The Detroit times., 1911-09-25
CALIFORNIAN HAS
LONELY PARADISE
The 0ne-Sided Romance of Kearney
Park and Human Paradox That
Made an Eveless Eden,

(The following extracts from the life
OF one OF CALIFORNIA; eccentric millions
aires. now dead, Ii taken from the Oc-
tober Sunset Magazine):
A veritable Eden, realized from one
mans conspiracy with the incompar.
able native beauty and magic soil OF
California, is Kearney park, near
Fresno. Beautiful beyond the ex-
travagant fancies OF the dreamer who
brought II into being. II remains q
monument to his Unsuitable desire that
posterity link his name with the most
magnificent estate In all America.
Among men he was known as q
misanthrope, although admittedly
moved by an all-consuming desire for
popularity. Notwithstanding his pas
sionate fondness for flowers and birds
and animals. his nature responded
most readily to the schemes for gain.
Without having manifested an inter.
est In educational institutions, he be-
queathed Internationally to the Uni.
versity of California his 5,1S2 acres
Of richest valley land. yielding an
average annual profit of $4,000; 240
acres of Druid's paradise and every
vestige Of his personal property; bus
no individual did he remember TO the
extent Of penny or shoestring.
An untutored man, he read only
the classics of literature.
While always seeking the copera
ton of his business rivals, he was
never known to give quarter In q
trade which resulted disastrously to
the opposite party.
His house was equipped with many
deliberately appointed guest-rooms. but
he never entertained.
His personality was both engaging
and repellent.
All these conflicting distinctions
and many more were, to be found In
the character OF Martin Theodore
Kearney.
Ne person recalls that he ever men
toned his parents, and only postum
nous papers revealed that there
was a brother who received financial
assistance and died In Los Angeles. Nc
one ever fathomed the secret OF the
great trouble which seemed to freight
his mind at intervals, and to no Nv
ing man did he ever explain the mys
terry of the empty plate set opposite
his own at every meal.
Only one man, an architect, was
ever known to occupy guest cham
Der. Only two men were invited 10
sit at his table, and even In this In
stance Kearney changed his mind
after the preparation Of the meal and
the guests were driven to town to be
dined at hotel.
For almost 80 years, according to
the best authority, Kearney lived near
the Raisin City, engrossed In amass-
ing q fortune to be spent with proc
igal hand in identifying the bachelor
estate.
Because of the inscrutable nature
of the man, curiosity as to his ais
posal of the estate prompted nur-
ried examination of the Will wnicn
might have shed some light upon the
incentive and purpose Of his hfe-worK'
But Il did not. The instrument,
simple document, transferred every
worldly possession, even clothing, 10
the University OF California, to 90
with as the regents pleased. A cooicii
required the cremation OF the remains
and n return OF the ashes to the rres-
no estate. :. .ha
The marvellous splendor OF tne
oiace adds charm TO curious interest
In the personality of the man VINO
reared II in the valley. But tnere -
scant announcement to CURIOSITY ~
it's assault upon the impregnapie wa sa
which hedged about his priVate ny
and thoughts. No one knew MN ~
life. and death left no tangioie clue
70 the impulse OF his dreams, .ne
source of strength to force MS eccen en-,
tricities against the current Oh al
normal lives almost to complete sue
"To what end did he live anu
WORK. r il the question that inevitaSiy
leaps the lips of all who view ms
handiwork.
There is no answer.