The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-28
Ben Butler, Bridge,
now MasSaohnsetts' New Governor Maln the
Most Marrow Escape Of His Life

How Ma'Saohnse'ts' New Governor Maap the
Most Marrow Eacapc of His Life
The recent triumph of Ben Butler and
the clever devices with which he neu-
tralihod the effects Of the splits" in his
own ranks, says Derrick Dodd in the
san Francisco Post, recalls an incident
OF the Generals early career, and which
Is interesting as showing that even in
his youth Ben displayed those strategic
abilities which have since done so much
Tor his military and political career.
1t appears that young Butler was
much cnamored of a pretty girl who
lived on farm about six miles from
that OF the Butler family in the western
part OF Massachusetts The country
beauty was coqnetto, however, and
Kept quite Il large train Of admirers in
suspense, each rival doing his best to
gain the advantage of the others. At
las! matters were brought to climax,
and the damsel appointed certain
night when she would render her final
decision as to which suitor she pre-.
irrrcd
II goes without saying that they
were all better looking than Ben, but
the latter determined TO put the inside
OF hIs head against tho outside of those
Of his opponents. The nearest way to
the fair ilrts house, and tho one taken
by all her eager followers, was over a
bridge formed by a single and some
what slippery log placed across u deep
brook in the rear of the house. Young
Butler repaired to this bridge an hour
earlier than the accustomed ncourtin
time, " carrying pail of lard with
which he carefully annonted The log by
the mellow moonlight, backing himself
across il astradd)c,
As he afterwards sat with his sweet
heart, waiting for the other suitors to
appear, loud splash came from the d.
rcctIon OF the brook. Beu's game eye
twinkled, and in imagination ho could
see one OF his gorgeously gotten up fell
low candidates climbing up the oppo.
site bank with his teeth chattering and
heading for home across lots, but the
conSpirator looked as innocent rs a cat
in the dairy and said nothing
Pretty soon there came another souse,
and after awhile another. The beauty
began to look at the clock and show ev-
licences of decided piquo at the negli-
gence of her other admirers "A circunl-
stance Ben did not fail to turn to his
own profit.
Presently he could family hear voices
IN the distance, and he knew that the
last two swans were approaching to-
gethcr, Pretty soon came II trcmcn.
dous double splash.
Dear me-" said the young lady,
"how the fish are jumping tonight"
The upshot OF it was that when the
future governor rose to 20 the sighted
beauty gave him her hand. Sealing
the bargain with an old fashioned husk-
ing bee kiss, Butler left his prize in such
a state of eXutation that he forgot all
about the creased log, and the first
thing he knew both heels hit him in the
back of his head and he took a header
down below, just as his victims had
done. He climbed up the already well.
clawod bank and made six miles to
home, uttering kearneyisms unfit for
publication, lie was taken with chills
and fever as u result, and, when he got
well, found his iancee had clipped with
a hired man. Butler tells this as the
nArrowcs' escape Of his life, as he saws
the girl began eating onions the very
next day after she became engaged.
Tho General has been lucky ever
since,