The Labor enquirer., 1884-09-13
s,orv Of Ben Butter.

crowded houses.
story OF Ben Butler.
The Suns recently published incident of
Ben Buffers generosity to the poor southern
widow, who would have lost her estate but
for his gratuitous services in her behalf,
brings to light another Incident equally au-
thentic and equally characteristic of his dis
interestedness and kindness of heart.
Several years ago, when General Butler
was overwhelmed with business at his Wash
ington office, seedily- harrassed-
looking man presented himself in the outer
office. 81 am farmer from Ohio" said he
to the great lawyers chief clerk. 81 have
been dancing attendance on the pension
bureau here for six weeks, III the vain at
tempt to obtain justice for my sister-in law.
Her husband, who was my brother, died
three years ago Of disabilities received while
serving his country in the late war. The
pension he had been receiving ceased at his
death, and his widow has In vain endeayored
to secure its continuance to her. She is her
self an invalid, almost destitute, with three
children. My expenses here have already
eaten up all my savings, and I'm afraid FL
have to foot it back home, WITH my story of
having worked in vain to secure her rights,
which will like enough break the. poor wo-
mans heart. haven't missed a day in
visiting the pension bureau, but without eff
feet. There's red tape enough there to
strangle half the poor men intthis' country.
Every day they put me off. | can't even get
them to examine my sister-in7law's papers,
which are all in proper FORM
apply to some lawyer who makes a
specially of pension claims, 7 said the clerk.
81 have already applied toHseveral such
lawyers stlccessiyeIy,' said hefarmer. The
best that the cheapest of them offered was to
put the claim through in consideration of
half the amount now due. considered even
that an eXtortlon. At last a person told me
to try and see General Butler about it, and
here am.n
'sWho advised you to see the General?"
'FThe darky who waits on the table at my
boarding house. He said to me: Try an see
Ben Butler. His hearts as big as his head,
an he's got the name OF putting himself out
to obIige a poor man, white orcolored, native
or foreign, sooner than any big bug in Wash
ington.' That's why came here" ),
"What is the amount of the claimY'
''Less than $780, ..-.r-
The clerk made an impatient and deprecat-.
ing gesture. +.
Really the general could not spare any
time to look after such a case" said he.
tfHe is at present head over ears in legal
complications involving hundredsZof thous-
ands of dollars. Icouldn't venture to inter
rupt him by the mere mention of such triy-
ial case as yours" lI
"Don' let that man go till see him." sud-
denly called out a rasping, buzz-saw sort of
voice from the inner office, the door of which
was slightly ajar.
II shouldn't have thought the general would
have overheard us, 'imuttered the clerk and
he motioned the Ohio farmer to a seat.
A few moments later General Butler made
his appearance in the outer Office, dismissing
the clients with whom he had been in con
sultation. tfy
No caseis trivial that involves question
of Justice said he, quietly turning to his
clerk, and looking the farmer over. "Lonly
overheard few words Of your story, sir,"
he added, seating himself at.-the farmers
side. pray repeat it to me in as few words
as you CAM lh5 II
The buzz-saw voice had changed to one of
engaging candor and gentleness. 0yerjoyed,
the farmer hastened to repeat his story, the
general, while listening, taking the papers
pertaining to the claim, and examined their
contents Everything is straight, and the
claim should be allowed said Butler.
tsCome with me. We can stop at the pension
bureau on my way to the other departments,
and we shall see if there's red tape enough
there to strangle every man in this country"
The general's carriage was in waiting, and
in a few minutes landed its Owner and the
farmer at the pension, bureans There Gene
raj Butler lost no time in expediting the
business which had wasted six weeks of the
poor mans time and money, and it was not
until the entire amount of the claim had
been paid that he shook him BY the hand and
wished him a happy return Journey west
ward.
But hold on, STRIP exclaimed the, delight
ed farmer, as Butler was about to step into
his carriage again. "What do / owe you?',
Nothing whatever. Good-byep And
the coach door closed with bang behind the
portly figure that had just ensconced itself,
within.
But hold on, sir" persisted the farmer.
1T amt the fair thing. shah't feel like a
man, if you don't let me pay something
"But you are not altogether man just
nova proxy never ISL said Butler, laugh.
ing. You are only your brothers widow
And he gave his coachman such an unmis-7
taxable signal that he was at once diyen out
of sight and hearing. IN. Y. Sun.
JOHN r. HEuLOTH,
Painter, is requested to sent his address
10 his mother and brothers, who are in
Durango, Colorado
Mrs. NJ. HEUIorH.
nj - n "