The evening world., 1889-08-28
FEATS OF BLIND MEN.
Remarkable Ability Exhibited By some or
the Afflicted.
IFrom the Philadelphia nm.,.I

W HHlcIcd.
iFrom ne Philadelphia nn...I
In That ancient fortress of Democracy, the
hllly township of Brecknock, out in the
northeastern part of this county, where little
else but PENNSYLVANIA Dutch is smoker and
people find Reading much more convenient
oil access for marketing and shopping than
thelr own county seat, John s. Wenger keeps
a country store. There is nothing remark
aOle IN the statement that no is q successful
merchant and q skilful worker in agricultural
machinery. until it is coupled with the addi-
tional statement that John S. Wenger is and
mas been for years, If not for all his life, a
blind man. In spite of that fact he sells
goods cut of his store, receives money and
makes change with accuracy and rapidity.
AS agent for rcapers, mowers, self binders
md almost all sorts Of agricultural Imple-
iments he, of receives the machinery
ne buys IN paris, hut he manifests his skill
In putting them together In first class shape.
&C accurate Is his sense of touch that he
needs 10 help TO do the work, and he in the
same way proceeds to repair machinery that
Is brought to him for inspection and treat
ment.
lie is an intelligent. go-nhead man. have
seen him come into q newspaper office in this
city to subscribe for a local weekly, saying
he wants to keep postel on the news. He
Gems to know a good thing when he sees
It," even though he doesn't see it.
Several years ago l became acquainted in
the borough of Mount JOY with another
blind man who also exhibits wonderful skill
in the manipulation of some sorts of ma
chinery. Aaron H.. Engle is a man of forty
or more years. For years he has been M
agent for the sale of organs III that town and
hls skill. both rs a performer upon those in
Etrllments and as n repairer OF disabled or
gans, Is known all over that part of Lancaster
county. lie was n partner ill the Star Steam
Heating Company of that town and seemed
to understand the construction of that heat
ing apparatus perfectly.
Considering his blindness. l should say
that the most remarkable Trims about Mr..
Engle is the fact that he is extremely fond
OF ttowerd. cultlvates n great many and takes
delight in showing them to visitors, explain
ing and dilating upon the individual plants
he has to show with apparently as much ease
and understanding as if he were not, as he
Is, totally blind.
1t is almost incredible that Simon Collins,
of Marietta. who has been blind for twenty
seven years, is an expert carpet weaver.
makes and prints paper Hour sacks in colors.
doing the printing on a Washington hand
press and with a perfect register, but the Ma
rietta Times vouches for that. ] have known
hun for seven or eight years and have seen
him frequently on tie streets of his town,
cane in hand, walking rapidly, making all the
ms and outs, going down into n basement or
up stairs TO a business office, never making a
mistake and never being hurt.
A year ago he made a canoe from his own
design. aud the same boat won a race III a
regatta upon the Susquehauna at Columbia.
He Is the patentee of a brush handle, makes
fishing nets and cHne-seated chairs.
His latest triumph IS the mastery of the
typewriter. He bought one some months
ago and is now able to operate it quickly and
correctly. He is said to be an eXpe TT euchre
player. but l c,nuot vouch for that. though
1t is scarcely any more notable than many
things already mentioned which / have known
him to do.
Mr.. Collins is a son of the late Abram Col
Inns. the dealer in leaf tobacco, who died
here only recently and who was the Demo-
cratic candidate for Senator when ex-senator
c. s. Kaufman, of Columbia, was an indie
pendent Republican candidate against the
late Senator Stehman. Mr.. Collins is prob
ably fifty years of age and a very intelligent
man. The newspapers are read to him daily,
and he is always well informed on current
political and new matter.
When the Marietta Lyceum comes to life
again next Winter, after its annual period of
Summer torpor, his voice will probably be
heard there in debate, as it often has been in
the past seasons of the society's intellectual
existence. where he has always been ready
and eager for discussion. When lie chooses
to take a trip to New York. Philadelphia or
Boston he goes, and goes alone, too, if he
chooses.