The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-07
a REMARKABLE BLIND MAN.
At No Disadvantage in Selecting
Goods or Changing Money.
From the Kansas City Star.

Uonus or changing money.
From the Kansas City Star.
John II. McMu.hn Is groceryman near
Independence There is nothing strange
in such a plain. matter-of-fact announce
ment, but he is bind man. aud Won
derlul one at that McMullin is totally
blind, and yet he watches over his little
store and waits on his trade with even
more deXterty and accuracy than many
shopkeepers who have both their eyes to
help them. 1t makes no difference what
one wishes to buy or in whatever part of
the store ii happens TO be- the blind store
keeper is after it in an instant. 1t is taken
from the shelf and wrapped in neat bun
die SO quickly that one. although he knows
Of the mans affection. finds himself doubt
ing his own knowledge
A reporter for the Star visited the Ne
Mullin store last week. He found il only
short walk east Of the Union avenue
station on the Independence electric line.
just before the Independence terminus of
the Inc is reached. The store is NOT
large. About its walls are arranged IN
regulation grocery style shelves and uDon
them are the usual supplies found in sucn
a place, and on the outs de of the counter
rels Besides groceries he carries a small,
stock Of notions.
In the rear of the store stool McAIuI-
lin His eyes are as clear and apparent
iy as good as any0ody's. There is no
cast or blemiSh to indicate their unfortu-
nate condition. They are brown, with a
slight droop to the eyelds. He was MOI
downcast but quite the opposite and when
asked if he was quite blind he replied with
a smile:
Yes absolutely. Should an arc light
be flashed in my face, l would not know
it. The sunshine is unknown TO me
except by it's warmth les night with me
all the time-eternal night"
can you really wait on your trade with
out assistance?' he was asked
Try me- he answered good naturedly.
look around you and ask me where Ger
tain articles are"
Where is the canned salmon?"
There pointing to the exact spot on
a shelf where the cans were
The peaches?"
ON the shelf below. 10 the right. Wait
unin | ger you can" Gently touching
the counter 10 guide him, he walked d.
rectY 10 the peaches and lifted can
down. Turning around suddenly. lust as
if he saw. he said:
There's the bread box there What do
you think of the lemons and apples on ion
OF it, He needed no announcement now
lie stroIed about The store picking up
soap, ink bottles oatmeal. flour. and ran
his fingers gently over the candy in the
showcase telling the price and name of
each kind. His touch was so delicate that
at times it seemed thai his fingers scarce
iy came in contact with an object before
he felt for the next.
Mr.. McMullin is doubly unfortunate in
his darkness Only eight years ago his
eyes were, according TO experts as near
perfection as eyes generally are Blind
ness came to him like fash II was
paralysis of the optic nerve. He was then
a barber No. $500 East Twelfth street
His wife and child had been i'll for weeks
In trying to save their lives he nursed
them through the nights and a the same
time worked for his and their bread dur
ing the day. The wife died, and with her
death came not the husbands physical
collapse. but his blindness
''After l had recovered from the horrible
realization of my condition." he said my
first thought was What shah I do for
LIVELIHOOD Naturally my profession was
gone. Whatever else a blind man may Do
he is moi Il good barber. I determined That
] would be self-supporting. In spite of nv
condition made up my mind that | would
not enter an asylum. | have horror of
them, so | took the matter as philosophic-
ally as possible and started out on the
road canvassing for certain brand of
soap. over Kansas, Missouri Iowa ana
Nebraska. I went. most OF the time alone.
selling soap. I found no trouble i'm getting
about, and presume l am as well known
as any agent that makes that territory"
4 woman entered and asked Cor loaf o.
bread Mr.. McMulin crossed the store
took the bread from it's box and wrapped
il up. She handed him half a dollar.
without hesitation he went into the money
drawer ana he put on the showcase A.
cents in change.
You make change rapidly" was sug-
gestod
"Oh yes" he replied. don't see any one
around here who can make change faster"
lie may not nave intended the see" as 4
Joke. but a slight smile played about his
lips.
For seven years" he went on. Il trav-
eled Then the idea OF again getting into
business for myself came back 10 me. Be
fore my blindness / became member o.
the Roorgauized Church Of Jesus Christ az
Latter Day Saints. branch Of he Nor
mons Their church Is here AZ Iudepenl-
cnce. and here eieImined TO come an II
open my little grocery store. X was two
months ago that I threw oren nv front
door and | am now making comfortable
living" Taen. after pause he said fer
vently: THANK God, i have good health
and for ihai reason blindness does no
seem 10 have the horror 20 me that IL 6oss
to those who are moi in MY condition"