Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-12-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
A Racy Pen Picture OF Ben Butler

Of the Bulletin.
WARRINGTON, d. c., Dec, 10, 1878.
OF course this letter should 60 in
tolthe most elabortte details OF the
''increased pay" and Shack salary
grab discussions in Congress-but
it will do nothing of the kind. After
reading column after column on the
subject in every newspaper; after
the dryest, dullest, longest
debates with regard to it in Con-
gress, during the past few weeks;
after hearing it talked Of on every
street car, in every hotel, in fact in
all places where men do congre-
gate, surely there can be no one
who is not heartily tired of it. l
shall, therefore, substitute a brief
description of one Of our prominent
men, hoping that it will prove equal
ly acceptable.
Almost invariably, the first ques-
ton asked by stranger visiting
the House of Representatives is,
(Which is Ben Butler?" The man
who is then pointed out to him is,
perhaps, standing = halt leaning
against his desk-with his hands
thrust into his pantaloons pockets,
his head held somewhat on one side,
and a general air Of independence
perceptible iii his whole appear
ance. He is rather thick set, and
looks as though he lacked none of
the "creature comforts" of this life.
His face is fiabby, the skin forming
bag-like folds under his eyes and
chin. His mustache is fierce look.
ing affair, and, for some reason,
seems to have been put under the
wrong nose-the long, waxed mus
tache of Mephistopheles would be
vastly more appropriate-but 1t
serves to partially conceal cyni-
cal, crafty mouth-a mouth which
is never opened to speak without
gaining the attention of all, for But
Ter never talks to inattentive audit
ors, he always says something well
worth hearing. His organs Of Wis
ion appear to be on bad terms, and
one seems to be suspiciously watch
ing the other over the bridge Of his
prominent and crescent
shaped nasal appendage; this pecu-
liarity is, however, not so marked
as the caricatures we see everywhere
would lead one to expect; in fact, he
is unjustly dealt with in all his por-
traits, and is a much finer looking
man than is generally supposed.
Mr.. Butler is probably the first
man in the House to-day; he is ha-
ted, admired, dreaded and distrust-
I'd. When member has gained
for hard-hitting in de-
bate, for readiness in retort, for mas
!erly use Of sarcasm, and a genius
for personalities, he seizes the first
opportunity to beard the Massachu-
sets lion, and strives to win unfa-
ding laurels by vandhishing him
one bout, however, usually satisfies
the daring assailant for the session;
he seldom renews the attack. Gar
ret Davis never made greater mis-
take land that, by the way, is saying
not little) than when-two years
since-he INDUCED in a torrent OF
abuse directed at Mr.. Butler; never
was man more completely used up
than was he by the reply that it
brought forth, never was he made
the target fer such Parthian shafts
as those which were driven "feather
deep" by each sentence of the an
swer he received to his ungentle-
manly assault.
Ben's voice is miracle of dis
cord; it is harsh and grating be-
yond all description, and raven
unless suffering with a severe cold
blush at giving utterance
to such croak. In speaking he
Jerks out half dozen words at a
time, and each installmcnt strikes
home like a blacksmith's hammer.
He is witty, forciblc and Brilliant,
never saying more than is necessa-
~, and, at the same time, leaving
nothing unsaid; he flinches at no.
thing, and uses the weapon that will
produce the most disastrous effect
on the epemy's works, without scru-
pling at personalities or rudeness.
He is one Of the best known men
of the time land one of the most cor
daily hated, but that seems to give
him small discomfort-indeed, Of
the two, he seems to rather enjoy it)
and, stake him for all in all, we
shall not look upon bis like again."
S. II.
The State.