Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-10-20
SCAR FOR A TEXT.
An Incident In the Boyhood of Major
Butterworth.


Commissioner of Patents Butter
worth carries long scar on the first
finger of his left hand which recalls
an interesting story of his juvenile
career. Some years before the wan
young Ben Butterworth, the son of
good Quaker, who was an uncom-
promising abolitionist, was going
to school in southern Ohio. That
part of Ohio was one of the hottest
battlefields for the abolition of hui
man slavery. While there were no
slaves there, it was only necessary
to go across the southern border to
find plenty of them in Kentucky and
Virginia. The prevailing sentiment
was averse to the doctrines of the
abolitionists, and the father of Ben
Butterworth was looked upon as
dangerous element in the communi-
ty, standing up as he did on all oc-
casions in condemnation of the in
stitution Of slavery. He was one of
those sturdy Quakers who adhered
to the "thee'' and chou of the pa
triarchs as forms of speech and
dressed himself and family in the
simple garb of the sect to which he
belonged.
| While it is not likely that little
Ben Butterworth at the tender age
| of 10 had any very pronounced
views on the question of slavery, he
came in for mis- full share of ostra-
cism and social persecution that his
fathers doctrines stirred up.
| 1t happened that one day in school
young Ben in 81 thoughtless moment
Of juvenile restlessness placed his
hand on the back of the seat imme-
diately in front of him. The occu-
pant of that seat had no use for
"nigger lover, as the abolitionists
were dubbed in that days and he
gave sweeping dash with his jack
knife in Ben's direction, cutting a
long cash, which is father to the
scar the commissioner now bears.
Young Ben gave such yell as a
boy of his age and healthy lungs
might be expected to emit under the
circumstances, but while the teach
er and scholars were eager to see
what the trouble was, there was lit
tie evidence that it was generally
condemned. The little abolitionist
had got what he deserved in the
opinion of many, and SO strong was
the feeling against him the teacher
declined to punish the boy who
made use of his jackknife.
Years after that incident found
Ben Butterworth and the boy who
had cut him working side by side
in politics, both stanch Republicans,
the user of the jackknife as uncom-
promisingly opposed to the institu-
ton of slavery as was the victim of
its sharp blade. The incident of the
cutting was recalled.
DO you know" said Mr.. Butter
worth to his youthful foe, but now
friend, latter you cut me I made up
my mind when l grew up would
lick you wonder if 1 ought to do
it,
81 wouldn't be surprised if you
could do it, Ben, replied his friend,
who was several years his senior.
But the two men made the Incl
dent a subject for pointing moral
and for liberation in regard to the
views of others They both conclud-
ed that most. of the differences of
political opinion are the results of
different training and different de-
grees Of information and moral per-
ception. Only time could determine
who was right. So the boys who
were enemies, as men became
friends, and there are no better
friends than shey today Washing
ton Star.
IN Not Ra Imnocod IIoor