The Washington times., 1902-07-08
Lewis BUTLER A
DISAPPOINTED MAN
Colored Barber Went to See
King Edward.
CARRIED LOCK OF HAIR
Waited on the King When He Was the
Prince of Wales and Preserved
Curly Lock-Went to London to See
Kings Coronation.

| Lewis Butler Is q very much disap-
pointed man. He is the colored barber
who cut the hair of the present King ot
England during the latter's visit to
] America In 1850. He went to England
about three weeks ago to attend the cor
onation of King Edward. Butler re
turned 10 Washington a few days ago,
ponement OF the festivities.
Butler is over eighty years old, and
has served on the Potomac River steam
boats as a barber for over fifty years.
Ee is still hale and hearty. He thinks
the transatlantic trip benefited him
very much.
When asked to recount his experience
while in the foreign country he produced
copy of the London Daily Chronicle, -
of June IS, which contained the follow
ing article about him.
The postporement OF the corona
tion disappointed many interesting Wis
itors from remote corners of the world,
but none more so than Lewis Butler, a
colored hairdresser of Washington.
"Butler Is an old man OF eighty-two,
but is strong and active. and with an
honest, simple manner that begets conf
dence IN his story. He came to London
to see the coronation. with an interest
Ing trophy. IN the shape of tiny lock
Of hair which he cut from the Kings
head when his majesty was the Prince
OF Wales.
Invited Into Shop.
THE prince was visiting America at
the time, some forty-odd years ago, and
the mail steamer Powhatan was COM
missioned to convey his royal high
ness from Quiet Creek to Washington.
Butler was hairdresser on the steam
er, and was Informed that his royal
highness would require his services. He
then. according to the story he told to
Daily Chronicle representative yes
terday, put his cabinet In order and
decorated one of the chairs for the use
appeared Butler, somewhat agitated,
said:
"a invite you to enter my shop, Mr..
Prince Of Wales
"A did not know what else 10 say he
explained. The prince had his hair cut
and his head shampooed. and Butler pre-
served n tiny lock OF his hair, which he
carried about in small phial.
When leaving the cabin his royal
highness made some Iocular remark
about the hair being a different color
when they met again. Butler thought
he would try to see his royal customer
L. L., L
gro. but he had saved enough money to
pay his fare from Washington to Lon
don.
He begins today his return journey,
a very much disappointed man. but he
has been greatly impressed with the
magnitude of London and what he has
seen OF England. which he declares to
be the finest country In the world"
Born in Prince George County.
Butler is living at present at 901 E |
Street southwest. He says he doesn't |
kpow whether he will resume his vo-
cation as steamboat barber or settle |
down to a retired life OF ease and en-
joyment. He was born In Prince George |
county. Maryland, in 1920 James Mon
roe was then President, and since that |
time twenty-five chief executives have |
sat in the White House. Butler served |
two years on n steamboat before the
civil war, the Baltimore, which with
several other boats. was seized by the
Government and commissioned as ord
nance vessels, the crews being com
PEELED 10 enlist. AS soon as his two
years war service had expired. Butler
resumed his duties as barber.
4 curious thing in connection with
Buffers long career on the water is
that 1t has never been rnarred by a
single hairb-eadth escape or narrowing
experience. In fact, his life has been
except :or his having cut the
hair of the Prince of Wales.
Has Never Been Married.
Butler has never been married. There
was time in his life, he says. when
ne once thought OF love and wedlock.
out that was so long ago that he has
almost forgotten 1t.
Butler declares he is again going IN
If he lives, to see the King.
"A promised him when A. shaved
him." he says, that A would see him
'gain sometime. an A'ne goin' to, ii A.
)nly lives"