The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
cARLYLE,s BENEFACToR.
An American Credited with Aiding
Him at an 0pportune Time.

New York Letter in Philadelphia Press.
Since the death of Charles Butler some
very interesting facts concerning his life
have come to the ears of his friends which
show that, although in his ninety-five years
of active life, for he was active even in
early boyhood, there were experiences quite
as romantic and interesting which he kept
entirely to himself as were some OF the
other incidents of which the public knew.
His correspondence, carried on for more
than seventy years with almost all of the
influential men of the EngliSn-sp ealxing
world would il his heirs were to permit II
to be published, furnish volume as at
tractive as any romance An examination
of his papers makes it possible to explain
a mystery which gave the literary men OF
Great Britain and of the United States
cause for much comment during the life OF
Thomas Carlyle.
Some twenty years ago one of the most
distinguished of American litterateurs, hav-
ing MANNED for n summer excursion to
Great Britain, was asked by Mr.. Butler II
he would not like to take a letter to Car
lyle from him. the writer, OF course, was
rejoiced at the opportunity to meet Carlyle,
although he was surprised to know that Mr..
Butler was on such terms of intimacy Win
Carlyle as to justify him in giving letter
of introduction to a friend.
The morning after this writer arrived in
London he called at Carlyle's house. Car
lyle was not at home, and the letter was
left for him. Next day before breakfast the
American was surprised and delighted to
receive word at his hotel that Mr.. Carlyle
was below and desired to see him. He went
Immediately and spent a pleasant half hour
with Carlyle and afterward called upon him
and was received very cordially.
He wondered why Carlyle, who had the
reputation of being Indifferent to most Wis
itors and intolerant of some, should have
taken the trouble to call upon him so soon
and afterward should be so agreeable when
the call was returned.
He afterward learned that Carlyle with
most Americans WAS as cordial as ii was
possible for him to be, and with some was
full of a sort of rough genality and sar-
donic humor of which he was the master.
He said sharp things, but he did not say
them TO the Americans or of their famous
men. He spoke rather, when speaking cauS-
tically, of American political institutions.
This was a mystery which no Englishman
ever was able to fathom, and 1t is not until
to-day that possible explanation of II has
been offered. That explanation is this; In
Carlye's younger days. when he was des-
perately poor, almost pinched with poverty.
Just after he went to London, he unexpect-
eddy received tokens of friendship and adj
miration which were something more than
mere words of sympathy. They were SUBJ
stantial they were of such a nature as 10
relieve his necessities.
Money came to him from an American,
and that American was Charles Butler.
Carlyle for that act of kindness, seems al
WAYS to have regarded Americans as in
some way associated with Mr.. Butler.
his death some allusion was made to Mr..
Butler of that early sympathy which ne
had for CARLYLE, and he declined TO speak
of the subject, declined in such manner as
led to the Inference that he did not care,
at least while alive, to have 1t known Inat
IL was his purse that carried Carlyle over
a time of great desperation.