Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-12-13
BUTLER.S SCHAMPION.
How Anna Dickinson Stood by
Him.


Anna Dickinson has been living here
with her mother, a venerable Quaker
lady of eighty-seven, and her sister
Susan, a brilliant little blue stocking
whose nimble pen is constantly at work
on special articles for the new spapers
and magazines of Gotham. The family
has spent charming summer in this
secluded place, away from the noise o.
the city, the glare of fashion, the sting
of criticisms, and almost under the
shadow of a sharp mountain cNg call.
ed Irving's Cliff, in honor of Washing.
ton Irving, who visited Honesdale
many years ago in company with
Philip Hone, after whom the town is
named, and other New Y ork capitalists
The Irving party on the occasion of its
visit enjoyed lunch on the plateau be-
yond the cliff, which commands a de-
lightful view of a pleasing pastoral
scene, and during the post-prandial
oratory it was proposed and unani-
mously agreed that the place hitherto
unnamed be thenceforth known as
Irving's Cliff 1t stands across the
river from the little town, which has
recently become popular resort for
rain-workers and others. Although
the charm of summer has long since
fl ID from the scene the Dickinson fami-
/, is still here, poor but proud as ever.
Anna has been importuned by her
friends to return to the rostrum, but
she will not listen to anything of the
kind, although she has received several
tempting Offers. The temperance peo-
pie are especially anxious to enlist her
services in an attack on The rum traffic,
but thus far without success, notwith-
standing that she is in need of money.
Her disastrous theatrical venture took
her last dollar saw her on the street
| to-day. She looks careworn aud some-
what sad Her large expressive eyes
are as eloquent as ever, but it is i'm
possible not to feel, after Il glance at
her face, that disappointment has en-
b;ttered her life She had counted
much on the success of her Hamlet >
and studied hard to make it such, but
the fierce criticism by which she VS.
met at the very start made failure inev-
liable Others less cogrageoa' woali
have been crushed long since, but she
strove hard and worked desperately fJr
weeks to live down her critics, and
finally retired from the field broken in
health and financially ruined y hat
she will do next is a mystery.
heard good story to day concern
ing herself and Ben. Butler, the new
Governor of Massachusetts,. Whom
Butler placed New Orleans under the
rigors of military rule in 1862, and is
sued his famous order against the
women of that city who showed their
contempt for his officers by splitting in
their faces, there was howl raised
North and South, and be was describ,
ed by such pet names as "Beast But
ler," Spoons Bntlcr," etc. At that
time Anna Dickinson was the star of
the lyccum, speaking nightly in the
principal cities of the Union, and hav-
ing made herself familiar with the cir
cumstances of the New Orleans affair,
she boldly championed the cause of
Butler, claimed that by his splendid ad-
ministration be had preserved New
Orleans from pestlence and disturb
ance, and that his order simply meant
that women who misbehaved on the
streets hy insulting his officers should
be placed under arrest. Nothing but
| Southern venom and Northern cow
ardice could, she said, accuse him of
ANYTHING else and she boldly declared
from public platform in Boston, in
the presence of an audience that hated
Butler, that instead of being attacked
and maligned, he should be honored as
"a brave soldier who had done his duty
fearlessly. In those days it was worth
something to be championed by Anna
Dickinson, and to receive praise from
her lips, that were so accustomed to
criticise. would have touched the heart
of one less capable Of appreciation tn N
General Butler OF course. he was de-
lighted Miss Dickinson defended him
nightly, an |, by her fervid eloquence,
made him heroic instead Of hated.
General Butler took occasion to ac-
knowledge this debt of gratitude, aud
told her friends that when others were
too cowardly to say word in his be-
half, Anna Dickinson had the courage
to sp; ak the truth and take the conse-
quences.
CHANCE FOR SHOWING GRATITUDE
Now General Butler is rich and hon
ored, the Governor of the State that
then tossed his name about with scorn,
while the plucky woman who braved
public opinion to defend his good name
when it was an unpopular thing to
speak kindly OF him, walks the obscure
streets of Honesdale almost penniless.
1t was rumored some years age that
General Butler asked her to become bis
wife. | have no means of ascertalnlng
the truth Of this statement, but 1t she
refused the suit of Butler it must also
be remembered that she declined with
thanks" the offe: Of one of New 1ork's
greatest editors, and this should be
some cons Jlation for wounded pride.
am told that she took great interest
in General Buffers canvass, and was
very much pleased when the news o.
: bis election came She is not o parti
san any l)nger Her intense admira,
ton for the Republican party died with
) Sumner and Greeley. General Butler:
success and the mention of his name
, whether seriously or otherwise for tho
5 Presidency, recalls the zeal with which
D she flew to his defense in those darl
) days when none named him but tC
blame. learn that she was very IN
dignant the other day when somebody
D sneered at the suggestion of Ben. But
J ier's name for the Presidency, and sh'
said the Democrats would be honorine
q themselves in the selection of such ;
i standard bearer General Butler ba
the ability, tie experience, the firm