The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-12-31

been Blind Adam" only about
half his life. but his pres
ent friends and acquaintance never
knew him when Dc possessed sight and
among them he has always been called
by the nickname.
Within the last two or three years
Blind Adam. who IL q broommaker.
has become one OF the best known res
idents Of Kane county. and politics
has been the cause Of bis increase In
fame Three years ago Dumeraufs
friends induced him 10 run for the of
fee OF county collector tie was de-
ieated by small majority His OPP
poncnt was elected by 30 small q mar
Gin that Adam again entered the race
the next year Tor the collectorshlp Ills
willy opponents. not 20 be taken at any
disadvantage by Adams physical mis-
fortune. also nominated o. blind man.
Adams sigh'lcss opponent had at one
time been ln omployo be the big watch
factory in ElrIn across the river and
bis former fellow workmon stood by
their old associate % the ballot box.
aud the hroommakcr was again de-
featcd by a few dozen votes
Adams wife. like himself. .s blind.
The couple live together in The little
cottage which belonged 10 sallio Bow
or before she married Adam Dumor-
AMI. The house has a double front
The west room b. used as % living
apartment. and the east room is
Adams broom factory Mr Dumcr.
luf is said Co be- Just aa able 90 get
along in the world ns her worthy
husband She takes care of all house
hold duties without the least difficulty
and without any assistance. And
when !. comes 90 sewing she threads a
needle as quickly as anyone. and can
darn a patch 10 o. queens taste.
Mr. Dumeraufs most entertaining
story b. bis courtship and engagement
Co Miss Bower
You see. % was like thls." said the
hroommakor n had been coming
around here selling hrooms Tor several
years and knew mont everybody pref
~ we'll one Of my hes, friends vas
John Dietrich. who has long since
passed away. One day John said 60
me. Adam. why don't YOU get mar
riod" Well John I never thought
about O. before replied. 4 don't
suppose any Girl who could see would
want 20 marry a man who couldn't
Well, now. know Just the girl Tor
YOU. John went on. she b. blind. like
you. and she owns o. l.ttl, house ana
Dot over here on the railroad. Iu take
you over 90 see her. and we'll see 10 We
can't hX Do up AN r.Eht ald Z. and
over We went
Miss Bower was 40 home. aud John
and ! went iu. MH bower and I
were introduced and she said she had
heard Of me boiore Then pretty soon
We arranged wha, guess vas the
quickest engagement on record John
SAYS. Now. Miss Bower you and Mr.
Dumerauf are both blind both single.
and both perhaps more or less lonely
In the world suppose You have
some property Miss Bower. and Adam
has accumulated some hy making and
selling brooms Now. says John. why
wouldn't q be- a good plan Tor you two
To set married. That Miss Rover.
says John. "a what We have come oNer
here 10 see about
Miss Bower said 10 all the good
thinrs she had heard about me we're
true she guessed % would De- an right
So We were engaged there aud then.
and little later We we're married at
her brother-ln-aw's In the big white
house next door"
"nl.nd Adam roams around south
ElgIn with almost as great ease al NJ
he could see. tie gets up on the rails
Of the Northwestern tracks and walks
10 the station or 90 the crossing with
perfect accuracy. With the assistance
OF bis cane and nothing more he goes
10 ans spot In the town. IN which he
never lived until after he lost biz eye.
sight Ho makes just as good brooms
as are made by hroommakcrs sho can
see. and he makes them almost as fast.
Expert broommakeIs can construct
about three hrooms AN hour Blind
Adam" can make two an hour without
unusual onort.
The blind man Ia a musician on we'll
and briugs a little additional revenue
into the family Golfers by playing bis
nute az parties. dances and receptions.
Mr Dumorauf briefly rccountcd events
Of bis ME as he continued work at his
bench.
By birth ! am a Bayarlau German.
said Adam u came 90 this country
an unskillcd lahorer when I was about
&c years old. came 90 Illinois and
went to work on a farm ln McHenr,
county, The man for whom I worked
was a sheep raiser and assisted him
Ia caring Tor them. Once when sheep
shearing came around ! wadcd into the
river and cut on the wool from the
sheep. There were great many "a
be- shorn and q took good while. /
stayed In the water too long and
caught a terrible cold The cold set
Tied In my eyes and lost the sight II
both OF them. That was over TWEEN
Ave yeau ago.
Soon after lost my eyes went 10
the blind asylum and school al Jack
sonyille. There I learned broommak-
ing and also learned 10 play the flute
and accordion. couldn't afford 10 re-
turn 10 the school for q second term.
90 ! went 10 the town Of Hunlley In
1871 and began work. stayed there
until about 20. when came here TO
South Elgln. 20, married aud settled