The broad ax., 1898-01-15

way time caro- Calls
It's the home and workshop of
Blind Adam" Dumerauf. He has
been Blind Adam" only about
half bis life. but his pres
ent friends and acquaintances never
knew him when he possessed sight and
among them he has always been called
by the nickname.
Within the last two or three years
Blind Adam, who is a broommaker,
has become one Of the best known res
idents OF Kane county, and politics
has been the cause of his increase in
fame. Three years ago Dumerauf's
friends induced him to run for the Of
fice Of county collector. He was de-
feated by a small majority. His op-
ponent was elected by so small a mar
gin that Adam again entered the race
the next year for the collectorship. His
willy opponents, not to be taken at any
disadvantage by Adams physical mis-
fortune, also nominated a blind man.
Adams sightless opponent had at one
time been an employee in the big watch
factory in Elgin across the river and
his former fellow workmen stood by
their old associate at the ballot box,
and the broommaker was again de-
feated by q few dozen votes.
Adams wife, like himself, is blind.
The couple live together in the little
cottage which belonged to Sallie Bow
er before she married Adam Dumer-
auf. The house has a double front.
The west room is used as O living
apartment, and the east room Is
Adams broom factory. Mrs. Dumer-
auf is said to be just as able to get
along in the world as her worthy
husband. She takes care of all house
hold duties without the least difficulty,
and without any assistance And
when it comes TO sewing she threads a
needle as quickly as anyone. and can
darn a patch to a queens taste.
Mr.. Dumerauf's most entertaining
story is his courtship and engagement
to Miss Bower.
You see, it was like this" said the
broommaker. Il had been coming
around here selling brooms for several
years and knew most everybody pref
ty we'll One of my best friends was
John Dietrich, who has long since
passed away. One day John said to
me: Adam, why don't you get mar
ried?' Well, John, never thought
about 1t before replied. 4 don't
suppose any girl who could see would
want to marry a man who couldn't
Well, now, l know just the girl for
you,' John went on. She is blind, like
you, and she owns a little house and
lot over here on the railroad. I'll take
you over to see her, and we'll see If we
can't fix 1t up All right said /, and
over We went.
Miss Bower was at home, and John
and ! went in. Miss Bower and
were introduced and she said she had
heard Of me bofere. Then pretty soon
we arranged what I guess was 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
II NuC NOla0B EhPpOoC- 4Ou hdNC
some property, Miss Bower, and Adam
has accumulated some by making and
selling brooms. Now says John, why
wouldn't it be good plan for you two
to get married? That. Miss Bower
says John, is what We have come over
here to see about
Miss Bower said IL all the good
things she had heard about me were
true she guessed 1t would be all right.
So we we're engaged there and then,
and a little later we were married at
her brother-in-law's, in the big white
house next door,"
blind Adam" roams around South
Elgin with almost as great ease as IL
he could see. He gets up on the rails
Of the Northwestern tracks and walks
to the station or to the crossing with
perfect accuracy. With the assistance
Of his cane and nothing more he goes
to any spot in the town, in which he
never lived until after he lost his eye
sight. He makes just as good brooms
as are made by broommakers who can
see, and he makes them almost as fast.
Expert broommakers can construct
about three brooms an hour. Blind
Adam" can make two an hour without
unusual effort.
The blind man Is a musician as well
and brings q little additional revenue
into the family Golfers by playing his
fute at parties, dances and receptions.
Mr.. Dumerauf briefly recounted events
Of his life as he continued work at his
bench.
by birth am Bavarian German"
said Adam. 81 came to this country
an unskiIled laborer when was about
IS years old. came to Illinois and
went 20 work on farm in MeHenry
county. The man for whom worked
was sheep raiser and I assisted him
IN caring for them. Once when sheep
shszring came around waded into the
river and cut on the wool from the
sheep. There were a great many to
Be shorn and It took good while.
STAYED In the water too long and