The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-05
sTRATFORD'S GUARDIAN.
The Valuable Work of Edgar
Flower.

GAOWCA-
BY the death Of Mr.. Edgar Flower,
Stratford-on-Avon has lost a wise and
vigilant guardian of her Inheritance
whose passing she must mourn without
end. And as Stratford is beloved of
all English speaking people wherever
they may abide and is a place of pill
grimage for men of all nations, tine
work that he has done toward the pre-
servations of her monuments and ira
ditions has been a service of worldwide
Importance. Mr.. Flower had not the
unselfsh good will and the broad in
terests from which successful public
work must spring, but ne had also a
marked executive ability, and what
made him peculiarly fitted to deal with
problems of the nature that Strattord
offered, thorough qualifications as ar
list and architect. Architects will con-
cede that the restoration of old houses
is one of the most difficult of under
takings from both practical and arts
tic standpoints.
It is to Mr.. Flowers complete mas
terry of this difficulty that Stratford to-
day Is indebted for some of her finest
shovings of sixteenth century arcnitec-
2 ture. And because of his Well-knoWn
and admirable ability he was recently
asked to make designs for the new IL
brary building the gift from Carnegie,
which is to be erected in Henley street,
replacing a nondescript and unsigntly
. house, a requirement of no easy tul-
hllment since some ancient interior
: work, absolutely the only valuable 1ea-
ture. must be prominently Incorporated
in the new structure and its character
must be harmonious with the general
architecture of the street and unobtrus-
FIVE in itself. Mr.. Flower, always equal
to any demand of this sort, male de-
Sign which externally was an exact
reproduction of a sixteenth century
almshouse. formerly standing on the
side of Henley street opposite we blrth-
Mace design which answered every
need of the situation and could not 1aH
to meet with entire approval
His family regathered for Stra1oru
many antiquities associated with
Shakespeare and many first ana rare
editions of his dramas, and his brother,
Charles Flower, gave to the town
large. well-appointed building where
these curios should be kept ana Where
there should be annual performances
of Shakespeare's plays, commemora-
ton rite that could hardly be improved
As he was indefatigable in these Ia
bors of visible results so, too, ne was
no less diligent in the thousand and one
quiet ways which go to promote the
healthy civic life of a towns people
and to better their OPPORTUNITIES foI
education and proper living. he was
constantly active. constantly alive ana
responsive, always ready with word OF
deed end resourceful in help.
As a friend and comrade he was al
together and delightfully."- charming. The
fund of his humor was eXhaustless, and
1t was a humor no less wholesome and
substantial for a certain undercurrent
and atmosphere that paid tribute to
the seriousness of things and was not
mindless that the laughter of the world
lies over against its sadness, it was
sound and whole-hearted and good to
hear. His travels-which left few cor
ners of the world unvisited and unre-
produced in water colors-when he
set small store by his own doings.
and his wide acquaintance and friend
ship with the notable men of three gen.
erations gave him endless material for
"reminiscences, tales and anecdotes, and
right well he knew the best use of that
material
Most interesting, of course, found the
recOunting of visits to America in slav-
cry days-in the days of Emerson
Agassiz, Longfellow, Oliver Wendell
Holmes. Prof FELTON, and Charles Sum-
\ ner, all his friends with whom he ex-
changed visits and whom he remember
ed with the utmost affection, too much
panied by their departure ever again
after their death to visit America, left
desolate to him by their absence. Es-
pecially congenial he found the spirit OF
oliver Wendell Holmes, and they spent
together many hours of contented hob
nobbing" 1t was Mr.. Flowers young
est son, Spencer. whom Judge Holmes
cites in his "One Hundred Days In Ens-
land" as an example of the finest type
of English boy. a mention that was
rightfully pleasing to the pride and the
great joy that Mr.. Flower had in the