Evening star., 1939-12-24
Inc0neTaken
From Sales
By Sightless
Employment Given
Under Federal
Supervision
By Henry A. Muslin.


ernment building not many months
ago a shabby, half blind woman
sat behind an old table and two
wooden boxes on which she dis
played for sale an unattractive as
sortment of fruit, chewing gum and
tobacco. She was allowed to be
there because her average weekly
earning of $40 helped to support
her blind husband, their two chill
dren and herself. 1t was not
enough, but it meant less money
taken from relief funds, fewer dol
lars from the taxpayers pockets.
Through the gloom gathering in
her weak eyes she saw man ap-
proach. Customers were few; per-
haps this man would buy from her.
She stood up ready to serve him.
But he had other plans.
I've come to take you over" he
said.
She backed away in fright, con-
fused, protesting.
"Oh, no-please!" She began to
sob. This is all I have-my family
we live on it. The Government lets
me sell here"
He smiled reaSsuringly.
I'm afraid you don't understand"
he began to explain. You see, 1
represent the Washington Society
for the Blind"
Thriving Business.
Today in the same building the
woman operates thriving conces-
sion stand. She earns $3.50 month.
Her family is we'll provided for.
Her name does not appear on the
relief rolls.
When the Washington Society for
the Blind took her over" they in
vested $500 in equipment and
merchandise for her concession
stand, provided her with supervision
and taught her sales technique-in
short, enabled her to carry on
thriving business.
Her story illustrates the sort of
work the society has been doing in
Washington. And since the story
OF the society and its work is really
that OF one man, Joseph Francis
OF him before going on.
Officially, Mr.. Chunk is supervisor
Of the Service for the Blind in the
United States Office of Education,
Interior Department.. His job is to
develop employment placement
services for the blind in all the
States and Territories of the United
States and to act as trouble shooter
for the agents directing them. He
Is totally blind.
A glimpse of Mr. Chunk in pri-
vate life is appropriate. A visitor
to his home at 19 Vine street, Hy-
attsville, Md, would hardly by i'm
pressed at first. Were Mr.. Chunk to
open the door the visitor would see
man who confesses AZ years. of
middle height and sturdy physique.
If the visitor were in search of
character indices he might observe
a determined jaw and large, capable
looking hands-the hands of
craftsman.
Operates Buzz-Saw.
But let the visitor be taken into
Mr.. Chunks basement to learn
something of the hobby of a man
who has been without sight for 81
years. Have him examine Mr..
Chunks collection of machinery,
including a 10-inch buzz-saw, drill
press, sanding drum, lathe and
woodwork shaper, the last deli
cate tool with cutting edges that
whirl at 10000 revolutions per min
ute, each machine capable of maim-
ing a clumsy or improperly directed
hand.
Then let him be shown some of
Mr.. Chunks handiWork. Much of 1t
has been given away, but there still
remains Mr.. Chunks latest creation,
a vanity dresser he is making for
his oldest daughter. 1t is "a by 48
inches and has eight drawers. In
use in the household are bedside
tables, coffee tables and host Of
other less intricate articles, each
one made by this man whose hands
must be directed by senses other
than sight.
There is story behind this wood
working hobby, of course, and it has
to do with Mr.. Chunks work for
the blind AS will be learned later,
he started obtaining Jobs for the
sightless a number of years ago.
Most of the placements were in
factories and other industrial plants,
where many of the employees op-
Grated machine tools. In order to
convince prospective employers that
blind persons could run these ma
chimes Mr.. Chunk had to be the
guinea pig.
How successful he was is best
shown by the fact that over span