Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-07
Mr.. Bodwens Character.
WHAT NEIGHBoR HAS TO SAY OF HIM
INCIDENTS OF HIS KINDNESS AND GENER.
osIrY-HIs BUSINESS DEALINGS.

"whs steals my purse steals trash; 80. bu. who
riches him, and leaves me poor indeed"
AUGUSTA, Sept. 6, 1886.
Editor Rennebee Journal.
In view of the recent libellous attack upon
the character of Mr.. Bodwell, deem it not
less duty than a privilege to refute those
charges and to substantiate such denial by
one or two of the many instances of his gen.
crosby and kind-hearteduess that have come
under my personal observation. In the sum-
mer of l8-a young man then a resident of
this State decided to go into the sheep-raising
business in the West. Lacking the necessa-
ry capital, he laid his plans before Mr. Bod
we'll, soliciting his aid. With characteristic
generosity he advanced the money! goodly
sum, too,-taking the young mans note with
the understanding that he should hold an
interest in the flocks till the note was paid,
as security. In the severe storms of the sue
ceeding winter every sheep was either starved
or frozen to death; and when, after days of
isolation and suffering, he worked his way
back to civilization and to his home in Maine
and to Mr.. BodwelPs home. and told him of
his sufferings and loss and consequent in
ability to meet the note at its maturity, his
great heart was filled with sympathy, 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."
More than four years ago as Mr.. Bodwell
was riding along the streets of Portland in a
horse-car, man whose brogue indicated that
he had good Irish heart in his breast, en-.
tered and addressed him as follows: GOOD
morning. Mr.. Bodwell; do you know me?"
~ don't seem to remember ou," said Mr..
B. ''Well, I know you, and 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 - island :;
so we started for there. Well by the time
we got there our money was all gone, and
worse than that we found that you hadn't
opened any quarry at all, and wasn't likely
to that year. We were in hard place: no
money and no work. But next morning, bv
great good luck, you came on the island. |
went to see you, and told you how bad off we
were, and you just took a twenty-dolsr bill
out of your pocket, and said you Here, take
this and divide it among you. I'm going to
Halovell tonight; come over there and I'll
give you job Do you think I'll forget
thai? No, sir! A d 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
a half ago). that he would probably never
have opportunity to do that, but he was
obliged to him for his kindness. hope Pat
rick still lives and can show his good will
, towards his friend in time of need l might
multiply such instances did time and space
allow
Known and admired at home and abroad,
his whole life has been a rebuke to the ma
licious ISLANDERS and base Misrepresentation
of his opponents. His financial management
has bean so able, so strong. so sagacious,
that no honest man can, no decept 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 exs-
tence. against his judgment, against the ad
vice of friends, he again and again came to
its relief, and by the strength of his good
name brought the needed assistance. Again
and again when he almost knew that endorse.
ment meant payment in the end. he wrote J.
r. Bodwell across the back of ts paper and
made 1t good. His only thought, his sole
purpose. was to furnish them with funds
necessary to enable them to go on and main
tain the industry and so furnish work for the
laborers. And in the end he drew his check
to cover his endorsements.
Against his grand character the shafts of
the pigmes beat noisily but harmlessly. He
bestrides their "nafrow world like collos-
sus" and those ''petty men walk under his
huge legs and peep about to find themselves
dishonorable graves"
Beside his great heart-throbs the feeble
pulse-beat Of his miserable maligners is as the
stagnant pool to the hesving ocean. And
generations after the concocter, writer and
publisher of that consummate falsebood
shall have sunk forever beneath the slime and
scum in which he reeks and rolls, our granite
hills and rock -bound coast, wherein are
carved his name and fame, shall say of ]. r.
Bodwell His life was gentle, and the ele-
ments so mixed in him, that Nature might
stand up and say to all the world, this was a
man." NEIGHRoR.