Pony Moore's Big Toe.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 7 May 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

Pony Moore's Big Toe.

'Without effort babies can accomplish the acrobatic teat of putting their toes into their mouth. Unless, however, one is a professional contortionist, the operation is an extremely difficult one in the case of a grown-up person, as such a movement is diametrically opposed to the laws of anatomy. Pony Moore, of Moore and Burgess lame, "knew this when, at a certain convivial gathering of younger men than himself, he bet one of the company a sovereign that, although he was older in years, he could do something that not one of them could do. “ What's that ?” inquired one. “Take my big toe between my teeth,” was the reply. “ You’re a bit of an athlete; do that, if you can.” Amused at the novelty of the bet, the company crowded round as the young fellow who accepted the het seated himself in a chair, took off his boot, and then, raising his leg and stooping forward, attempted to bend his foot hack towards his mouth.

Mr. Julius M. Price, the well-known artist, who was present on the occasion, and who relates the story in his reminiscences, “My Bohemian Days in London” (Werner Laurie), says that, try as he would, the young fellow could not manage the feat, although, with much straining, he got within a counle of inches of the goal, which was his wideopen mouth.

“Now let’s see yon,” he said, as he put on his hoot again, turning to Pony. "All right, you shall, but it’s a shame to take your money,” replied the old man, cocking up his leg and taking off his hoot.

“Then, to the intense astonishment and amusement of us all.” says Mr. Price, “ he put his fingers in his’ mouth and calmly took out an entire set of false teeth, and, bending forward, he clasped his big toe with them. There were roars ot laughter, for nothing could have been simpler, and the funny part of it was that no one had thought it was a ‘catch.’ ”