Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-05-19
A Hnmorlsfs WIFE.

Bob Burdette is known the coun-
try over as the humorist OF the Bur-
lingtOn Hawkeye.
He is the most successful of our
Jimmy men. His books have con-
slant and increasing sale. His sal
airy from the Hawkeye gives him "a
handsome income, and his little
sketches command the best prices
from the magazines. In addition,
he has $3.50 and $3.50 night when
ever he wants to take "A lecturing
tour of one or twenty weeks.
His humOr is true, delicate and
abundant, and he is an honor to the
lighter American writers, because
of his literary achievements. But
better and more honorable than all
this is the story of his hearthstone.
When he was man of twenty
six he was engaged to Miss Carrie
Garrett, 81 Peoria, Ill. She WAS a
frail and delicate girl, and one even
ing Burdette was summoned to her
bedside with the message that she
was dying. Little hope was enter
tanned for life when he reached her.
1t was determined, at the wish of
both he and she, that they should
be married, even though death
should at once claim the bride. The
ceremony took place in fifteen min
utes, the little lady being able to re-
spond only by the motion of the
eyes and a gentle pressure of the
hand. In spite of the doctors pre-
dictions she rallied, and was finally
well enough to move TO the quiet
and cosy home her husband had
provided for her. But she has been
an invalid all her life. More than
once her life has been dispaired of.
Usually she has been confined to her
room and unable to walk.
One night at a theatre in Phila-
delphia the writer saw pale and
earnest man making his way to a
private box, with delicate, cling
ing oman in his arms. Her girl
ish face was full of pathOs that
passed description, but was wonder
fully pretty. And strangely happy,
too-tilled with content.
Everybody made way for the lit
tie lady, and her great. tender eyes
seemed to send thanks to every gen.
tleman who moved aside in cOurte-
sy. 1t was Bob Burdette and his
invalid wife.
This is an index of his life. The
temptations of the world, the daz-
zle and glitter of society that has
welcomed him, the converse with
brilliant men, the theatre, wealth,
and either of them failed
to win his heart away from the little
woman who sat at his tireside and
lived on his love and sympathy.
Nor was there lacking practical
reward of his devotion. Mrs. Bur-
dette has been the inspiration of her
life, at once his spur and
his counsellor.
She first discovered the rich quail
ity and the spOntaneity of BOb's hu-
NOR and the homely flavor that
would carry it 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 him.
self of how she forced him to
wright his first lecture in these
words:
"One day when she was lying
helpless she said she believed that /
could. write a lecture and deliver it
and so she sat me down
10 write that lecture, and from time
% time [ rebelled with tears and
yrOans and prayers. told her that |
[ had no voice, and that | couldn't |
ecture anyhow. She kept me at
t, and in due time we had lecture |
IN our hands. The Rise and Fall |
IF the Mustache.' This was all well
but now to get the audience.
thought l would try it first at |
<eOkuk.
eff | delivered it first in Burling-
en-, even though it were tame, tam
n, tamest, l thought they might
mt me on the book. But Keokuk
lated Burlington, and | knew if it
vas fiat the KeOkuk people would
ay so. Mrs. Burdette said, as she
vas responsible for that lecture, she
vas going to hear it delivered. So
carried her aboard the cars. We
vent to Keokuk, and the people
it good"
From that day he has prOspered
wherever his homely insignificant
title figure has been seen.-Atlanta