How A Blind Man Makes His Fortune

Moses Schwartz, a tronk manufaetiirer of Bryoklyn, is totally blind, vet he is a prosperóos business man, and does business with many customers who do not deteot bis misfortune. When he was a boy he ruined his eyes by putting a match in a pan of gunpowder, and although his sight was ruined forlife, and he was advised to spend his life in an asvlum for the blind. He resented such expression ot sympathy, and saul that he intended to make bis way in the world by means of his remaining senses. He was passing St. PauFs churchyard one day, and being attracted by the noise made by the "fakirs" who stand by the iron fenoe to sell their wares,ïic halted and opend a conversaüon with one of them. "I am blind, and am not going to beg or steal. I think I can stand here and earn a living as you do. Now teil me whero I can put a stock.' The next day he was at the churchyard foncc with a sniall lot of goods, and he at once found that though his sight was gone, he could cry his wares with a good pair of lungs, and make his fingere serve him in assorting money and making chango. For years he remained a familiar figure in Broadway. He found that his sense of hearing became more acute, and he acquired a sensitive íouch. Ilaving a mechanical urn, he began the mamifacturing of I trunks in asmall way, andnow he runs a He can inake a trunk as well as any of his workmen. He has devised several things in trunk-rnaking, and he avers that one patent ed article now yielding a good income to another was originated by him. In walking the streets Mr. Schwartz uses no guide. He holds his head erect, and carnes a cañe with which he deftly feels his way. His pace is slów and he seems to have no difficulty in getting along. His firmness of manner and dignified bearing créate a space about liim, and persons who do not know nis blindness insünctively turn aside to let him pass. If by chance he strikes against any one he politely begs padrón, touches his hat if the colïision chances to be with a lady, and passes on. "It is foolish, "he says, "for a blind man to have a boy or a dog to lead him. It teaches him dependence, and, from what I can learn, men who have guides do not get along as well as I do." ' 'Are you never run over by vehicles ?' : "I have been once or twice I was knocked down by a lady s phaeton in Schermerhorn street, once, because I miscaleulated the ilistance of the vehicle on account of the pavement, which deadened the sound of the wheels. But I have a trick for saying myself when I'm knocked down." "What is that?" "I roll over and over just as f ast as I car sidcwnvs, until I'm sure I'm out of danger of being crusked. Then I jump to my f eet, cali out I"m all right, and go on my way." "Few persons know tnat you ai e blind." "Yes, that's true. My present wife did not know it until after we got in love with each other. I go into . pany as much as I can, and as I can talk, and sing, I get along pretty wellj I had, however, to teil my wife of my infiimity on one occasion before we were married, to excuse my awkwardness in a dance. I bumped against some of the others in the figure so often that tncy Decame angry, anu " ■ confess my blindness. I go to the thoatre very o'ften, and nearly always have a front seat in the balcony. I'm fond of the music, and I like comedy very muehé" "How do you decide upon your stock of leather goods?'1 "By the sense of touch and the sense of smell. I can teil you all the different kinds of leather by sample- by the oily feeling and smell. I never was deceived yet. In fact, I get along so well that some of my rivals "have started the story that I am not blind- that I only pretend to be. "