The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-23
What a Blind Man Can Do.

| Whlle In the employ OF tne NEW
JERSEY Southern Railroad, a few
years ago, Charles II. Fennimore. OF
Farmingdale. had the misfortune to
lose the sight of one eye, the result
of getting a hot clnder from the loco
motive in it. About a year after
ward, while working in mari pit at
Lower Squankum, he got small
sharp 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 to-
tally blind.
Revolving In his mind various pro-
jects for the support of his family. he
determined to try keeping country
store. His friends endeavored to
dissuade him from the undertaking,
but he was resOlute and opened a
small store in Lower Squankum.
three miles from Farmingdale. He
soon showed an aptitude for the bus
iness, and accomplished things which
seemed marvellous.
His dwelling house Is over mile
distant from the store, AT first his
little daughter regularly took him by
the hand at morning and evening
and conducted him to and from his
occupation. A little later he said he
could go alone. and has done so 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
Gusts the store, but he expects soon
to do this without assistance.
His sense of touch and memory are
simply wonderful. Every sort of
goods put up in packages is so arrang-
ed under his 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 coun-
ter, and the number of shelves, be.
ginning with number one at the bot
tom, and enumerating the dividing
spaces from either end of the rows of
shelves.
He weighs anything from a quar-
ter of pound of tea to twenty-five
pounds of flour, being guided by
touch in arranging the weights and
the tipping of the scales.
His memory of voices is so sensi.
tive that he has never been known
to make mistake in persons name.
AS test stranger to him was sent
to the store. He was a fair mimic,
and he endeavored TO personate a
man we'll known to Mr.. Fennimore.
He signally failed, the blind store
keeper interrupting him at once. and
saying, II don't know who you are,
but you are not George Brewer"
Perhaps Mr., Fennimore's greatest
evidence of AN unfaltering and accur-
ate memory is the facility with which
he makes change. Every morning
Mrs. Fennimore arranges his wallet
for him. The So notes are placed in
the bottom, the 50 notes in the mid
die, and the 81 notes on the top of the
package. He always knows to a
penny how much change he has in an
ordinary shot bag, and can tell the
instant he touches any piece the val
ne which it represents. Thus equip.
ped he is ready to give a customer
cilangafor note or silver currency,
and his accuracy in making change
equals that Of any merchant in all
the country found. Tried one day
with S. gold piece which was laid
in his hand, he looked toward the
owner of it as if he could see him,
smiled, rang the coin upon the coun-
ter. and said: "This is SIS gold
piece what did you wish to buy ?"
He is expert at addition and SUBJ
traction. readily keeping in his mind
dozen articles and their price. and
telling customer the amount the
moment the last article is served. He
is pleased with his occupation, and
has made his business modest sue
cess.
Can't Ger too Much.