Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-03-11
ryegY.DAY LIFE OF Mr.. BEN
RCfLEk.

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wPt the carriage. which is driven by
sa..anninC Young negro, and Is driven
~ State house. By this tins his
~ ,,or,a is crowded with visitors.
sh. ss,,ng 20 get q chance at his exceiien-
sse.r. without stopping, the Cover
enters the executive chamber. n
tL.e,hr - gud cheerful apartment. The
sI ~ are artisticaily frescosd in warm
'ein,s and a nambsF of costly and rare
:ntines hang upen the wells. The
sr,.1,re consists If several large sofas
sScaufoftabie plr sl-coyered chairs.
s-shsy dlnav TO be sure, but Still good.
i'i i.rge. open fre-placs occupies Iog-
..'n of the space, in which, on ctii.iy
81 wet DAYS, "a roaring woodtire is
~. reminding one of tie ol9en days.
ssere Is also a ketile, hing on a crane.
= the are-pi zee, giving the ch.m aes side
sd,pestie look. Here the GDysrnor
go great part OF his tIma, toas.ing his
,aas ~ ha smokes his cigar and con-
ssr.es with bis cailsr. He occupies the
,aala alone. has private secretary having
sp,a,l apartment adjoining. IEis ar
,,ngs,aeIit gives the visitor a Glance to
.oesk as privately rs hs may desire.
gbe iirs. business OF the day is the Pc
rnsal of the mail. Several hundred let
tsrs arrive every morning. These are
kssorted by the private secretary, who
amly gives those marked personal aud
Mhefs demanding inetsnt attention. l.,
the Governor, WHO dictates the answers
"a his stenographer. Gov. Butter has
undoubtedly the most extensive corre-
sogndeuce of any public nign except the
President. So widespread Is his repu-
ta.ion as friend of tke soldiers who
carved In the War that ne is a.nio It over
ybe!med with letters from all parts of
the country imploring his assistance in
obtaining back PENSIONS, and State aid
for the soldiers themselves, rs well a.
fox their widows and orphans. Letters
sse recelvsd from statesmen, pDii.l-
clans, celebrities, business nlen, and a
great many from beqgars and cranks.
Aany Of thum are onr.ous in request,
orthography, and diciion. Oae woman
re.entIy wrote TO Butler and stated that
/ she had serious DOUBTS of her own sani-
ty, and wanted him to have her placed
IN all insane asylum. Another woman,
troubled With bronchitis, wrote that she
tbought that the climate of CGba would
beasft her health. and wanted him to
send her there, and stiil another doubt
cd the accuracy of her physician's bill,
and wanted the Governor to go for
him" and make him lessen the charges
4 Western man had an opportunity OF
securing an interest in street. car mo-
tor and wanted the Governor TO kindly
loan him $500 in order to get it, and
ano.aer simply desired n loan sf $3.50.
which he promised TO return within two
years. poet ( n wrots that he would
gladly dadicate II sonnet To his excellen-
cy for n few dollars, while AN ather want
81 his name to subscription list to
6ldow u professorsaip III new college:
A young lady from the extreme West
lad "A sister die somewhere In the East,
and she writes TO the Governor asking
{ him to ascertain what has become of
tle property of the deceased. A West
ern agricultural society, whose finances
) ire very much reduced, wants the Gem
eral 20 yisIt their town and deliver "a
lecture ON Land frri alton free gratis,
'while the pastor of church desires
bin to open course in hts town for the
benefit of his church. There are re-
quests for ptraons aud requests for one
thousand and one other fiyors, and the
syriters all dssire Immediate answer. So
extensive il the amount of mail matter
thar tue tr ,nsaoti0n OF that part of the
routine business has been reduced al
most to IL science by the Governor. Af-
Ter the mail has been disposed of. the
! visitors of the day ara attended to- Gov.
Butler sees everybody who has real bus
iuess to transact, but it must be public,
not private. The two preceding gove.-
nors of the State saw visitors indiscrim-
inately, but Butler adopts the card sys
tenn. The visitor hands his card to the
executive messenger, vino takes it in and
laws it on the Governors desk, where il
remains until he Is at leisure. At the
proper time the Governor takes the FIRST
c.rd i'll order, rings u bell and orders
that the visitor be shown in. which is
done. Butler is good listener, and
patiently hears each case rs 1t is laid
before him, and. witt, = faculty peculi-
xfly his own, ascertains in very few
minutes whether there is any occasion
for interesting himself in the matter.
II not. he announces lis decision in a
manner not to DO mistaken, aud If the
person is not singulariy obtuse he will
take the hint and leave. II he is bore,
Butler will settle him IN short time.
The Governor rather prides himself ON
his ability to end summarily an un-
profitable conversation. Anyone who
lmagines he can prolong an interview
BY giving Ban little tatfy, makes a
mistake. Between o'clock and five
those only who have sp>ciaI invitation
TO see tho Governor are admitted To his
august presence. At the latter hour
Butler takes his departure for the Re
vers House, whore ne discusses n dinner
) Of cho'cs via nds. taking plenty of time
in so doing. The evening is spent in
various ways, but just now they are
taken up with complimentary dinaers.
Butler is the card of the day at club
dinners, and he is III constant demand.
Personally he is |. great favorite at such
gatherings, aud il must be confessed
that he takes great pl.ssure upon most
ocsasions III accepting inv,tanons. But
Ter, however, is much more exclusive
than Long was. The Istter gentleman
voaid take III" anything from church
fairor Land League meeting to a fu-
neral, and WAS always prepared before
hand to speak upon any subject. But
Ter can always make a sound, intelligent
speech when the occasion demands il.
He is remarkably good after dinner
speaker, very witty and sharp, and 10
: entirely extempsfa. Much of his popu,
lafity With business men is gained by
his Democratic bearing and easy social
manners at tho club dinners. He 70
salns dignity without being cold or
sim. Ben is an appreciatlve eater; AZ
though somewhat of an epioure. He is
particularly fond of game, and psesers
euostantlats to uaintIss. Iitne Is of no
consequences when he settles down 10
eat, and he loves to conyerse with his
neiRhbors between bites. When the
dinner is finished and cigars lighted,
tne general settles back in his chair con-
tentediy and pulls assiduously upon his
choice Havana. Butler IS getting TO be
almost as inyeterste smoker as Gen.
urant. but they smoke altogether differ
snk When Grant puts n cigar into his
mouth 1t stays there until consumed,
while Butler takes it out between hi
nngers almost as every puff, sweeps 1t
malvsficaily to mis- side, and blows the
sa,oke out IN a long continued volume,
ssoslng his pet eye with enjoyment Us
ae does 30. When called upon 10 speak
ae rises slowly from his chair, looks
cslmiy arouud, settles himself, snlies
0naplacently, and commences Ben
makes good figure AT the table, which
uaoss Just about one-half of him. Al
nau2h he Is lover of sherry, he is
never flushed with wine, aud conse-
?esnsly says nothing be Is sorry for af-
Setwayd.