New-York tribune., 1912-04-04
BIRTHDAY Of BURROUGHS
Naturalist, at IS, Celebrates
with Friends at Pelham.
NATURE FAKERS SCOTCHEO
Government Is Likened to Tree
That Needs Trimming-Has
Faith in Roosevelt.

John Burroughs. the naturalist. looked
out upon the brown fields OF Pelham yes
terday and remarked to himself that life
was good II was the seventy fifth ami
verssry of his birth, for, like the grass and
the flowers and most of tho wild things
that he loves, this hoary old oak of man
was born In the early spring.
He and Mrs. Burroughs celebrated his
birthday at tho home of Dir. Clara Barrus.
an alienist. who conducts a small private
sanatorium for nervous invaids at feinam'
The aged naturalist Is staying at the house
Of his friend on his way north TO Slapsines'
his home in the woods. near Poughkeepsie
He and Mrs. Burroughs have been spend
ing the winter in Athens and Savannah
Ga. It being their custom in the evening
Of their lives TO pass the winter down South
or in California, the spring and fail ~
Slabsides, and tho summer at WoodchucK
Lodge, in the Catskills, where the natural
list was born.
Mr. Burroughs has a deep filial affection
for his Catskil homo.
TT is very rcstful and healing to me
I'D there" he said. Two thousand feet
up. with as good water and as good ar
as there is under heaven. | thrive there
better than in any other place, mainly
suppose, because | was born there.
But his health and spirits are splendlo'
even on alien soil. This last year has peeh
the most Industrious of his life, despite
numerous transplantings.
Never Felt Moro Like Work.
Since last July | have written enough
essays to make volume said ne
never had a better feeling for work. IL Is
a matter Of health with me. | can't work
unless | am in the best Of health You
have TO keep an eye on the machine, you
know Eat and exercise Alright
What do you do for exercise7
"Oh. | work in the garden, and | always
saw and cut my own wood for my study
fire. | walk, too-three or four miles day,
usually Last year ] climbed Mount Will
son, in California. That's 5000 feet high
nine miles to the summit and back. some
young Vassar girls went with me. but
rather beat them on the return. and. you
know. they are used to long trainps at
Vassar. | find | can still keep up with the
young people; don't get out of breath"
lie was asked II he took lively interest
In the politics of the day.
II don't like TO discuss politics much
now" he replied. Roosevelt Is my per-
sonal friend. | have great faith in him
hope he knows what he's doing.
NO. | haven't received q greeting from
him to-day. He's got his own FISH to fry
Iaughingly. ITS all his own doing. lie
didn't ask my advice How he does love
fight,
Yes. I started that war against tho
nature takers, They were really huinbug-
ging the people and needed to be taken
down little. But they're pretty well
scotched They don't hold up their heads
any more"
Mr. Burroughs has an idea that our fed
eral government f. too complicated 10
spoke of II as tree which needed trim
ming
I'D lop off the senate" ne said and
then Id lop of the supreme Court Tn"
Senate's merely mllionaire's club. and
the Supreme Court int.rferes with and
DELAYS the action Of the Law. II would he
all right II il were infallible but u Is no
more infalliblo than the courts be'o" II.
II * a mistake 10 have a body which can
veto what Congress docs
Has Very Few Things to Neare''
Looking back on my life hc said in
another part Of the conversation. \ ma
very few things to regret ! nave man"
=, few mistakes But | haven't had great
cancellations and therefore 7 haven't had
many disappolntmcnts. | have only want
ed to do my work and take my place IN
tho world. Perhaps that's because hah
the advantage of being born ana prous NJ
~, In a simple way on "A farm. ! nave mao
tho a,t Of making little money go
,,ros, uav simply ty cutting down my
wants I brought up my son In the same
vay. He lives a frugal. simple hie.
nover rjsted and | never oVer"orkeo'
Mr. Burroughs has written an article lot
r,osazine embodying these thoughts' III u
entitled .The Summit OF the Years
scores Of friends and admirers congrs'u-
,a,od tho naturalist by mail yesterday ana
other scores. all those VINO Kne" "he'' "o
mas and could get there. called 10 see hi''''
Tho hie living room of DR.. Barruss chalet
NTH us vast open fireplace. offered per-
toc, setting for the continuous reception.
Among the naturalists guests were hoo-
ort Underwood Johnson. Major +. ). Tur-
ner. Mrs. Jean Dwight Franklin MI an'
Nrs Orlando Rouland, Albert Pratt' the
pav Dr and Mrs. James Philputt Mr. ana
Nrq Paul Harris, Miss Alice Sayer, Mrs'
F,aderick Merriam, Mrs. +. ID. Elliott, MISS
Mary Clark. OF Ellenville; smms l.. Dea-
,,.r Mig Dorothy Harris and Miss Flor