South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-16
4 GENERAL OF INDUSTRY.

when you think Of telephone magnates, your mind
turns inevitably to Theodore Vail and to Bell. the
inventor-rnen who brought this great utility into
common use and multiplied the Joys OF living a
hundred fold.
You read with admiration the pioneers of this
and other industries and crown them with a king
ship because Of the driving purpose that made their
dreams realities
Consider. then. for minute. another who labored
under the most difficult Of handicaps went into
this field OF telephony and wrested from 1t
what a larger fortune for him than any millions
may mean To the others who have profted largely
Fora z. O Tinsley Is a negro and blind Imagina-
tion only supply the for which his initials
stand.
lie worked bod carrier mixing mortar and
doing the arduous shaving labor that came to him.
One day there an accident Some bricks
dropped into pool OF lime. spattering
fire struc, his eyes and his sight was forever gone
He tramped of Texas into BIuskogee, okla.
broke. object Of pity n the country
where black skin f. likely to excite laughter
than charity.
He was compelled to walk. for his eyes would
allow him steal rides and as ne trudged through
the long country roads and Knocked the of
farm houses he discovered that very few had tele-
phones and that peevish wives spluttered their
tests against the aloofness Of their condition and
the lack of contact with the outside world.
His brain blind. It the chance. He
would build a telephone line for the farmers. His
very lack of requirements of a telephone service
asset, for he terrified by unknown diff
culitos.
He went 20 the NIuakosee exchange and, finding the
manager curious. and perhaps a little amused. made
bargain TO lease a discarded switchboard and
enough Instruments for six subscribers.
He had the promises OF three farmers who re-
garded joke. pay him a few dollars a month
when he installed his line.
He had some nerve and more faith and after he
set the board he bought about $40 worth OF
wire credit from a storekeeper who was over
supplied and also incredulous but willing to take
a chance.
Tie chopped his poles from the woods and
strung the wires and got his primative machines
working.
That was six years ago. Today he owns lines run
ming over As miles of country west of Nruskogee.
lie has connection with the city exchange which is
slad 20 get his business. collects the rental,
pays a portion 20 the main lines, has a girl to run
the switchboard and keeps on in his crude way
extending his service
Ills whole investment now is only $500 But
there are miles Of barren places that thank this blind
nesro for his service and the chance he brought
them to be TAXED with the outside world.
He earns his own living, a comfortable and is a
leading citizen of his race.
Think Of The big miuionaires and their troubles
ia foundine enterprises Pay to them all the trib-
utes that is their due.
Then consider the blind darkey. tramIing the
hard path OF charity. who founded his own enter
prise Think of his hours Of encouragement Of
erueuinr TOLL Of days of dependency which he must
have had.
Think too of the indomitable courage of one who
could rise above the handicap Of the appalling
obstacle Of sehtlessness the drag OF and
conquer the world that ne claimed for his
When YOU write the Iiet OF captains of industry.
leave out this Fora e. G. Tinsley blind negro He
should be dubbed a general