The Washington times., 1901-07-14
A PERAMBULAFING HOTEL.
The Butler" Was Once PatrOnized
by Many Prominent Men.
Owned by an Ancient COIored Man
Who Named 1t I'm Honor of the
Military Governor of New Orleans
"A Typical Push Cart Restaurant.

When Gen. Ben" Butler took posses
sion of New Orleans during the civil war
and proceeded TO change conditions
there generally, under his military gov
ernorship, he had no idea that he was
making himself direcl,v responsible for
the establishment in Wa hington of the
most unique hotel in the world. But for
General Butler there would be no "Hetet
Butler" and the Capital would never
have known one of its most charaeteris-
tic hostelries.
The Hotel Butler is not what might
be termed a first-class caravansary, nor
IS its name to be found within the two
covers OF the city directory. 1t has no
elevator In fact. it is sadly lacking in
the modern conveniences which go to
make up first-class hotel in these days
L, is equipped with no bar, no toilet
rooms. with their perfumed soap. 1t has
no Office. and there are no beIlboys TO
answer the tap Of the electric bell and
fetch the seductive cocktail, or the ever
necessary pitcher of ice water. There
are no rooms in the hotel, although it is
quite large. as such hotels go. and the
only employe is the grey-haired darkey
proprietor, who trundles his 'hUteI' -
about the city streets.
The Hotel Butler has four large IRON
shod wheels. They formerly belonged to
an ancient wagon. now long since past
its days of usefulness. There is a story
that statesmen and other great men who
have helped make the Nations Capital a
place wherein originate the most delight
full yarns ever spun, have partaSen of
the hospitality OF the Butler" and that
in days gone by, before the electric light
made it's appearance and sent a radiance.
bright as the light of day. broadcast, the
dignifed lawmakers and their friends
have not been too proud to refresh them
selves with clans and "deviled" crabs ut
the spacious counters of the odd hotel,
drawn up beside the curb in some Sc
cIuded nook near the Capitol.
There are other hotels in Washington
which pay no fee each year to the tax
gatherer But none has ever attained
the fame which for many years has be-
longed exclusively to the hostelry named
after the hero Of New Orleans. The
Hotel Butler stands alone among the
tramp hotels Of Washington, an aristO-
crat amidst plebeian imitators. II is true
that its stock in trade includes the
usual white sand cold clam" and the
ubiquitous sausage sandwich. Its fame
rests upon its name. and the foundation
is a firm one. Wherever it is seen, there
is to be found a relic of the old days of
the Capital, and an atmosphere of by
gone glory seems to surround it. 1t is
the largest of the sidewalk hotels seen
throughout the city If it were steam
boat it might be called a ''double-decker'
AS it is a clam and ''devied" crab stand
it can be described only by saying that
it is two stories in height, with a broad
platform, upon which are arranged on q
spctless cloth with a pink border a row
of vinegar and pepper sauce bottles.
The interior of the hotel is spacious,
and a most mysterious place. from which
emerge tempting doushnuts. and slices of
pie, and mugs of coffee, when the pennies
in payment are Forthcoming. The patron
age of the hotel has become less aristo
cratic than in former times during the
past few years. Statesmen are becoming
too dignified TO eat Chesapeake Bay oys-
ters from the sidewalk. At the same time.
the customers of the Butler" may be
safely said to be still the aristocrats of
their class. Negro workmen, laborers on
the streets, the men who repair the con-
crete pavements. and the darky carriers
of brick and mortar are now the pa
irons.
The proprietor is one of the most in
teresting characters to be seen in Wash
ington. In his palmy days he has known
almost all the famous men of the time,
and he can tell interesting stories when
he wishes. He is now an old man.
When General Butler made his cele-
brated entrance into New Orleans there
was a certain darky loafing about the
wharves and levees, who Immediately
made the general his hero. When after
the war he came TO Washington and went
into the sidewalk lunchroom> business on
his own account, he named his hotel the
Butler" a fresh coat of paint replaces
the letters on the side of the cart with