Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-04-18
A Love story.



Bob Burdette Is known the country
over as the humorist OF the Burlington
Ha,ckeye. He Is the most successful OF
our funny men. His books have con.
slant and increasing sale. His salary
from the Hmckeye gives him handsome
income, and his little sketches command
the best prices from the magazines. In
addition he has $3.50 to $500 q night
whenever he wants TO take lecture
tour Of one or twenty weeks. His humor
is delicate, true and abundant, and he is
an honor to the lighter American letters
because of his literary achievements.
But better and more honorable than all
this is the story of his hearths tone.
When he was young man-2b-h WINS
engaged to Miss Carrie Carrot of Peoria.
Illinois. She was frail and delicate
girl. and one evening Burdette was sum-
ynoned to her bedside with the message
that she was dying, Little hope was en-
tertained for her life when he reached
her. 1t was determined as the wish Of
both him and her that they should be
married, even il death should ut once
claim the bride. The ceremony took
place in fifteen minutes, the little lady
being able to respond only by motion
Of the eyes and gentle pressure OF the
hand. In spite Of the doctors predic-
tions she rallied, and was finally well
enough to move to the quiet and cosy
home her husband had provided for her
Bat she has been an invalid oil her life.
More than once her life has been de-
SPARED Of. Usually she has been con-
fined to her room and unable to walk.
One night at theater in Philadelphia
the writer saw a pale and earnest man
making his way TO a private box, with
a delicate, clinging woman In his arms.
Her Qirlish face was full Of a pathos
that passes description, but was won
derfullv pretty. And strangely happy,
too-flled with content. Everybody
made way for the little lady,
and her great tender eyes seemed
to send thanks TO every gem
tleman who moved inside in courtesy. II
was Bob Burdette and his invalid wife.
The temptations of the world, the dazzle
aud glitter Of the society that has vel
coined him--tho converse with bril-
liant men, the club, the theater,
wealth, fame--all and either Of them
have failed to win his heart away from
the little woman who sat at the fireside
and lived on his love and sympathy. Nor
was there lacking practical reward OF
this devotion. Mrs. Burdette has been
the inspiration Of her husbands life-at
once his spur and his counselor. She
first discovered the rich quality and the
spontaneity Of Bobs humor and the
homely flavor that would carry II to the
heart as well as the intelligence Of the
public Imagine the humorist reading
the most laughable stories at the bedside
OF his invalid wife. He tells himself of
how she forced him to write his first
lecture in these words: Zone day when
he was lying helpless, she said she
believed TINT l could write lecture
and deliver il successfully, and 30 she
sat me down to write that lecture, and
from time to time rebelled with tears
and groans and prayers. told her that
| was too little, that had no voice, and
that couldn't write lecture anyhow !.
She kept me at il, and in due time we
had o lecture on our hands. The Rise
and Fall of the Mustache.' This was
all right enough. But how to get an
audience. thought would try it first
at Keokuk. If / delivered II first in
Darlington, even though it were tame,
tanner, tamest. thought they might
put me on the book. But keokuk
hated Burlington, and know II 1t were
fiat the Keokuk people would say SO.
Mrs. Bardette said that as she was re-
sponsible for that lecture, she was go.
ing to hear it delivered. So ! carried
her aboard the cars. We went to
Keokuk and the people pronounced it
good" From that day he has pros
pered wherever his homely, Insignificant
little figure has been seen.