividing spaces from
either end Of the rows Of shelving.
He weighs accurately anything from q
quarter of pound of tea to % pounds of
-four, being guided by touch in arranging
the weight and the tipping of the scales.
His memory of voices is 30 sensitive that
he has never been known to make q mis-
take in a PERSONS name. As q test a
stranger to him was sent to the store. He
was fair mimic, and endeavored TO per.
senate man well known to Mr.. Fenni-
more. He signally failed, the blind store
keeper interrupted him at once and saving:
VI don't know who you are, bat you are
not George Brewer"
Perhaps Mr.. Fennimore's greatest evil
dence OF an unfaltering and accurate mem
DRY is the facility with which he makes
change. Every morning Mrs. Fennimore
arranges his wallet for him. The IS notes
are placed in ths bottom, and 81 notes in
the middle, and the 81 notes on the ton OF
the package. Healways knows to penny
how much change he has in an ordinary
shot bag, and can tell the instant he
touches any piece the value it representa-,
Thus equipped, he is ready to give Gus
toner change for note or silver currency.
and his accuracy in making change EQUALS
that Of any merchant In all the country
round. Tried one day with a S gold
piece, which was placed in his hand. he
looked to the owner of il as If he could see
him, smiled, rang the coin upon the coun-
ter and said: This ia a IS gold piece;
what do you wish to buys"
He is an expert ut addition and subtrac-
ton, readily keeping in his mind doseu
articles and their price, and telling the
customer the amount the moment the last
article Is served. He Is pleased with his
occupation, and has made his business q
modest success.