The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-02

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
I'D rather have Tom nominate me for a
place on ticket than any other orator In
Missouri"
l. Tom was not present. and the speaker
| was a man who had made his way to the
top in politics. He was not from Pike
County. but he had more to say
Every time Tom speaks old Pike ID
glorifiedr'
Tom?
Those in politics know. Tom is Thomas
l.. Anderson He is Is years old. and the
City Attorney Of st. Louis. a position In
the fourth city in the United States to
which ordinarily man Of twice Mr. Ander-
sons age would be appointed.
But Tom is by lineage and principle q
partisan political orator. and Central Col
iege had hardly graduated him before he
was on the stump In national cam
paign
1, was his first political speech in pub
lie. and the youth of Is had closed his
peroration and turned from bowling to the
storm of applause to receive the congratu-
lations of those important persons who had
been so fortunate as to occupy platform
seats during the meeting.
Tom felt . Juggling on his shoulder. and
turned. 1t was feeble old woman, whose
eyes met his. She looked at him long and
did not speak. The young orator wondered
what it was she wanted with him. The
old woman shakily lifted an oil lamp from
the speakers table and held 1t up close to
Toms face.
He was embarrassed. but she was not.
The blush was creeping into his cheeks.
when she said:
well. y jes' can't tell how far frog
can jump by It's size!''
Tom smiled his thanks. but his smile
grew amazingly when an old voter ac-
eompanying the grandmother agreed:
well, I'm dinged eff y kinl'
The old woman and the old man then
shook hands with the young attorney. took
his card and walked away shaking their
heads.
Anderson Is a young man who keeps his
own counsel. He likes to hear you talk
about yourself. but he does not volunteer
to tell you much about himself-who he Is.
who his ancestors were. what he Is. ever
was or hopes to be. So others often feel
justified in speaking for him. And right
here quotation from one Of his friends
is apt. Some persons may believe that
Tom is a man OF destiny. but Tom Is not
now looking quite that far ahead. Tom is
not waiting-Tom's toiling.
Thought Is SO easy with Tom that you
can't tell when he Is thinking. He was al
ways something Of an orator. His father
L. Anderson. and both were lawyers. His
grandfather was member Of Congress
for several years.
From his mother he inherits the blood Of
the Randolphs and the JeffersonA
He was born In Louisiana. Mo.
When you SEQ Tom emerge from his Of
fee in the Carleton building, you observe
that It Is a man Of about feet inches
who genially smiles upon his friends and
shakes hands with them In the good old
fashioned way.
He meets score or more in every block
and although his stature Is about four
Inches under the popular no friend over
looks him.
His forehead IL high and broad. and
Il is clear and white. His nose is Grecian.
Looking at the nose. you follow 1t above
the heavy eyebrows. and you are sure
that he can speak his thoughts eloquently.
In harmony with his brown eyes, and tho
health in the cheek, and his firm chin. his
mouth Is vitality expressive.
His voice knows the virtue Of tears. His |
IS tho forcefal oratory. compounded Of the |
elements that combipe in musical express |
sion to reach the emotions. Tom Is known
as good fellow. conscientious, simple in |
tastes and habits and sincere in friend |
hip. Books. scourge Of the genius. find |
hat he Is not In love with them and that |
10 only likes tilem for the help they may |
,e in serving others No genius does all |
ie does for himself.
Books and what other men have to say |
erve their purpose with Tom as Quickeners
o expression.
Tom would rather speak than read a
Who always preferred to write q novel to
eadinR one.