Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-11-25

The New York correspondent Of the Prov
idence Journal is the aa,hor of the follow
ing:
Some eighteen or twenty years ago, a
young actress, Miss Hildrcth, played for
several evenings at the Dorrancc Street
Theatre, in Providence. happened to see
her in the tragedy Of ".Janc Shore" Her
part was q secondary one, that Of the friend
and coniidant Of Edwards beautiful favor
lite; but her conception Of the character sur
prised me By its originality and its impress
sive truthfuincss. felt that she had great
dramatic talent, and often wondered that
her name had 80 entirely disappeared from
the stAgc.
In the Spring of 1s49. while visiting a
friend in Lowell, found one morning, on
returning from = walk . card from Mrs.
Benz. Butler, with an invitation to take tea
with her the following evening. went with
my host and hostess no other quests were
invited. The name of Mrs. Benz Butler had
for me at that time no other significance
than might have had the name af Mrs. John
Smith. On our way to the house. my h ,st,
Webster Wing, spoke II Mr.. Butler, not SO
hattcringIy, as . successful lawyer, smart
but unscrupulous. ready to take up the worst
cases, and noted for always carrying his
client through.
On entering the parlors was surprised
to find in the charming and graceful lady
who received us, the dramatic friend and
confidAnt Of Jane Shore, whose talent had
DO impressed me At the Darrancc street thea
ire. Mrs. Butler was young lady Of Ora
cut, who, fascinated by the stage, and con-
scious Of dramatic power, had obtained an
engagement 1t one Of the Boston theatres.
and who vas for about two years earnestly
devoted to her Pre- fcssion, when Mr.. Benia-
min Butler proffered his heart and hand. and
Won her back to dramatic life. l found that
she still loved the art, and prevailed on her
% read to me some Of her favorite passages
In Shakespeare. She read. remember. the
prison scene in Measure for Measure. with
passior ate pathos which made me half re
gret that the ''smart Lowell LAWYER" had
Won her away from Melpomcne and all her
tragic glooms and splendors.
Later in the evening Mr.. Butler came from
bis oilice and talked politics witA my friend.
the Webster Wing. The political problems
Of that day were far other than what they
now are. though their solution involved.
more Or less dir city, all the mighty inter-
ssts Of tho eventful present. A BLACK Re-
publican" At heart then, as now, could not
out feel that the pale, half.and half pro sla.
very repuOlicansm Of my friend, the Web
ster wing, had little weight before the more
consistent logic and downright Democracy
q the Lowell lawyer.
A. listened to his terse and trcpchant
talk, did net ouifo 40 much ,vondor th.t
the young actress had prefer,e ed him to Mel.
Ponene; yet how little could then have
Soreseen the Important ard decisive part
which that iniomitablc will, that downright
log'cs were destined 70 play in the creates
eoneeat for liberty and Law that ever con-
vulsed nation. How little could I have
ioreseen TINT the ''smart Lowell LAWYER,
would becosas terror VI the slave power. the
prutsctor q cDetrahands, and s.rcformer Of
refractory cities." North and South.