The National tribune., 1893-01-26
RECOLLECTlONS OF BUTLER

RECOLLECTIONS OF BUTLER
Gen. Buffers Wit and Loyalty to His
Friends-His Life on His Yacht.
Baltimore SUM-
Nr. W. A. Lewis, Of Baltimore, said yester-
day:
II became closely and intimately acquaint-
ed with Gen. Butler when he ran for Governor
of Massachusetts, in 1892 That he had for
many years cherished an ambition to be Gov
ernor of Massachusetts learned from his own
lips during the campaign. That he hoped to be
President of the United States he mphatically
denied He knew he was too unpopular with
the South to stand any chance of Preside tial
nomination. His frankness regarding himself
was pleasing characteristic He knew every
fault he possessed. He also knew his virtues.
He believed his good qualities outnumbered
his bad ones.
al am good friend, but devlish bad
enemy he was wont to say. Then he would
slyly say, with singular smile, i believe
you've heard me make that remark?' Then,
again. he would say, as he Rolled the unlghted
cigar in his mouth and clasped his hands back
of his head and stretched out his legs, Why is
it people don't take as much pains to under
stand me as they do to know others? Pm the
most misn nderstood man in America-the most
hated, the most misj judged, the most censured.
the most unhappy (sometimes) on that nc.
T..
the time, but you know | can't be sat on, and
somehow people think the only way to fight me
is to abuse me- rdicule MY looks and condemn
my every motive Then he would shake his
head and fall into reyerie.
Son his clectioneering trip he was the life
of the party. He made four or five, and some
times six and seven speeches daily, of greater or
less length, and when the day was ended he
became like boy with his jest, his joke, his
story, and his sde-shakihg laughter. He was
very fond of children, and they used to climb
up on the car occasionally. He would call
them in ask them some questions, give them
dime or so, laugh at their cute replies, and
then dismiss them. Once, when we were at
Springfield bevy of children climbed into
the car. The General called them inside, and
asked one little sunny haired girl il she knew
who he was? You're Gen. Butler was her
prompt reply. How do you know I'm Gen.
Butler?' he inquired intorestedly. Because
you're cockeyed.' was the brave answer. And
the General laid back in his chair ADD laughed
until the tears ran down his face. When he
became composed, he said: That's fame for
you. That's individual eminence. Even the
rising generation know of my might! Then
he roared again. That little girl received
silver dollar and a kiss.
"Gen. Butler was at his happiest aboard his
yacht, the America. His skipper was Capt.
James Read, old Boston pilot, sailing
master of skill, and a man of whom the Gen.
eral was especially fond. On the yacht Butler
was az happy as child, full of anecdote, fond
of laughing over the discontinue of his polit-
ical enemies and his legal opponents, always
delighted if he could have party of young
ladies and gentlemen about him, and the per-
soniication of gallantry and courtliness He
took especial delight in running his yacht be-
fore or against q gale--it made no difference.
Clad in a suit of oilskins he would take a seat
n,.I ,I.n.,f yatt1H hrAa 1Y
over him, and drench everything, he would
shout with the merriment of child. He had
his larder and wine box always stocked with
the very best, and living on the America was
luxurious. On these expeditions he would
positively refuse to receive those who came
aboard to ply him with political or legal ques-
tons, and with An utter abandon of all business
matters, he wonld interest himself closely in
whatever interested his companions, discussing
social matters with his lady guests, and sports
and amusements with his male associates.
Gen. Butler was fond of good eating and drink
ing, but he was never a man OF licentious hab-
its, and there was nothing he despised in an
other man more than that.
Mrs. Butler, who. before her marriage, was
Sarah Hildreth. the actress, died of a cancer
in the face. The Generals devotion to her
was touching. Since her decease he has never
seemed altogether the same. Mrs. Butler was
q very handsome woman. She didn't marry
the General for his beauty, but she admired
him rst for his brains, and loved him later for
his goodness and kindness of heart.
"Nothing that was funny or ludicrous ever
escaped Gen. Butler. His wit was as clear rs
his satire was cutting. Once, after some of his
characteristic badinage with a lady, she ex-
claimed: oh, General, what delicious lover
you must have been; you say nice things SO
sweetly, and you can smile the edge OF the
keenest thrust When reference was made to
some of his famous remarks he would lmme-
diately explain how that remark happened to
be made, saying: Il want you to know the cir
cumstances under which said that, and then
you will appreciate it more
"Gen. Butler was revereptial, bnt not pious.
He dislked taking cases he felt he couldn't win.
He WAS very jealous of his success. All the
eccentrlcities he possessed-such AS chewing on
the stump of cigar in open court, pulling and
blowing during the examination OF Witnesses
strding up and down in front of the jury, wear
ing boutonieres all occasions, and making q
great stew when he entered any assembly-all
these were originally done for effect, but as he
aged they became part of his nature.
"Gen. Butler was charitable and ut the same
time infiexible in the matter of trifes. If he
liked you he would do anything for you and
fight tenaciously for you if other people were
trying to down you. Let anybody get down
| on you, then he was your friend. and once your
friend Gf you never deceived him) he was
your friend forever. But you betrayed him
he would smile grimly and say: There's pot
boiling for -. He will live to regret tho day
he became my enemy
"Gen. Butler was far from being the decrepit
man he appeared In having his coored attend
ant with him all the time. He was very heavy,
and one of his ankles was weak from an old
accident during the war, and he didn't dare
trust himself to do much walking without an
attendant upon whose arm he could lean to take
the weight off that ankle. But for q man who
had been handled as roughly as he had Gen.
Butler was OF q very vigorous nature, and his
mercury Of life was warmed up into iiigh place
In the glass Of time by those almost inaud,bls
chuckles he would give hundred times a day,
when he would squint and wink and look-no
one could tell where-but he would, neverthe'
less. be dead onto you if you tried to monkey
with him, or imagined you could boat tho
sleeping lion."
Take HOOPS and only HOoD's. because HOODS