The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-07-11
BURBANK ON HUMAN LIFE.

expert, sees in this country the best
opportunity ever presented for de-
veloping the finest race of human
beings the world has known, provid-
ing that, as in plants, the right cross
ing is done. Proper environment
thereafter, in childhood is needed to
bring the race to high standard Of
perfection, declares Burbank, whose
remarkable views ON human culture
are given in his first book, 'The
Training of the Human Plant"
The introduction to Burbank's dis
cussion of the subject is as follows:
During the course of many years
of investigation into the plant life of
the world, creating new forms, modi-
flying old ones, adapting others to
new conditions, and blending still
others, | have been constantly i'm
pressed with the similarity between
plant and human life"
Mr.. Burbank believes further that
upon wisely directed crossing of spe-
cies rests the hope Of all progress,
and that in the United States today
exists the grandest opportunity ever
presented of developing the finest
race the world has known. Here
are extracts from Burbank's book:
Let me- lay emphasis on the OPP
portunity now presented in the Unit
ed States for observing and, if We are
wise, aiding in what | think it fair
to say is the grandest opportunity
ever presented Of developing the fin
est race the world has ever known
out of the vast ningling Of races
ever brought here by immigration.
I'VE are more crossed than any
other nation in the history of the
world, and here we meet the same
results that are always seen in a
much-crossed race of plants; all the
worst, as we'll as all the best quail
tbs of each are brought in the fullest
intensities.
IL wish to lay special stress upon
the absurdity, not to call 1t by a
harsher term, of running children
through the same mill in lot, with
absolutely no real reference to their
individuality. Not only would l have
the child reared for the first ten
years of it's life in the open, in close
touch with nature. a barefoot boy,
with all, but should have him reared
in love. You can never bring a
child to its best estate without love.
1.-The wave of public dishonesty
which seems to be, sweeping over
this country is chiefly due to lack
of proper training, breeding if you
will, in the formative years OF life.
"A child absorbs environment. 1t
is the most successful thing in the
world to influence. and if that force
be applied rightly and constantly
when the child is in its most recep-
tive condition the effect will be pro-
nounced, immediate and permanent.
No boy or girl should see
the inside of a SCHOOL until at least
ten years old l am speaking now
of the boy or girl who can be reared
in the only place that is truly fit to
bring up a boy or plant-the coun-
try. The curse of modern child-life
in America is over-education."
In touching upon the simple con-
fidence and purity of the child, heart
and life, Burbank says:
1.-The child is the truest, purest
thing in the world. 1t is absolute
truth that is why we love children.
Keep fear out that the
child may grow up to the end of the
first ten-year period and not learn
what physical fear is. :. We
cannot carry great plant-breeding
test to a successful elimination at
the end of long period of years
without three things, among others,
that are absolutely essential-sun-
shine, good air, and nourishing food.
-. The most, dangerous man
in the community is the one who
would pollute the stream of child's
life. Preserve beyond all
else the priceless norton of a child
the integrity of nervous system.
Upon this depends his success in
life"
Burbank frequently refers to love
as essential in cultivating the child
life. Here are some of his sayings:
'.Pick out any trait you want in
your child, granted that he Is nor
NAL child, be it honesty, fairness.
purity, loveableness, industry, thrift,