The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-02
Governor Balls Tongue.

Most people have heard of the volu- ble female ''who talks as though her tongue were loose at both ends and tied in the middle" That would ap- pear to mean that the physical confor- nation of the tongue has something to do with the rate and readiness of speaking.
 Everybody out West knows or knows of Ex-Lieutenant Governor David A. Ball. late candidate for Governor of Missouri. He is one of the finest stumpers in the State and one of the glibbest takers ever heard. He comes as near being a really extemporaneous speaker as ever lived. I have heard him make hundreds of speeches in the court and out. He never wrote speech in his life. I have tried to get him to do so. but he won't. have marveled at his facility. After more than 20 years of intimacy with him l think I have discovered the secret of his won derful fluency.
 When a boy, he tried the unusual and disastrous experiment of driving a mule to water by holding him by the tall. The astounded hybrid resented this an moving familiarity with his caudal ap- bondage by kicking the embryo Gov ernor on the paw, thereby closing his mouth suddenly, causing him to bite his tongue nearly in twain The end hung on the main part by a mere thread. Surgeons were scarce in those days, so Captain Ball, the Governor S father. performed an operation himself on hIs son. 1t was rather rough, but eminently successful. He used neither anaesthetics nor antiseptics. He had no case of glitering and highly polish ed instruments. He simply placed the h.Nx hig- ha NtNf Er1nn nY1 H ia breast, with an ordinary pair of pinch CTS pulled his tongue out, took several stitches in it with a common sewing needle. rubbed some salve on the wound and turned him loose to get well. He did get well, but his tongue has a deep scar or cut clear across. 1t near the middle to this day. Perhaps this indentation produces an unusual feXibility of tongue which gives the Governor. his extraordinary facility in addressing his fellow citizens.
 Colonel Anderson's Celebration.
 There have been few men in Mis- souri more royalty endowed with gifts both mental and physical, than Colo mel George w. Anderson, one of my predecessors in Congress. He was the prince of stump speakers. and nothing could depFess his buoyancy of spirit. He believes that the world was made for people to enjoy themselves in, and he lives up thoroughly to his theory Eat. drink and be merry is his motto and his creed.
 In many respects he has always re- minded me of that immortal English statesman and orator, Charles James Fox.
 Along in the late sixties. while An derson was still a Republican. the news reached the city of Louisiana that the Republicans of New York had gained a tremendous victory, and all the Republicans in the eastern half of Pike met at Louisiana to celebrate the event. They had a great jubilation, oratorical, pyrotechnical and other wise. Of course such an exuberant soul as Colonel Anderson was in his glory.
 In a day or two, however, they got the straight of the thinS-and. 10, the Republicans, instead of having won a sweeping victory, had met with d stunning defeat.
 The Democrats then did the growing and joked Anderson unmercifully about his publication speech when he ex- claimed, "Well, by love, they can't take that drunk away from us. any, way!" Champ Clark.