The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-06
Random Sketches
Bouquet. for Bob.

p + It s /.
Last month John Corbly Evans OF
Lawrence, Kansas, wrote to st.
Louis paper, saying that Robert
Jones Burdette OF Pasadena, CAL. the
pleasing editor, the Christian humor-
list and effective minister, will be sew.
enty years old this coming month.
Let each friend and admirer send
him a real or postcard bouquet. with
a tender greeting. sometime during
July and let us make it the happiest
month Of his life as he rounds out the
allotted time for man.
Physically Mr.. Burdette is slowly
declining. but spiritually he Is stead.
lily rising"
That's our bob" And many happy
thoughts come to Keokuk people at
the mention Of his name He was a
visitor here many times along In the
eighties and probably before, and lee
tured here. Probably about his last
visit here as lecturer was when he
gave his popular lecture. "The Rise
and Fall of the Mustache," to large
and much pleased audience at the old
First Baptist church in this city. We
can scarcely brook the suggestion
that Bob Burdette is growing old. and
slowly declining physically. He Will
have to send us lock OF his silvery
hair to verify such statement. Our
memory Of him Is OF a clipper lad OF
not more than thirty-fve and then his
mustache was very young, as moss
plucked from the verdant.
Robert j. Burdette is native OF
Greensborough, Penn, where he was
born July 80, 1874. He removed to
Peoria, ILL.,, and when the tocsin OF
war sounded, calling the best blood
of the land to the civil war, he en-
listed as private and in that school
learned the stern realities of life,
serving until peace was established,
when he returned to his home and to
a position as clerk In the Peoria post
office. Afterwards he became proof
reader On the Peoria Transcript ana
later night editor on that paper. Here
he began to develop remarkable
talent which attracted the attention OF
the newspaper fraternity and was
offered position on the Burlington
Hawk-Eye. His name soon became
household, word and he has continued
in the public eye as humorist and
the steady and sturdy words OF the
pulpit which he afterwards adopted
could not obliterate the fame he had
achieved in the 'funnier vocation And
it has often been wondered whether
his appearance in the pulpit, even on
the most serious and solemn occa-
sions did not provoke suppressed
smile from those in the audience VINO
had become familiar with his droll
humor. The drollest and most anus
ing paragraphs of wit oftentimes con-
tain a sermon as effective as that
preached from q most popular text.
Men and women may complain OF wit
and humor as frivolities; may look
upon them as laughter-provoking
faults, but in Bob Burdette's case
Gwen his faults leaned to virtues
side.'
He was given to sentiment as well
as fun, and whether in the sanctum,
the pulpit, the rostrum or anywhere,
he always recognized the value OF
right living and the brotherhood or
man.
In his early manhood he proved the
loyal tenderness Of big heart and
soul, and if any man on this green
earth in declining years deserves the
simple ana tender tribute of heart
given boquet that man is "our Bob"
Fill his arms and his pockets, and
even stun them in his hat. Let the
mail bags bulge with the appreciative
tokens. Heavenly eyes are looking
down approvingly to earth on the
deeds OF humanity and love lie per-
formed many years ago when his
steps were elastic, his voice was low
ing kindness and his heart was true
to every duty. He asks no recompen-
sation from u.s. The voice, well done
thou good and faithful servant" pays
it all. On this July afternoon, con-
gratulations and good wishes go to
him on q wireless, with thousand
other good thoughts and words which
NAV never reach him.
Tip to Transoressors.