The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-12
BLIND BROKER OF CAIRO.
A REMARKABLY OLD MAN IN TIE
EGYPTIAN CAPITAL.


ical Ability and Tenscity of Memory
The Dramatic story Of a Strange
Life-Confession in a Spanish Syna-
Gogue.
CAIRO, June 14.-This letter is tribute
to the memory of friend. He was not a
great man, but he filed his place in the
world well. He was an old jewish money
changer here in Cairo. He was blind, but
he saw keenly with inward eyes; he had a
memory that never seemed to lose a fact
once in its grasp. He was an arithmetical
genius. But why generalizes He was my
friend. know his story, and here it is:
One day, several years ago, an acquaint-
ance, rising young painter of original sub
jeots, came to me and said:
Look here, old man, want handsome
patriarchal old gray beard for a model l
can't hit just the right man. You know
Cairo pretty we'll, can't you help me out ~
thought it over but could not give any
assistance.
Then wel leave it to chancel Come
along"
We sauntered down into the street of the
money changers, where the small Jewish
bankers and money brokers swarm.
i've found him." exclaimed Becker, be-
fore we'd passed half dozen shops.
He pointed to a little booth, hardly
measuring seven feet square. There was a
plump faced young man at an old desk
working over some figures. and opposite
upon a sheepskin, which was spread on the
floor, sat an old man, cr0ss>legged, after
the manner Of the people. In the dim
light of the little shop, his white turban
and silvery beard seemed to stand in
against the shadows. His profile was nobly
cut. There was a certain suggestion in his
poise and attitude that betokened man of
superior character.
''Who is this old mang' asked some one
near by.
blind Baruch'-
Becker began to sketch him at once. But
l stopped him. The Jews of the orient, as
we'll as the Mahometans. are very shy, and
even suspicious, about being pictured.
Becker's purpose could hardly 20 unnoticed
in the crowded street. So | went up to the
door and asked if they would object TO hav-
ing picture of the shop painted.
"Who is ltF' Baruch asked the young
man.
"a Frankr' he answered.
why do you paint this poor shop? There
are many others more beautiful in the
street" said the blind man to me.
But your shop strikes my friends
fancy"
So after he had found that we were not
Greeks, and had made us promise that the
picture would not be shown in Cairo, and
that my friend would take it with him over
the sea, he gave his consent.
Becker secured a convenient corner near
by where he could work in peace, and
lounged over the counter Of Baruch's shop.
Soon young Arab came up with some
bags of money. Baruch's clerk poured them
out on the desk and began to sort them.
There were all sorts Of coins, Spanish dol
lars, French francs, Mexican dollars, En-
glish half crowns. German marks and a
motley host of others that did not recog-
nize.
The European merchant in Egypt re-
ceives in his business with the natives silver
almost exclusively. but in order to buy ex-
change on European banks he must mnke
his deposits in gold. This causes a great
deal of trouble and it makes a livelihood
for the money changers It is necessary
that the silver of all countries and denomi-
nations should be reckoned up quickly and
accurately and its equivalent in gold care
fully computed.
EiBaruchs clerkjran over the heap of coin.
sorted it into piles, counted each pile, and
made an entry of the result In his book,
Then be began to go over these entries
RAOudg bA4C Satuc lilI6 computing CD0
value Of each in the coin of the country.
AS he did this he glanced constantly to-
ward old Baruch, who sat swaying back
and forth on his sheep skin, rolling and uu-
rolling piece of paper in his fingers
Where are the old mans thoughts wan
deringW l thought as / watched him.
Yet on the very instant he shook his head
sharply and cried out: mo, Jusouf, you
have made mistake. 1t is 972 piasters and
and Is para"
The clerk looked over his figures again ,
and sure enough discovered the error. Here
was an old blind man that calculated more
accurately in his head, using his memory as
a note book, than the active young clerk
with his figures and paper before him.
My astonlshment was greater when
Baruch gave the sum total Of the whole
transaction, a score of varieties of coin and
odd numbers of each sort, turned into one
denomination in gold. Again his figures
disagreed with those Of the clerk, who
again found himself in error.
A moment after there was a little tumult
in the street below. Two men came toward
US wildly gesticulating and arguing.
''Baruch will knowlh cried one, "he
counted it up at the time"
"Baruch," he said, as they stopped before
the shop, "how much silver did get from
Massonah, four years ago, at the time of
the war in Habashl You counted it, you
must known
The blind man raised his head and began
to go over list of coins and amounts, at
first slowly, then SO rapidly that I could
scarcely follow him. He gave the total. and
the questioner turned to the other with a
triumphant air.
"Do you hear, Sheldon? Two thousand
four hundred and sixty-two aim terra IDOL
lars of Maria Teresa. Baruch says so
there is no donbt of it." And down the
street they rushed without word of thanks.
Aud so it went on withut interruption.
"Baruch, came voice from over the wav.
$50 many piaSters are how many guineasr'
-"baruch," SAID a young man, who rushed
into the shop, tell me il this in correct"
And he ratified off list of figures and the
sum total, only stopping to get Baruch's
nod of approval and on again. It was
Baruch here and Baruch there. He was the
calculating machine for the whole street.
and every one abided by his results. never
questioning his accuracy.
In pause of business asked him. How
is 1t that at your age you can reckon in
your head more quickly and correctly than
the rest Of your colleagues on paperr'
slight smile lighted up his sober face.
Very few of them have asked me this
question. 1t is q matter of indifference 10
them so long as help them out.
Have you never tried, when you Law
sleepless in your bed, to induce slumber nv
going over rows of imaginary f1puresg
Twenty years ago, when this eternal dark
ness settled upon my eyes, 1 used to try to
drive away sad thoughts by this de-
and rearrangiag figures in
my mind; adding, substracting and multi
plying them. And when the anguish of
mind and heart was somewhat allayed 1