Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-03
BURBANK THB
PLANT KING.
Facts About Remarkable
Botanical Genius.
DEvOTEs HIS LIFE TO SCIENCE.
William z. Curtis Writes Of the Won
derfuI Achievements Of the Great
Wizard Who Objects to Being Called
q Wizard-Time Of Mr.. Burbank 80
Valuable That Il Has to be Guarded

"tZaTo "VO SpJoON1 W oosub Sa"SN
Wizard-Time Of Mr.. Burbank So
Valuable That II Has to be Guarded
Against intrusion.
Chicago Record Herald.
SANTA Rosa, Cal, Sept. 22.-charles
8. Aiken, editor Of the Sunset Maya
zine, personally conducted me to the
vine-clad cottage Of Luther Burbank.
In the pretty little town Of Santa Rosa,
and I recommend him as guide and
chaperon. He Is one of Mr.. Burbanks
confidants and advisers and knows
how to get the most interesting ideas
out Of him, which Is q difficult thing
to do because It is never easy TO lead
or drive a genius.
Luther Burbank Is indignant when
people call him "The Wizard" He re-
jects such fattery and wishes to be
considered eminently practical. he
was deeply grieved not long ago be-
cause one Of his most loyal friends and
supporters I'm a magazine article said
that he was man of natural gifts and
not Of scientific training. He Is ex-
ceedingiy sensitive about such things
and is mixture of pride and simplicity
very modest, unassuming and retir-
ing in his habits, but every now and
then will show consciousness Of his
power and greatness that will astonish
you, and will talk and boast Of his
achievements with the vanity Of q
child. He does not look like q farmer,
but is man Of small frame, refined
features and rather delicate health.
His hair is beginning to turn gray and
he has dispensed with the heavy mus
tache, curled like that Of poet which
he formerly wore. Now his face is en-
tirely smooth. asked him for pho
tograph without the mustache.
'T haven't one" he replied frankly.
"I only shaved OF my mustache two
days ago. But people are around here
with kodaks a dozen times day. and
the next time one Of them comes ] will
ask for a print and send 1t to you"
Like most geniuses. Mr.. Burbanks is
Indifferent about his dress. He has no.
wife or family to look after him, but
his mother, now over 80 years Of age,
is his housekeeper. His cottage Is
small, but very neat and daintily fur
nished. It is almost entirely hidden by
wild roses and other creepers, and II
stands surrounded by palms and rare
shrubs in the middle Of garden Of
nine acres with row Of big walnut
trees shading the sidewalk.
Emerson has said, in his Essay on
Greatness: BE true and the world
will beat a pathway to your door," Mr..
Burbank has reached that eminence.
He shuns publicity and notoriety. but
is so much sought by visitors, who are
promptly by curiosity, inquisitiveness
or scientific interest, that he has been
compelled to take extraordinary meas
ures to protect himself. More than
half of the strangers who arrive by
train at Santa Rosa come to see Bur-
bank. His visitors average sixty a
day, and during the tourist season Of
ten run as high as seventy-flve and a
hundred. and II he saw them all he
would have no time for anything else.
Hence he Is compelled to refuse to re-
ceive them.
II hate to do It," he said to me; II
like to talk with interesting people, and
It makes me feel badly every time
see party going away from my door.
but I can't help 1t. Ny time is worth
$3.50 an hour-and, besides, the ladies'
dresses brush the pollen from the fiow-
ers."
Mr.. Burbank's residence is on the
edge Of town, not more than ten min
utes' walk from either of the hotels, or
twenty minutes from the railway sta
ton. His grounds occupy an entire
block and are inclosed with low, white
picket fence. Over the gate Is a big
sign inscribed: