The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-16
EDITOR WITHOUT ARMS
WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF
AARON SMITH.
horn without Arms He Writes With
His Feet-Is n Good Lawyer and
Polished Writer.


PAttsburg Gazette.
Aaron Smith. editor Of the Mt. Pleasant
tTexas} Times Review, one OF the bright
est young journalists Of Texas, writes edit
orials with his toes or with the pen
held in his mouth. Strange to say, he
doesn't consider the achievement at all
extraordinary.
He is compelled to resort to this unusual
method because nature neglected to pro
vide him with arms His birthplace was
in Miller county Arkansas and he was
born July %, 1853 His father, Alexander
Smith, native Of North Carolina, was
wagon and carr age maker by trade.
but in later years fainer He was mar.
ried to Martha L. a,llips, daughter Of
Rev. Joseph L. Philips, a leading M.tbo-
uist minister OF Alabama, to whom were
born ten children, Aaron being the Sec
ond.
Aaron was born without arms and he
acquired the remarkable gift of using his
feet for hands carly and as natlrslv MS
other children learn to use their ha is 1t
might be supposed that one born without
arms wouid lead solitary and lonely
NE, but he early learned 10 substitute
his feet for hanis and engage b,,,liIy In
games and paS.imcs with his comlan ons.
When quite small re irarbed to feed him
seil with his feet. and at the age Of
rad learned to write. About this time
he entered school. standing at the head
OF his classes. He was no less at home
on the playground, where he engaged In
Games OF marbles, croquet and ball. be-
.ohihe an expert In marbles and croquet,
AS matter of pastime. in, youth. he
acquired some proficiency IN performing
on the guitar and piano. but any thought
OF placing himself on exhibition being ais.
tasteful TO him. he did not seek IN cnIti-
vate this talent. preferring rather to nre.
fession. pro-
Many fattering offers were made his
parents to travel and place him an exh,hi-
ton, but they were all promntlv resnsaS
ihese were repeated in still more glitter.
ing terms as he approached manhood
ioung slhith preferred an honorable pur.
SUIT though modest, to one OF wealth az.
quired by this kind Of life At a very early
age ne began TO map cut a course In life
ana 10 realize the importance of a thor
oush education. Want OF funds, however
p,t,a more than a high school edu-
eeuoh' out he afterwards finished ths
courses OF philosophy and logic and others
a. nome. To this fund OF knowledge he
Hss added by extensive reading.
"tr' sinith's boyhood days were snent IN
, lass County, Texas He moved Ia Mount
tieasant, Texas, in November, 1855. where
ne studied law and was admitted IN Tho
gar the following spring at the age of %
IN this he was discouraged by Others. hut
sne seeming obstacle only strengthened h,s
contamination to succeed. and. as. in his
vaacatlon. ne made up what was lacking
close application to business. AAu
success attended his efforts from m.
h,st' no built up good law practice ana
n.s ability as lawyer attracted immedi.
40 recognition. He was narticular,v
.trong 10 his arguments before q iurv 7.
,1sepsemoer. 1893 he formed the idsa that
~ ns~~.Reper business offered Z more In
usse 70 ene q his physical disabiIl.