Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-19
TELLS OF WONDERS
OF PLANT LIFE
LUTHER BURBANK SPEAKS AT
PASADENA
Addresses Mems Club at First Com
eregatlonal Church and Talks
of Things Which May Yet
Be Done
Pasadena Agency,
"a East Colorado Street.
|. Home 26S5.

Sunset Main 2740 Home 1855.
PASADENA, Dec. 1S.--some criticism is
heard because an admission fee was
charged to hear Luther Burbank lecture
in this city tonight. The critics maintain
that Mr.. Burbank should have been In
duced to talk to the general public In
order that all could have had the oppor-
tunity of hearing such a distinguished
man on subject that Is paramount to
all California.
The lecture was given under the aus
pices of the mems club of the First Con-
gregational church and SO cents was
charged for admission.
Professor A. j.. Hamilton, president of
the club, who was largely instrumental
in prevailing upon Mr.. Burbank to come
here, said tonight that Mr. Burbank pre-
fers to not address general meeting, and
that it was only upon urgent invitation
he decided to come at all.
"While there was no stipulated amount
to be paid Mr.. Burbank for his lecture,
1t Is probable that we will have to tender
him at least 500 to $15O," said Professor
Hamilton. 1.-THE only way to raise this
was by charging admission"
The lecture was given in the church
parlors and there was large attendance.
The plant wizard was introduced by Pro-
fessor Hamilton. He said in part:
you are often told you are living In a
wonderful age. 1t is true, and lest we
forget it is sometimes well for US to take
our bearings. We should know what the
passing years are doing for us.
LESS than 100 years ago matches were
unknown. Il refer to sulphur matches
not the other kind. Stoves were even
yet in the dim future. The power of
steam was only family realized by few.
The steamship and locomotive existed
only in the brain of man.
Tells of New Wonders
Even less than fifty years ago cleo
tricity was useful only in laboratory ex-
periments. Today it takes us from place
to place with the utmost celerity, turns
night into day and carries our thoughts
over wires in every direction with light
ming speed.
But of late wonders begin to thicken
around us. The invisible ultra violet rays
have been called into our service, the in
tangible ether, without any visible ma
terial means, pulsates with our thoughts
which flash from shore to shore on ether
waves. All these forces have existed
through all ages. 1t rests with man to
discover and make use of them.
'In living plants are embodied these
same infinite forces awaiting the mind
of man. These silent forces of plant life
are common, all ABOUT us throughout our
lives, and become so familiar that we
rarely think of the infinitely beneficent
forces which are awaiting us in them.
Man is slowly learning that he too, may
guide the creative forces which have
been through all the ages performing
this benign work which he sees every
where. above, beneath and around him
in the vast teeming plant life of the
world
Science sees better grains, nuts, fruits
and vegetables. all in new forms, sizes,
colors and flavors, with more nutrients
and less waste and with every injurious
and poisonous quality eliminated and with
power to resist sun, wind, rain, frost
and destructive fungus and insect pests;
fruits without stones, seeds or spines;
better fiber, coffee, spice, rubber, oil,
paper and timber trees, and sugar, starch,
color and perfume plants. Every one of
these and ten thousand more are within
the reach of the most ordinary skill in
guiding these life forces"