| Major Nathaniel Burbank.
The hand of the Grim Reaper was laid heavily yesterday upon the Picayune, as well as on his many friends, in the sudden and most unexpected death of Major Nathaniel Burbank, a most distinguished member of the staff of this paper. He had left his home in the city in the forenoon, boarding a car on his way to the Picayune office, when, by one of those silent but terrible visitations of nature, he sank in his seat in a state of insensibility and expired in a few moments, despite the best efforts of those around him and the aid called to him. Some sudden and mysterious internal shock had overwhelmed his vitality, and in a very few moments he was lost to his friends and to the affairs of this world. Major Burbank got his military title in service in the field under the United States flag, in the Civil War. He was a native of Maine, and, when quite a youth, he began as a typesetter in a New Hampshire newspaper office the career of journalism in which he won high distinction. It was while working in a Boston newspaper office that the war between the States broke into the storm which for four years raged with unexampled fury and grew to proportions which shook not merely the continent upon which it was waged, but was felt among the greatest nations of the earth, and called the young printer from his case to the defense of the Union. He laid down the composing stick, ancient badge of the most peaceful of professions, and took up a musket, enlisting as a private soldier in the Fifteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry. His faithful and gallant services won him promotion until he rose to the rank of major in the volunteer forces, and was brevetted for distinguished services in the battle at Bristow, Va. At the close of the war, being mustered out of the volunteer forces, his ability was recognized by an appointment to a lieutenancy in the regular army, from which he soon resigned, and settling in New Orleans, to which his military duties had brought him, he returned to civil pursuits, finding employment on the Republican newspaper which had been the organ of that party in the State. With the restoration of control of the State to the care of its own people, in the latter part of the seventies of the century just closed, the Republican ceased to exist, and Major Burbank took service on the editorial staff of the Picayune, with which he was actively engaged to the moment of his untimely demise. He occupied the post of managing editor; but his most distinguished functions were in the conduct of a bright and witty column of "Picayunas," on the editorial page, and in dramatic criticism. From the time the Picayune was founded by the brilliant and accomplished George W. Kendall to the present time, the New Orleans Picayune has been noted for the justice, discrimination and nice perception of its judgement of actors and plays. The verdict of the Picayune has been potential to make the reputation of not a few of the most distinguished actors of the past two-thirds of a century, and, when candidates for public favor on the stage were able to obtain the stamp of the Picayune's approval, they were happy in the confidence that it portended for them success and fame. Under Major Burbank's direction, the dramatic criticisms of the Picayune maintained their high character and potentiality, and it is worth recording that, while its dictum had availed to confer distinction, it was never used to crush and opress with condemnation. As a humorist, Major Burbank attained a national reputation. His vein was rather in the line of sparkling wit, with a dash of sarcasm, than in that of broad drollery and merriment; but he was not without a large share of genial fun. Tho brief and pointed paragraphs in which his flashing wit expressed itself often possessed the highest qualities of epigrams, and they were quoted far and wide. For nearly a quarter of a century, Major Burbank had been a most important factor in the daily production of the Picayune. His taking-away inflicts a severe loss upon this journal and upon its vast clientele of readers. It is, indeed, not too much to say that, with much varied and conspicuous talent in the staff of the paper, there is no one who can fill his place in many particulars. He married a Louisiana lady, with whom he lived a most devoted and beautiful life, and her loss is the greatest of all. He was deeply attached to the city of his adoption, and had endeared himself to a large circle of friends. Those who knew him best loved him most, and they can truly say that it will be long, if ever, before they will look upon his like again in this land of human sojourning and on this side of the dark river. May he rest from his labors as one who has done well his work in this life, and may the bereaved and most devotedly loved one find that peace which Heaven alone can give, while she waits in the hope of a most blessed rejoining and reunion. Amen! |