The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
GENERAL BUTLER AT HOME.
uoU NE AMUSES HIMSELF AND OTHERS
IN ms PRIVAIE LIFE
a Nav with the General at his House In
IoweII-Uis Habits OF Work and Playa
Good Game OF billiards AMER Inner
stsr,es Of hts EscnpRdes In College Days.

stsries of hts EscnpRdes In College Dnys
ry-n ne nrton Herald
tremendous mansion, furnished with all
ofmodern luxury-a great, gray. granite CASTLE
ne II werc-is where Gen. Butler lives in Wash
ineton. Here. though master. no is not at
home The Office at IL Pemberton square, in
BOSTON has seen him. on many occasions throw
Of his boots and coat stretch upon the sofa. and
H. so 10 speak. into the surroundings AZ appro-
priately ne do the marbles in Florentine mosaic
The Yacht America IL to him n genuine delight
Upon s deck or resting on the cabin cushions.
he looks as IL he had never known place OF
which man could DO fonder. limo alone pre-
vents i,s larger enjoyment Landing from her
deck as the western shadows course across
the lawn at Bay View. he strolls to his summer
home a granite. substantial house OF one story
and a Mansard roof OF this place. purchased
in SEQ and completed the year following. Gen.
Butler IL most genuinely fond. Tho house is
furnished only for q summcring The floors
are covered with mating: the chairs are rat
tan everything speaks Of light The lawns arc
dotted with flowers. and here the evening is
made cool by the idlng breezes that blow over
The Ipswich Bay. Tho owner is sincerely at
tached ~ his every surrounding for the site il
his selection. He gave Il its name. and much
Of is present prosperity is due to his fostering
care Yet when winter throws psnowy blanket
wavy white the General is not at Bay View.
H. Is home at Lowell. at Belyidere.
This place is very beautiful. A grand hill
crowned with oaks and pines n roadway that
winds past arbor- vitn hedges, hardly high
enough TO hide the wired shrubbery and the
ompty flower beds, leads up to the house. The
residence is stately structure OF wood. two
stories high with n broad veranda supported
house fronts west and a bow window guard.
ed by columns; breaks the m2notony Of
distance. and OppDgttn the l. stand
stable and round glass winery. ornament
ed in patterned blue, The driveway passes
round the house and winds out of sight below
the brow OF the hill. II reminds you OF an Eng
lish country homestead. and the builder. Mr.
mother England to color his design. Gen. But
Ter has improved II much since its purchase
nve-and-twenty years ago.
You open the hall door; n rotund figure steps
from the study on the right. and you are greeted
with blum. frank fashion that speaks posi-
whose guest you are for the night offers his
hand. Yet before he grects you. even. an un-
common individuality is manifest everywhere.
Skins Of animals are strewn upon the floor
you have not stepped into one OF so many New
England houses with cherries. uninhabited
entry and closed parlor Gen. Buffers house
was built and Is used Tor comfort. 1t Is not even
w,Il furnished. according TO Beacon street IDEAS
parent in every nook and corner u sense OF con-
tent that tells a plain story. The owner loves
womans taste have interpreted him his wish.
The long parlor into which you step for a mo-
mtut Wnllt waiting tne evening meal Is u nund
some room, with two large. open fires glowing
so ms to defy Jack Frost. and throwing their
crimson yellow CLEANS into the clustered
which the curtains frame open TO the long
yeranda. the leisure resting place any summer
evening Opposite are the wooded slopes OF
the Dracut heights. To the lett are the smoking
chimneys and tho sharp-cut gables OF Central
Mlle. Below winds the silent Merrimac. lost In
faces Of Monadnock. Wachusett. and Wata;ic
and 70 the right the river is Ms beautiful. for it
bends In front OF Belvidare carrying its mes
sage from this busy city 20 the sea Nearer to
you, and still below are two houses. slightly
striking IN their architecture. belonging TO the
manufacturers Of n perfume. that local wit with
all OF local irreverence has christened Cologne
The walls Of tho parlor are painted a warm
pale pearl the carpet is laid to match in the UNI
obirusveness of quiet coors, Over one OF the
mantelpieces hangs a portrat-a three-quarter
length-ot u woman whose influence has made
tha grace Of this Lowell home. Blanche Butler.
now Mrs. Gov. Ames. The face is a striking one
the face Of a woman OF energy, talent. and
taste; you cannot look into those eyes and go
away and forget them. II the portrait is true
10 the reality this woman must be very beautiful.
word from your host breaks the reverr.
Dinner Is ready The dining room. to the risht
laid in diagonal strips Of polished oak and ash
A magnificent old sideboard. rich In rare carv-
ing commands one end, and the walls are
adorned with samples OF the talent OF Mrs. Ames {;
water-color sketches. cleverly done. this pair.
trout and cartridges. being particularly good.
An hour or so reveals 70 you why this man has
afolowlng that swears by him. Everything he
says natures in a mould that is new to you.
The commonest subjects are shaped freshly.
concisely. and oftentimes with a nimble wit that
carries It's conviction like well-Rimed bullet
He shows a fairness. the real equity OF fairness.
in all this little chat that commands you with
surprise. And through ii all there runs ten
derhess. a chivalry OF feeling about his home
that proves kindly nature somewhere.
BUFFERS FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.
An incident will illustrate: When George s.
rsrtment. with Banaeid as Solicitor, a friend
Bp The haGRsnsd in Gnf mHs
poished-for the General has no very
tremendous vital piety. Asking what was
that an old man. who had served under
Jackson was about TO be discharged man
turn the id Treasury upside down. II he
had 10 introduce a resolution into Congress"
the man WAS mere nothing TO him. But this
Is Gen. Buffers way with his friends A fr lend
certain General who succeeded him in com
mand on one occasion wrote 70 Gen. Butler ex-
planning the reversal Of one Of Buffers orders.
The Only reply received was: Even with YOU
some day He counted the man us an enemy (;
he meant him to know IT, and. unquestionably.
lie paid the promise. He cherishes his friends
WIN WIN a deen earnesitness i IS always iorlorn
~ has ever befriended could, by any posi-
b.liy. 10 back " on him; He himself IL SO
sieei,trqe 70 his opinion, no cannot admit Of
His friends worship him, None among them
mrs III" lfhHt luktWhTm. Inc muEHells m Oh MS
own positive nature seems 10 be impaired by
him to all with whom he comes IN social con-
tact A faithful memory that retains in most
narvellous way details and events; clear
sehteduess in getting Mt the drift OF what you
say, that forms at once an opinion; blunt
dlrertncss in speech, Offensive only TO thin
sk nned mortals who intrench themselves in
etiquette; n friendship ms superb ms II is power
fui, are qualities that tie men to men. And
when 10 this those that know him see AN ideal
tenderness 10 his children, an ideal devotion 10
wife, can you wonder that they praise him.
admire and then love himY Many delegation
desiring a Sunday audience has been told.
No; ] spend sunday with my family. Come
10 me Monday morning" Gen. Butler has i'm
pressed himself upon the nation, upon his
times. upon history but upon nothing moro
deeply than the hearts OF his friends. He may
not listen to them, he may roughly reject their
advice, for you waste your breath on iron, when
once his mind is made up but a vast capabiliy
Tor the highest affection Is still there beneath
that hard shell. And away from affairs rs he
IL tonight at his own table. you can find no
more genial cOmpanon He loves good story.
10 hear or to tell. The same fund Of humor. so
noticeable now. has been his since boYhoOd.
HIS THEORY OF SALVATION.
IL tells you a story OF SO. One Of those noble
hearted women. that made New England what
II Is and gave to a country rare pattern 81
motherly grace and Puritan virtue, brought
benjamin L. Butler into this world. Mrs. Butler
was a woman who united to deep earneslness Of