The Florence tribune., 1897-12-11
BLiND BUYING FOR BLIND.
Man with a Wonderful Touch Works
 for Blind EmploYcP.

for Blind Employer.
 This ia about blind man who works for a man who is also blind and does work for which men who can see are we'll paid. The blind man who does the work does it as well as a man with eyes, and he never makes 6 mistake. He depends entirely on his sense of touch, which is extraordinarily well de- veloped.
 Away back in war times T. J. Lock wood went to the front. He was good soldier until he lost his sight. A rifle ball put out one eye and the shock and concussion so affected the other that it was destroyed. Totally blind, Mr. Lockwood came back to his old home, and for a time was discouraged. Then he decided that there were things that he could do to earn B livelihood. He set up store and dealt in mems merchan- disc at Buda, III. Fate was kind to him at last and he prospered. Time went on and his employees were faithful to the man who had lost his most pre- cious sense while fighting for most righteous cause.
 The man who was the buyer for Mir. Lockwood was and is J. Oechsley. He worked for MT. Lockwood for many years, and was one of the most impor- tant of his employees. But one day misfortune came to him. Oddly enough it struck at his eyes. He was laid low with a nervous atliiction, and when he was able to be told Of it the doctors announced to him that he was to go through life in the same condition as his employer His sight was gone and never would be restored.
 Finally Mir. Oechsley was able to leave his room. He was not rich, and the ili- ness had made 8 deep hole in his store of savings. The old problem of keeping the wolf from the door was to be met once more, but this time under terri ble handicap. In the hour of his most trying experience his old employer came to him and the men went to the old store. MT. Oechsley know the place by heart. He was at home there, even if he could not see, and as the days went on he realized that all was not gore, even if his light was lost. He found that he could tell as of old the differences that lie in materials.
 His hands seemed to have been given an extra share of cunning and in a measure became his sight. He prac- ticed and grew more expert. His whole energy was thrown into the work he had put himself to do, and in a short time it was found that as buyer of goods he was almost as good as before the calamity overlook him.
 The merchants and jobbers with whom Mr Oeehsley deals know him. They would not take advantage of him even if they could. And they all admit that they could not if they would. l The hands of this man are as good and better in their way than the eyes of ] most men. He tells all about piece of goods, no matter what it is, by feel ing the texture and finish. He is con- sidered to be a frst-class buyer, and when merchants say this of him they add that they do net take into consid- eration the fact that he is blind in pass I ing their judgment of his ability.
 The other blind man--the employer -is thoroughly satisfied with inc worh done by the one who secs with his hands. The store is preSpering, and tn, men who play the biggest part in i are happy Chicago Times Herald.