New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-02
BABVARD AND GOVERNOR BUTLER.

Several years ago, when Mr.. =. I. Barnum
was running his old museum and by way OF
vacation representing the town OF bridgeport
in the Connecticut Legislature, he was made the
object of persistent personal attack by one OF
the newspapers published at the capital. "A
rural member who had observed with some sur
prise that the constant outpourng OF abuse Ola
not seem to affect his spirits or his charming
good nature, said to him one day: " / should
think. Mr.. Barnum, that this sort of thing, kept
No as it is day after day, would worry you"
The great Snowman burst into guffaw that
almost shook out his front teeth. "Oh no."
said he, @on the contrary like it. They're
~doing lots of advertising for me for nothing
1t all brings quarters to the museum"
Between the famous Snowman and the pres.
emf Governor of Massachusetts there ere many
things in common. Conspicuous among them
ia an appreciative fondness for gratuitous adj
vertising. Both Of them have had In their time
a great deal of 1T, and both know how profitable
il is. The last free advertisement enjoyed by
Governo, Butler is the refusal OF the Harvard
Board of Overseers 20 give him the degree OF
Ill. d. in accordance with custom. The
average citizen would naturally suppose that
the action of the Overseers in breaking the line
of precedents in this case, under such clrcum-
stances and for the reasons given, would cause
Governor Butler great annoyance, modification
and cbagrin. There are few men In or out OF
public life who would not feel very profoundly
such slight There IL, however, not only no
reason for believing that Governor Butler has
been so affected, but the best of reasons for the
belief that he rather enjoys it; that as Barnum
al tUh oh
brought quarters to the Emuseum, he revels in
the reflection that the Harvard Ovcrseers have
brought unsolicited great deal OF grist to his
political hopper. His last advertisement OF
himself in the Tewksbury business was get
ting worn and stale, and he was beginning to
feel the need of some new sensation to keep
himself before the public In this state of
things nothing could have happened more OPP
portunely for his personal fortunes than the re-
fusal of the customary honor to the Massachu-
sets Governor by Harvard College.
Had the Overseers followed precedent and
voted to decorate him with the D0ctorate of
| Laws he would have lost what he no doubt now
considers his best and most extensive adver-
tisement. In that event he must either have
accented the honor decently and decOropsly and
| so lost the opportunity for a sensation, or he
must have refused it and, in refusing embraced
the occasion to say something smart and saucy
| to 90 the rounds Of the newspapers and keep
his name before the public. In the latter case
the sensation produced would have been only
| momentary, and the advantage accruiDg from
| II would have been diminished in some degree
| by the sacrifice of dignity it involved. AS the
matter stands, he is in the attitude OF an in
jured person, who, having given no tangible
| cause of offence, has bsen made the victim OF O
pronounced slight-almost an insult in fact
| from the representatives of the oldest seat oi
| learning in the country. Without SO much al
lifting his own hand for it he gets the widest
possible advertisement. For many days he
| will be at the top of public discussion. He cal
pose before the people as the victim OF the
prejudices and passions Of class of men who
| look down upon the common herd and arrogate
| peculiar distinction to themselves. He car