San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-12
TRAGEDY
Of BURBANK
REVEALED
Friend Discloses Story Of
Plant wizards Early
Sorrow.

SANTA ROSA, Cal, April 12.-
P)-Crushed as youth when the
flower of his love wilted and died.
Luther Burbank sought solace in the
culture of earthly plants. That in
brief Is the hidden story of the life
of the eminent scientist who Law in
the quiet sleep of death in his gar
den wonderland here today. The end
came early Sunday morning.
None of the friends and neighbors
who associated intimately with Bur
bank during the 80 odd years he work
ed miracles in the plant kingdom
here knew of the story.
They knew him for his inspired
devotion TO the friendly trees and
flowers among which he worked with
untiring zeal. The world knew him
for the wonders he wrought.
TELLS STORY.
To Edgar A. Waite of the San
Francisco Bulletin, in whom he had
confidence, Burbank opened up the
chapter of his life that resulted in his
turning bis energies and talents into
the service of mankind. Waite was
given permission TO publish the story
only after Burbank's death. The de-
tails of the incident were to be told
in a copyrighted article published to-
day.
Fellow townsmen were planning the
final honors for their illustrious
neighbor and friend today.
FLAGS LOWERED.
Flags were at half mast. old friends
stopped at the house to leave a mes.
sage of coincidence with his sorrow
ing widow, and his sister, Mrs. Emma
Beeson of Healdsburg. kilograms
and letters were coming in from
statesmen, scientists and admirers who
wished TO express their sorrow.
UnOstentatious in life, Burbank
willed that his last rites be simple.
Judge b. Lindsey of Denver, a life
time friend, was on his way to take
a leading part in the final services. |
Judge Lindsey and the Rev. Caleb |
5. Dutton of San Francisco, Unfair.
ian minister who married Mr.. and |
Mrs. Burbank ten years ago, will ad- |
dress public memorial services in the |
open air in one of Santa Rosa's parks.
The Masonic order, which had con.
degree, will perform the ritual of the
dead.
MAY REST IN GARDEN.
Burbank's final resting place has
not yet been definitely decided al
though it is hoped by his friends to
lay him to rest in the midst of the
garden he loved so well.
Rurhap ME lspt xrr;t,an ,.a.J. ,..o.. |
If the spiritual nature of men. DO
ignore what is generally called the
spiritual nature of man? This is the
corona, the flower of life, the fruit
If which is sltruism, the desire TO
help ourselves and others to higher
md better thoughts and actions-in
)ther words, TO a more perfect state
# harmony and environment" he
wrote. This a few days before he
lied.
The nervous strain which brought
IN the end was the result of his yearn-
ng 10 express his idea of the Divine
being and the meaning of things, his
intimate friends said.
ACTIVE TO LAST.
His last illness followed shortly
litter he made the announcement that
be was an "infidel." explaining that
be merely meant he was unable TO
iccept the arbitrary, man-made creeds
and Orthodox ideas Of heaven and
hell. A flood Of telegrams, letters
and personal messages overwhelmed
MIN in bis study in his garden. Short
" sfterward he was stricken, never
% get on his feet again.
Burbank was active until his final
illness. He was conducting more than
700 separate experiments with new
plants and flowers