The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-09-08
MR.. BoDwELL's GENEROSITY
An Old Neighbor States Incidents O,
His Kindness.

An old neighbor Of Mr.. Bodwell, in a let
ter to the Kennebec Journal, relates these
instances of the kindness and generosity of
the Republican candidate
In view OF the recent libellous attacks upon
the character of Mr. Bodwell, deem it not
less duty than privilege to refute those
charges and substantiate such denial by one
or two of the many instances of his gener-
0Sity and kind heartedneSS that have come
under my personal observation. In the SUM
mer of 49, young man then a resident of
this State decided to go into the sheep-rais-
ing business in the West. Lacking the nee
essary capital, he laid his plans before Mr..
Bodwell, soliciting his aid. With character
istic generosity he advanced the money
note with the understanding that he should
hold an interest in the flocks until the note
was paid, as security. In the severe storm
of the succeeding winter every sheep was
starved or frozen to death; and when, after
days of isolation and suffering, he worked
his way back to civilization and his home in
Maine and to Mr. Bodwell's home. and told
him of his sufferings and loss and conse-
quent inability to meet the note at its ma
turity, his great heart was filled with sym
pathy, and with words of encouragement,
taking the young man by the hand he said,
My young friend think not of the note;
when you get as much money as have you
can pay it'll
More than four years ago as Mr.. Bodwell
was riding along the streets of Portland in
that he had good Irish heart in his breast,
entered and addressed him as follows
"Good morning, Mr.. Bodwell; do you know
me% ! don't seem mn to e, remember you,s
I'll tell you how A good time ago myself
and three chums were out of job, and we
heard you were going to open a new quarry
on - islandi so we started for there. Well,
by the time we got there our money was all
gone. and worse than that we found you
hadn't opened any quarry at all, and wasn't
likely to that year. We were in a hard
place; no money and no work. But next
morning, by great good luck. you came on
the island. went to see you, and told you
bill out of your pocket and said: Here, take
this and divide it among you. I'm going to
HalloWell tonight; come over there and I'll
give you job Do you think I'll forget
that? No sir! And hear they're talking
about running you for Governor, and If they
do I'll vote for you, as sure as my name is
Patrick -, although I'm Democrat.
Mr.. Bodwell told him then -four years and
half ago., that he would probably never
have an Opportunity to do that, but he was
rick still lives and can show his. good will
towards his friend in time of need. | might
multiply such instances did time and space
allow.
hnOWn anu admired dC nOIn6 anu dDTOdu,
his whole life has been rebuke to the ma
licious ISLANDERS and base Misrepresentation
of his opponents. His financial management
has been so able, so strong, so sagaci0us,
that no honest man can, no decent man will
attempt to belittle it.
When one of the corporations which the
New Age points out as. giving evidence of
his financial inability, was struggling for ex-
istence against his judgment, against the
to its relief, and by the strength of his good
name brought the needed assistance. Again
and again, when he almost knew that en-
dorsement meant payment in the end, he
paper and made it good. His only thought,
his sole purpose, was to furnish them with
funds necessary to enable them to go on and
maintain the industry and so furnish work
for the laborers. And in the end he drew
his check to cover his endorsements