The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-16
A BHsAINY MAN OF COLOR.


What George \. Butler Has Accom-
plished i'm His Career-The Son
Of Poor Clergyman. he Learned
Hair "a Dozen Languages and Ac-
cumnlates "a Fortune Abroad.
For years, say ) a New York letter t.
the Cincinnati IiMeS-StdI', George a.
Butler has been living between China
aid Europe, his latest public appearance
IN Paris being as the private secretary of
the Marquis Tseng, the Chinese Ambas
sIdor 10 Paris. lie is rich and accom-
plished and can rattle oil French, Ger
man, Italian, Chinese aud one or two
other languages like a native. 1t Is be-
lieved that he visits the Uuited States
with an important mission from the
Chinese government, but on this point
he IL silent as a gravestoue. 4 am en-
gagged on private business he sal i
nothing tor the newspapers 10 ask
about, aud l shall hurry back to Europe
| reached mere last Saturday for t.
days stay. have kept very quiet, but
thought the papers would eaten me when
! ca- nut with VI. B .rth IIit.' said MIR
B itler, he smiled with glee. lie
added that he hal not been in this his
native country, for thirty five years.
Though I'm supposed to be living in
Europe, he aided, I'm living in my
boxes pre- ty much of the time. | have
not blen in the same place for two con
secutive months IN ~ many years
y story has been told of Mr.. Butlers
connection with the China Merchants
Navigation Company which is ot inter
est, as showing that a coloIed manager
can make a great success where Chinese /
brains were no good. The prime mover
IN the scheme was supposed To he Ii
dung Cndng. who was then and iony
a;teTwdri one Of the most Ir nminent
men IN the empire. lie was rich. and il
supposed that he owned tn. greater
part Of the stock. The rest of the stock {
WIS subscribed by IN tndarIns. whirh f.
caused the OrganiZat on To- he called the
MtndarInS Steamship Company. They f.
gan with several advantages, chief of F.
which was the carrying ot the tribute Z
rice from the various point, on :he great
rivers ard on the coast. where il was col
ltCt. Il. 10 P+kin.
The quantity was immense. and the .
price paId for transportation b-ing regu-
lated by II Hung Chang on behalf of
trth the government and the company
Nns favorable 10 the latter. The com
p;.uy at first felt "a kind of childish vanity /.
in It's newly acquired importance. IL
was determined that no fore gner should
be employed Long King Sing. one of
the most enlightened and liberal men IN
the empire, was the first 10 realize the
necessity of foreign assistance. Ii was
appealed to, and finally consented that
George \. Butler should be appointed
manager, nOminaily under the dIrec tion
OF three Chinese directors. The result
was that the stock, which was at 10 per
cent. discount, went up To- 100 per cent.
premium. The first year after the
change the company rlade 81 900, 600
NJ L.
about $500, 900. This included the three
years from some time in 1879 10 some
time in 1882. when Long Sing, accompa-
MED by ms manager, went on a mission
to Brazil.
MIR, Buffers career has been romantic.
lie was the son OF colured clergyman
in Washington, and was sent To France
and Germany to be educated. where he
improved his time 81 well that he became.
master of French, Geru an and Italian.
which he speaks with tiuency. He at
tracted the attention of AnSon BurIiny-
game, who ok him 10 China "a his pri-
>ate secretary. He remained in CHINA
after Mr.. Bur.ingame's return. and went
INTO the employ of RuSSel " CO, where
he remained till 1879, holding a position
of Importance. WhII., stIperinJendent
OF the China Merchants Company he
hat almost sole control under Long
king Sing, the chief executive. After
ne went with his chief to- Europe, the
fell entirely into the hands uf
natives. by whom 1t WIS brought To the
verge ot bankruptcy. The Brazilian visit
was tn further the following scheme:
The company contemplated building
several steamers. which should go arouud
the Cape uf Coed Hope To Brazil. stoI,-
ping at MauritIus and Senegal on the
way. They were to take emigrants from
CHINA 10 Brazil. "A cargo of brazilian pro
ducts from Rio Janeiro to New York and
return thence 10y Suez. bringing such
tdinS aS suited tine Chinese market
w hIie ia Portugal, news came of dISas-
trrS To the company. aud the two cnyo,s
hastenCd home.