The New York herald., 1921-03-30
JOHN BURROUGHS
DIES IN PARLOR CAR
Naturalist Succumbs on n. y,
Central Train While Re-
turning From California.

John Burroughs, the naturalist. died
suddenly yesterday morning in a Pull
man car compartment on New York
Central train In the vicinity OF Kings
Vile. Ohio. Next Sunday. the day on
which he had hoped TO celebrate the
eishty-fourth anniversary OF his birth
at "Slabsides." his woodland retreat,
he will be buried with simple ceremony
in a little cemetery at Roxbury amid
the Catskill Mountains.
Last night the body of Mr.. Burroughs
lay in his home at West Park Ulster
county, whittier 1t had been borne over
the winding country roads from the
i'oughkeeps!e railroad station. Messages
of sorrow and sympathy were received
at the home from many persons. Thomas
\. Edison and Henry Ford being among
the first OF the naturalist's friends TO
learn the news and send their condol-
erces.
Mr.. Burroughs had passed the winter
In lower California. He had been suf-
{. ring from an abscess on the chest and
serious heart and kidney complications
and had been operated upon In hos
pital at Pasadena. There he remained
until last Friday, when he started east
ward in company with his physician and
biographer, Or. Clara Barrus; his
granddaughter, Ursula Burroughs. and
two of his physicians nieces. DR.. Bar
rus was at his side when the end came.
Mr.. Burroughs's last remark was. How
TAR are we from home?'
It was but short distance from the
place selected for his burial that John
Burroughs came into the world. In the
early years Of his life he taught q
country school tried his hand at journal
ism, clerl<ed in the Treasury Depart
ment at Washington. acted as receiver
for bank, and earned a little money
as national bank examiner.
In 1885 he acquired "Riverty." his
farm by the Hudson, and began to de-
vote his time exclusively TO satisfying
hts inclination for nature study. writing
and fruit culture. "Slabsides'' sprang
up soon afterward. and the place be-
came a rendezvous for many notable
persons. particularly upon his birthdays,
when the naturalist would take ms
guests for rambles in the woods.
John Burroughs's friendship was not
confined to notable persons. he was
fond OF school children and was favor
ite with them. His place abounded with
little callers on all special occasions.
The country folk came from far and
wide to talk to him. The chipmunks.
the frogs the BIRDS and all living things
IN fact were included in John Bur
roughs's list of friends.
A methodical and simple liver, John
Burroughs was also an indefatigable
worker. early to bed and early TO rise
was his motto, and even in the last year
OF his life he rose with the sun, sawed
wood, used the rake and at the same
time kept at his literary pursuits. In
brief cases which he brought back from
the West were two unfinished manu-
scripts on which he had been working.
At the age OF 20 Mr. Borroughs mar
red Miss Ursula North. His early
early friends included Wal: Whitman
whom he regarded as the greatest poet
that the world had ever produced
Ralph Waldo Emerson. James Russell
Lowell and Oliver Wendell Holmes. The
late Theodore Roosevelt was one OF the
friends OF his later years. His writings
are voiuminous and cover multitude
OF subjects relating 10 nature and litera-
t,ire.