The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-11-29
IA. ard e. 8. Baker invited eUrdette
70 Keokuk TO Deliver tre Lecture
Which is NO.
Famous.
WOULD TAKE NO MONEY
So Ladies croehetee An Afghan
Which Was Quite the Style in
Those Days and Which
Lecturer prfzed.

Much has been discussed and writ
ten concerning Bob Burdetf's lecture
The Rise and Fall Of the Mustachs,
which he delivered here. But Judge
A. J. McCrary OF Binghamton, y. Y.
formerly Of Keokuk, contributes an
other angle TO thfs now famous incl
dent Judge McCrary and z. 8. Ba-
ker went to Burlington TO secure Bur
dete for the lecture How they suc-
ceeded and how Burdette refused pay
for his lecture. and how the young
ladies' OF the churct, presented him
with a crocheted afghan IL ted In
the following letter to The Gate City
written By Judge HcCrary, at its re-
guest:
THE death Of Robert J. BuTdetse,
noted humorist and later equally
noted pulpit orator. has already re-
ceiyef some attention by your paper-
But having I'm our young manhood
become very warm friends. q few
words in a reminiscent way MAJ be
interesting to others, AZ II is pleasant
memories to me His Haxk-Eyetions
in the Burlington Havk-Eye made
that paper famous and the name of
Bob Burdetts familiar In the Missiz-
stppi valley. The Young Ladder So
ciety OF the First Baptist church of
Keokuk we're eager TO do something
unusual and appealed TO me for
suggestion. saM why not get Bob
Brrdette TO come down and deliver
a humorous lecture. He will be q
drawing personality. They were en-
listed at once and put the matter Of
securing him on to me. Up 10 that
time Burdette had never appeared
upon public platform for any pur-
pose as an entertainer
He was quite tinid about IT when
first approached, and made some hu-
morous suggestions; asked II there
was any back stairway where he
could escape IL the mob came after
him. Assurances Of protection being
given and time 10 prepare. arranged
to his satisfaction, he consented, and
as result launched his first lecture.
The Rise and Fall OF the Mustache
His Kindness TO His Wife.
IAN incident OF that evenings en-
tertainment to me very touching, was
the presence OF his little invalid
wife. She was practically a living
skeleton so wasted was her BODY
from her peculiar disease. She was
then however, and for some years aft.
err. great inspiration to Bob. Her
mentality had survived the ravages
OF disease. For many years before
her death she could not walk a step
On the occasion of this, his first lee
ture in which she was so deeply in
tereBted, she came to Keokuk with
him. With the tenderness OF
mother for her child Bob carried her
in his arms wherever she went. and
80 carried her into the church that
evening. That tenderness was not
spasmodic action. but was a part of
the home life and continued for
years. II was to me window
through which to look at the big
heart OF Bob Burdette Needless 20
say the lecture was a success and the
audience filed the church.
THE Young Ladies' society report
ed TO me Mr.. Burdette refused any
money compensation, explaining that
their bravery in placing him before
an audience az a lecturer deserved
that much from him. The society
we're not quite willing that the mat
ter should simply be closed by a