The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-03
ANECDOTES OF GOV. BoDwELL.
Stories OF His Kind Heart told by
Many Different Men.

To his friends the late Governor Bodwell
was well known as a most kind hearted and
charitable man. but his charity, like every
other trait Of his life, was exercised without
ostentation, and it was only as the stories
leaked out through the persons benefited
that the public knew Of the good deeds Of
the benefaetor. A gentleman told a PRESS
man the other day story which illustrates
the kindly care Governor Bodwell always
felt for those under him In his employ.
"Last winter" said the gentleman, 'Just
after the Inauguration Of the Governor, I
had business before the Legislature which
took me back and forth between Portland
and Augusta very frequently. On one Of
my trips to Augusta | occupied seat with a
young man. whom soon found out TO be a
native Of Southern France. He was total
stranger in America, having landed at Port
land from an English steamer that very day.
He had heard that at HallOwell were large
granite works, and, having an idea that he
should like the employment, was on his way
to find work. The English language he
| spoke very imperfeetly; but he was very
| intelligent, and | was so much pleased with
his appearance that felt an interest in him.
When he got of the train at Hallowell l gave
him my address, and told him 10 let me know
il at any time / could be of service 10 him In
the strange country. Several weeks passed,
and / had forgotten all about the
young Frenchman, when one day he
accosted me in the State House at
Augusta. He had got yssS..s mo snfd
with the Hallowell Granite company. But
the work was such that he was not learning
to be stOne-eutter very fast. He bad heard
that the head man Of the company was Gov
ernOr Bodwell; would l see the Governor
and ask him to have the boss at the Granite
Works put my caller In place where the
latter could learn the trade more quickly.
could not do otherwise than aecede TO the re-
quest. But was stranger to Governor
BOdwell, and did not expect that such a re-
quest from me would have any weight. /
told the young Frenchman so, and he depart
| ed. In those days, the first Of his adminls-
tratiOn, Governor B0dwelPs room at the
State House was overrun with callers, each
| with some claim TO press or favor TO ask.
New duties and unexpected perplexities kept
him very busy. It was some time before
got favorable opportunity to present the
request OF the young Frenchman for promo
| tion in the granite yards. When did, and
had told the story in the fewest werds posi-
BILE, for Governor Bodwell knew how TO
bring one to the point Of the story at once,
the Governor smiled and said:
ga Frenchman is he2 I'll look him up
''With this he turned to the next caller,
and l departed, without, will confess. a
great deal Of hope that the young French
mans fortunes would be likely to receive
much attention from a man so busy with so
many greater tIdn5dcLlOH5. DuL Il Qlu not
know Governor Bodwell we'll
"a few days ago met the young French
man, but did not think OF the Governors
promise until the young man spoke Of his
death and Of what good man he was.
Then he told me how one day the boss came
10 him In the granite yard, said that the
Governor had been inquiring about his work
and mad given direction that he should be
put in place where he could have every adj
vantage for learning the trade. That young
"a no QooH a q a OrQnlfQ
cutter, and Is becoming good citizen. And
he firmly believes that good share OF his
prosperity Is due TO the Governor, who never
forgot man because he was poor and
stranger"
Other instances Of Governor BodwelPs
regard for those around him, especially for
his employees. is told by writer in the Bos-
ton Transcript. Some years ago one Of Mr..
Bodwelps business associates furnished the
granite for the construction Of a large life
insurance building in one Of the Eastern
cities, and after its completion Mr.. Bodwell
was solicited to take out policy on his life
in the company. Mr.. Bodwell had policy
written for 10000, and instead Of making II
payable to his family he had 1t made pay
able, in the event Of his death, 10 sundry
friends among them several young men who
had been connected in different capacities
with his business OpcIdtlOnss anu eAphCooiJ
STIMULATED that such selection Of payees
should be considered a profound secret
Upon another occasion certain business
man, in the presence Of Mr.. Bodwell and
few other gentlemen, made the remark,
''why don't you get rid Of Mr.. -Y He
has been connected with you a good many
years, and you have always done all the
work and he has drawn his regular share Of
the profits" Mr.. Bodwell replied with much
warmth, ~ want you to know. sir, that -
was a whole-souled, open-hsted friend Of
mine when the road wasn't as smooth as IL Is
now, and, sir, as long as Joe Bodwel has
two dollars. that man shall have one Of them
if he wants it,"
Himself and another man being together
at one time. received news Of the wreck Of
vessel In which both were part owners. The
other man asked. will she be total loss ?"
Bodwell asked, WAS the crew saved?"