Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-11
A Story Of Butcher.

In q restaurant on Blue Island avenue
says a reporter in the Chicago Journal,
l met an old German who had been a
soldier in Prussia and was full of stor-
les about the great generals of his
country. ''Moltke and Blumethal are
all right" he said, s'but old Uncle
Butcher, him that won the battle of
Waterloo, is the most interesting to
talk about He was a curious old fell
low, was Butcher. Do you remember
that story of what he said about the
officer accused of drinking? MOI You
must hear it 1t is fine. Well, one
fine day the Colonel of a regiment
went to Butcher to complain about an-
other Colonel, who, he said, was al
ways drunk. The great General open
ed drawer and produced notebook
from which he read about the gallant
conduct of the accused officer in GER
tain desperate engagements. Closing
the book with bang and throwing it
on the table, he looked the accuser
steadily in tie face and said: 4 wish
to God, sir, that you would get drunk,
too" ''Hold on, my friend" I said,
THAT story is told of President Lin
coin in reference to General Grant"
THAT may be SC" replied the German,
quietly, "but l can show you our Ger
man books, published more than half
q century ago, which tells that about
old man Butcher. But there is still a
better one about the Generals own
habits" and he told the following
yarn: 'Blucher, like many prominent
men of his time, was q reckless gamb-
Ter. The King, who was much attach
ed to him, had paid his debts over and
over again, but it was no use. The
old marshal had gone through his wife's
property as well as his own, and his
pay was always spent in advance.
Once he was dead broke and had to go
to the King. If | get you out of this
scrape will you promise me not to
gamble again?' said the King. Bluch-
er gave the promise and added, as the
King gave him 100000 thalers: 4 will
go straight home to my wife and set
tie half of this money upon her so that
l shall not be able to touch it. I will
then pay up all my debts and will
never touch q card any more Butcher
went home, gave $4,000 to his wife, and,
after dinner, saillied out to pay his
debts. At midnight Blucher's wife was
reused from her slumbers by one of
her husbands stag officers who had
been sent for $4,000 thaIers. Dear,
good man. said the lady, I knew he
would want it before morning, so I
have put up just that sum in package
for him. Here it is and tell him to be
careful about the cold air coming home,
and to muff1e up WELL The officer de-
parted only to return after a few hours
for the rest of the money, with the
same success. Butcher went home to
breakfast in the morning, having lost
every penny of the Kings gift at play.
Again be went to the King, told him
the whole story, and listened attentive
II to the reproaches until His Majesty
said: sUncle'-for ne always called
Butcher 'uncle'-I thought you gave
me your sacred word of honor that you
would not play cards for money gain.
No, sir, answered the Marshal, II did
not give my sacred word of honor
will you give it to me nows 'Ach,
mein Colt, that is a hard thing to ask
from Blucherp With considerable
grumbling the sacred promise was
given and old 'Yorwarts' stopped gamb-
ling"