Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-11
LOUISVILLE GLEANINGS
C0YLE DOUGLAS CORRESPOND
ENCE.
The Flood In the OhIo-Lovers of
Bourbon Set at Rest-The New
cOmb-Buchanan Failure-An obese
Paul and Plump Virginia
Oscar Wilde Snubbed.


fuge from their crazy tenements, and saw the
whirling waters swallow the last remnant of
their ptiful little possessions before their eyes,
are all comfortably sheltered and there has
been comparatively little suffering among
them, thanks to the kind care of the charitable
men and women among us.
Even the distilleries that were under water
which calamity seemed to touch a tender
chord in every manly heart throughout the
land, and which brought uS profuse express
sions OF sorrow and sympathy and counsel to
brace up" in our misfortunes- are again in
full blast and sending out the pure article un-
mixed with La Belle. 1t began to look for a
while as though mint iuleps next summer
would be only for those peculiarly favored by
the gods. and at such a prospect popular
feeling in kentuckv-to say nothing of outside
misery on the subjects supposed to rise to
frenzy. But the thrilling accounts that come
to us daily from eye-witneSses of the misery
aud destruction down the Ohio and Mississippi
give us plenty to think of and ample cause
for gratitude that our condition is no worse
than it Is, while it keeps the relief committees
busv devising ways and means to make the
contributions go as far as possible in relieving
the starving and drowning creatures that call
to us so piteOusy for aid.
There has been a called meeting Of the credi-
tors of the Newcomb Buchanan Company, as
well as the Buchanan brothers individually, to
take place on the 18th of the month at which
time a full statement of the affairs of the com
pany will be made.
Mr.. George Buchanan purchased last fall the
most elegant mansion on Fourth avenue a
high, beautiful grounds, which had been
built by one of the city's merchant
princes few years ago, who. dying shortly
after its completion, his family went
abroad aud the house was closed and offered
for sale. 1t was finally purchased by Mr..
Buchanan, who at once invested the premises
with a swarm of workmen, who have added
luxury to luxury and beauty to beauty until it
stands like a palace, with the stately stone
steps and sweeping fiagways, the rich gilded
balustrade that descends from the front door,
and the bronze and iron railing that curves in
over Its massive stone base at the street en-
trance with Its rows OF glittering windows one
above the other that, facing the
West catch the full splendor of every
sunset, and the front door, that ap-
pears TO be an exquisite shattered
crystal, holding in its prism all the shifting
colors of a crushed rainbow and glowing
through the dusk when the candelier is lit
behind it, like great jewel full of fire. There
was promised at the completion of the work
such housewarnling as had never been given
in Louisville; but, alas the crash came before
the mechanics were well out of the house.
This property together with the furniture,
which is pronounced the "most elegant ever
seen this side the Alleghanies, is valued at
100000, and was included in the owners indi-
vidual assets. Mr. BuchaUan's eldest daughter
made her debut in Washington two win
terS ago, as one. Of the representa-
that it will not be long before the
business will be on its old footing. Louis
vile cannot afford to lose one Of her large
minded business men without feeling it sensi-
blS, and perhaps we owe an extra amount of
sympathy to the Buchanans because they have
always stood by us instead of packing up and
seeking other fields when they began to pros
per. If we are ever to be the mighty city we
are constantly threatening to be- it will be ow-
ing to the capital that stands by us and pitches
in aud helps us, and if we continue to creep
along with our hands in our pockets for the
next generation-as wouldn't be at all surpris-
ing-blustering about water power and geo
graphical situation and what not, it will be be-
cause every man who arrives at a million
dollars capital gets so dazzled with look
ing at it that he begins to believe Louis
vile can't hold him, and .he takes his paltry
little million in his hand and posts off TO New
York to disport himself with the Goulds and
Vanderbilts.
A few weeks ago there passed away from our
midst man whose name has been household
word for almost a half century az an educator
and author-Professor Noble Butler. When
quite young man he occupied a chair in the
old Louisville University, where he had under
his tutleage almost all the prominent business
and professional men Of this city; he early
began the compilations and revisions OF
in the principal schools of the South
and West As his eatly la0ors
were devoted to the education Of young
men, his mature years found him at the head
of his great mind and beautiful character on
both classes Two of those who sat at his feet
went forth to fulfill the promise that was in
them-Mary Anderson and selma Fetter.
Nature had carved him out for that position
he occupied, and braveIy and faithfully with
what gentle patience and loviI care did he
fulfill it. His discipline was the law Of kind
ness, and amply was he repaid in the love and
reverence that followed in his footsteps No
moral nature was so dull that it did not
quicken into life at his bidding and many a
heart in quiet homes in distant places will
throb with tender pang at the announcement
of his death and the reverence of the bond of
peculiar affection that bound teacher and pupil
together In the last year or two of his life
his literary labOrs crowded 50 upon him that
he gave up his established school and confined
himself to scattered classes Prof. Butler was
a brother-in law of John M. Harvey, the editor
of the old Louisville Democrat in ante belIunl
times and was the brother of the young tutor
killed by Matt Ward some twenty-five years
ago. The famous Ward family, occupying the
highest position amongst the aristocracy OF
Kentucky and distinguished no less for the
beauty of its II embers than for its wealth and
culture, had grown into something like AFRO
gance and presumption, and had thereby ava
kened hatred in the lower classes of which
they could not dream until the time of
trial came and the storm burst upon
their heads. When he crime was committed
the canaille mobbed the Ward mansion and
the family fed to the Gait House until they
could leave town. Fires were built in the
doorways OF the house, and the police and fire
company-then in an unor yaniZed condition
were not allowed to interfere. George D.
Prentice who was warm friend of the family
and defended the criminal in the Journal, had
his house stoned about his ears until he
withdrew, with his family, to hotel. The
lawyers defending the case and the iurymen
were burned in eftigy. When the fury was at
its height, Professor Noble B1tler came forth
and calmly and earnestly begged the popu-
lace to desist from such exhibitions His
pleadings we're all that stilled the tempest
against the murderer Of his brother But he
is dead, and his familiar presence
1t seems but yesterday his kindly face looked
down upon the rows OF girls across the wide
school room, and the slanting sun came in at
the windows and made bright his snowy crown
OF hair: An old familiar picture that will never
be again, for he lies out in Cave Hill in the
beautiful sabbath silence, and the Angel of the
Resurrection stands on the arch of the portal
with uplifted finger as who should
IBID the clay
Press lightly on him till the night be past,
And the far east give note Of coming day."
The Abbott troupe have wound uu the opera
season, and drew large houses for a Lenten
time-larger than Mccullough, who shared the
week with them. Abbott is a real Louisville
pet. Castle has grown fat and portly since he
was here last year. AS Paul" " in Paul and
Virginia" the discrepancy between the man
and his youthful makeup cannot but strike the
most inattentive observer. Abbott is the ideal
Virginia" but to see Paul." after one of
those impassioned duets, waddle across the
stage. il one happens to be in a critical mood,
is cOnvulsing. And Paul" must have been q
precocious lad il at his tender years he could
have given aid and comfort to such full
grown moustache as Castle sustains.
Louisville people are chafDg over the discoy-
cry that Oscar Wilde when he lectured here
upon "the English Renaissance" did not give
the entire lecture IS he delivered it in the East
but only such scraps as he thought we could
understand. But why fret about iti From
the specimens we had, we certainly didn't lose
feast OF reason in that we missed Oscar
arrived in the city on the day Of the lecture,
having been delayed by the high hater. His
manager, or valet, or duenna, or whatever he
may be, had announced that those wishing to
entertain the lion OF pay him any attention
might leave their cards at such place indi-
Gated. Hut behold the people had taken q
sober second thought, and not card or an in
vitatIon broke the uttermost bitterness Of his
visit. Nobody called on him but tbs reporters,
to whom he remarked that we seemed to
have rivera super1aous obser-
vation, as the river just then was able
to stand alone-had gotten on its hind legs, as
1t were, and was pretty generally rHshing
things. Perhaps the son Of Speranza was
scared. Perhaps until he came he did not know
that the Ohio was river. He may have con-
founded it with Spotted Tail or a buffalo. Why
he should shudder at the prospect OF high
such craft as those broadly built high-lows Of
his should be able to paddle his own canoe. A
great deal has been said Of his legs-that they
were bare and monotonous." Monotonous
they may have been-but not bare-they were
covered with silk stockings. Thus much ia
simple justice. There was not very much of
them in comparison with their pedestals- they
looked as II they might have been affected by
the drought.
one cE our city officials has published an
airy, dainty little love song, "My Ernestine, y
set TO music by one of our professors, which is
70 De used by Patti as an encore in her future
repertoire, CoYLE DOUGLAS.