Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-13
WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER DEAD.
Eminent Lawyer and Author OF
isNothinE to Wears

' ~,
most lawyers of his time and an autnor
of note died suddenly of acute gastritls
at his home, Round Oak, IN Z onkeI s.
last night. He was the son of #BenJa1n Z,
Franklin Butler, one of the leaders OF t,ie
bar Of the State Of New York during the
early part of this century, and Harriet
Allen, who was related to William How
ard Allen. for whom Mr.. Butler was
named.
He was born in Albany in 1873 and was
educated at the College of the City OF
New Y orll. For two years after ne lett
college he travelled in Europe and re-
ceived the inspiration to write for maya
zines and other periodicals. On MS re-
turn he studied law in his fathers ONCE
and became a. successful practitioner:
He devoted his leisure to writing ana
there are few topics of social, historical.
religious or humorous nature that he did.
not touch upon.
In November, 1857, there appeared In.
Harper's Magazine an anonymous poem;
entitled Nothing to Wear. 1t became
very popular, and 1t twas not until seve-
raj years after it's appearance that the
author made known his identity to DIS
pute the claim OF an imposter. This is
an extract:
Miss Flora NcFlimsey, of Madison Square
Has made three separate journeys to
Paris.
And her father assures me each time she
was there
That she and her friend, Mrs Harris.
Spent six consecutive weeks without
stopping
In one continuous round Of shopping.
At all hours of the day and in all sorts
of weather;
For all manner of things that a woman
can put
On the crown of her head or the sole OF
her foot;
Or wrap round her shoulders, or fit round
Or that can be sewed on or pinned on, or
laced:
Or tied with a string or stitched on with
bow,
In front or behind, above or below;
For bonnets, mantellas, capes, collars,
and shawls;
Dresses for breakfasts. and dinners and
balls;
Dresses to sit in, and stand in, and walk
in;
Dresses to dance in, to f1irt in, and talk
Dresses in which to do nothing at all;
Dresses for winter, spring, summer and
fall
ALI Of them different in color and shape;
Silk, muslin, and lace, velvet, satin, and
crepe;
Brocade and broadcloth. and other mate
Quite as expensive and much more ethe-
In short, for all things that could ever
be thought of
Or milliner, modste, or tradesman be
bought of:
And yet, though scarce three months
have passed since the day
This merchandise went on twelve carts
up Broadway,
This same Miss N1cF'limsey, Of Madison
Square,
The last time we met was in utter de-
spair
Because she had nothing whatever to
wear.
Mr.. Butler also write General Aver
camille life; THE Bible by ITSELF an
address delivered before the New York
Bible Society; Martin Van Buren, a
biographical sketch; Lawyer and
Client" a disquisition on their relations,
and a volume Of poems. In prose fiction
h published anonymously in 1876 Mrs.
I.in,ber's Raffle," and ten years later
"fOlS DOiIeSt!CuS, d STORY illustrating
Va 'lous rIases of the labor uues:ioa.
cIr. Butler was admitted TO the har in
1886 and became a member Of the law
firm of Butler, Stillman s. Hubbard
When the firm vas changed to Butler,
hoffman. Sol!ne, & Mynders, Mr.. Butler
acted as its head and was one of the
most successful admiralty lawyers in the
country. In 1895 Mr.. Butler celebrated
the fiftieth anniversary of his admission
to the bar. A dinner was given in his
honor at the Lawyers Club, at which the
leading members of the bar were present
On that occasion it was decided to pre-
sent to Mr.. Butler a silver service to
commemorate his fifty years of duty, and
a few months later the gift was sent
with congratulatory letter signed by
such lawyers as Joseph Larocque, Simon
Sterne, John e. Parsons. James C. Car
ter, Judge Noah Davis, Benjamin T.
Tracy, and Robert D. Benedict.
In 1850 Mr.. Butler married Miss Mar
shall, sister of the famous old COM
mander of the Marshall Line of clipper
ships. Two years ago they celebrated
their golden wedding at their home in
Yonkers. Two daughters and two sons,
William Allen Butler, Jr., lawyer, and
a younger son, Arthur who was gradu-
ated from Princeton University in 1892,
survive him.
PENSIONS FOR CONFEDERATEs.
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