Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15
Anecdotes of Levi Boutwell,.

Col Boutwell, was a singular man. There
was not in all the wide circle OF his acqualnt-
ances a person who had seen another ike
him His face was singularly expressive.
lie could look savage enough 10 chill You
with fear or kindly enough to inspire the
confidence of the most doubling and timid.
lie said in his lifetime thousand things
which for genuine originality and severity
were worthy of professional satirist. Many
time have we seen in town OF village meet
ing prosy debate cut short, and the vote
reached by ONE of his brief, gruf speeches,
a. in the meeting of the Wells river railroad
comuany in January last. The meeting was
about to ballot for directors, when one gen
tleman suggested that the board should con-
sist of five instead of nine, rs heretofore.
Another suggested seven; still Others were
on their feet ready to make some motion or
suggestion, or engage in a little speech,
when the sturdy old Colonel sprang ner-
yously up, and said, 81 think, Mr.. Chair
man, we will have it nine. | want some to
watch, as well as Others to pray" This
speech was the end Of the debate on that
subject The nine directors were immediate
" ordered, and the election made.
Once he was sitting in the bar-roOm of the
Pavilion" With his knees well spread be
fore that familiar old fireplace, while he
looked intently on the burning pile before
him. His face bore specially stern look.
Some one came in, and saluted him with,
"IIow are you, Colonel ~ His reply was as
apt as it was original. "Well,' he said, 81
manage to keep tolerably even tempered
thank ye; mad as the devil clear through
all the time.
Col. Boutwell, was supporter of the
Church Of the Messiah h''-Unitarian-and
faithful attendant upon it services. Two
or three years ago, in the summer season,
some little boys of the neighborhood got in
the way of lettering about the door and YES,
tibule of the church during service hours
Sunday evenings. As they become familiar,
they became also bold and somewhat noisy.
At length they got so curious as to go up
and push the door to the audience room a
little open, and look in. Then if somebody
in the audience changed position a little, 50
that they apprehended danger, they would
''cut and run :" but presently, when all was
quiet again, they would repeat the expert
ment. At length Col. Boutwell, became
much disturbed, and felt he could stand the
unciyil conduct of the lads no longer. So he
went out to rectily things, and give the lads
some lessons in morals and good manners.
The boys left the house by the shortest way,
and run, some up street, some down, and
some across. The colonel pursued hotly in
one direction. Leaving his hat in the church
he soon lost also his wig. But without stop
| ping to replace that, he followed on. Ats
| length he closed in with one of the intruders
and shaking him and cutting him in a way
more frightening than damaging, and head
ing him toward the church, he said ''W hat
are you about here. you little euss, you
Why amt you up in there getting some re-
! ligion, az you ought to be, instead of being
out here raising the devil in this way ?''
The Colonel was uncommOnly bald, and
without his heavy dark wig looked not a bit
like himself. Once he was in the wash room
of the pavilion, and for convenience in his
ablutipns had laid his wig aside. Presently
young, spruce feeling chap, with extremely
red hair, came in too. Noticing the Colonel's
nude head, he inquired. "Well, uncle why
don't you have some hair on your head =
4 1t was an impudent question, and the Colonel
knew it, Looking savagely on'the red head
of the saucy young stranger, he replied
when they made me, and had me all fin
ished except my hair, they told me that they
had nothing left except red hair. told them
then, I-gad wouldn't have any. l had
rather 60 without. They might save that
for impudent young popinjays and fools.
The young inquisitive and joker was perfect
ly willing to drop the subject.-Montpeiier
Argus.