The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-10
THE DECi YED POLITICIANS RETREAT n.

beautifully situated on Saline river. about six
miles from here. Being detained in this village
over yesterday 10y business, | took advantage Of
the holiday TO drive thither with friend. and
was kindly received by the Superintendent.
Gen. Butler. who went TO n good deal OF trouble
TO show tue the interior workings Of the institute
ton.
THE selection of this site was Fortunate"
said Gen. Butler. as he led the way across
beautiful lawn from his private house to the
large brick building occupied by the inmates.
The lovely natural scenery does much to
soothe disappointment and allay remorsc. and
there's always u fresh breeze blowing up Saline
river"
Are your wards contented as a general
thing"
Some Of them are positively cheerful" said
the Superintendent with enthusiasm.
And you. Gencra2 After your somewhat
active career don't you find IL rather tedious at
the Retreat. coopcd up with n party of relics ?"
30. am satisfied" said Gen. Butler. smiling
grmly, and shaking the large bunch Of keys
that he carried I'm ono hand. when Jones Of
Nevada left all his money for this object n little
moro than three years ago. and the trustees in
vtcd me TO the post Of duty. came like man
and patriot Conme je t'oure. sir. is my
motto"
by this time we had reached the heavy oaken
door at the main hall Of the asylum. Our con-
ducior raped smartly with his knucklcs
How many outside Z" asked voice from
within.
Three" replied Gen. Butler.
The door slowly swung open and a tall man
with a long red beard stood aside 10 let US
pass in.
Good morning Mr.. Ferry" said the Super
iniondent. pleasantly. II wish you happy
Fourth OF July"
"Onel Twol Throcl" said Mr.. Ferry in an
impressive ,ico. Hing US or with his fore
finger. IAN right. gentlemen. you can walk in.
Oh. good morning. General. Iwsh you u great
many"
I'VE keep him here TO open the door" ex-
planned Gen. Butler. ." and he imagines he has
the right to count as we'll as to open. In all
other respects he s perfectly harmless. and so
we humor him little. It's the only satisfaction
he has in life now"
The General led tho way through long
corridor. and rs he stopped to unlock n door an
Inmate came up and. touching his cap. asked
permission to say few words in private.
We'll. speak up. George" said Butler. Who
has been sitting on you nowY'
III you please. General" said Boutwell,. for II
WIS none other than the great but unappreciated
Hhun'fTs noNouy nus b'tn hlltlnS On mt, BIT.
But have solved the problem at last. aud
want leave Of absence to 90 to Washington and
lay my solution before Congress"
Solved what problem. George 2" asked the
General. wnking at us.
Tho problem of silver resumption. General"
replied Inmate Boutwell,. II il very simple
when you see it, viii you permit me- TO ex-
plain Z"
IN give you just n minute and half.
George" said the General looking at his watch.
You see there are from a million and n quar-
ter TO n million and half teethng children in
the United Siates-perhaps two million. Now
every blessed one Of 'cm has 10 have a silver
dollar 10 bite on. II you pass law withdraw
ing this immense sum from use In the process
Of dcnttion. silver will flow into the national
Golfers. will find Is way into the natural chan
ncls Of trade. confidence will be recstablshcd
and"
"All very good. George, interrupted the Gem
eral. hut what is going 10 become OF the ba-
bies2 You can't teeth them on grecnbacks.
Don't you sec that IL you withdraw their silver
dollars. tho entire rising generation will be I'M
able 10 mastioate. consequently there won't be
any market for beef corn, or chewing tobacco.
and the deuce will be TO ply in trade crclesgen-
orally. 1t won't wash. George"
Il didn't think Of that point General" said
the retired iinnnrier. taken n little ahnck.
No. George YOU didn't continued the SUI
perntcndrnt. You had better 10 70 your room
and think the whole matter over again; and
when YOU have devised some way Of obviating
the dim 'uty | spoke o. why then Wen talk
about leave Of absence TO go to Washington"
Now co'tinued the General. ne Inmate
Boutwell, moved rather ruefully away I'm
show you our oldest case. the centongrian Of
81.
in the centre Of which. bent over n table. sat a
person of extreme ago, attir"d in a rusty swal-
low tail coat He was writing diligently and
without cessation.
Look up, Hannibal" said the Suporin'end-
ont poking him gently with his cane. Look
ny and see the gentlemen"
When the aged Inmate looked up We saw that
he WAS tied in his chair to keep him from tum-
bling out H. smiled blandly upon us for
moment from behind his spectaccs. and then
began to write again as ndustrously Us ever.
What is he doing p asked.
" He is writing franks. He has lost MI his
tooth and his hair and his hearing and his wits.
but he can still hold pen. and he writes franks
from morning TIL night. stopping only for his
/ Cruel. The other inmates are celebrating the
Fourth. hut hero is old Hannibal at his GUS
/ tomary occupation. He writes his name on
every old envelope newspaper, or scrap of
paper that he can find and puts them all in
tho blk mail box in the hall. OF course, like
the contributions Of the rest Of the inmates they
MEYER 20 any further than my Office But he
donsut know IL. and he placidly keeps on writ
ing franks The only thing that ever eXaspor-
ates him is the sight Of n postage stamp. ! sup
pose he VIII write franks till the Day Of Julg-
mont. Such" added the General. didactic;lly.
] H. Ia nf hul -