Evening journal., 1915-11-08
New News Of Yesterday
When Gen. Butler Proved
His Friendship
By Holland

When Gen. Benjamin f. Butler went
to the front in the early days of the
Civil War he had with him, as a
member of his staff, Jonas French Of
Boston, to whom Governor Andrew
had refused commission as an officer
in a Massachusetts regiment, giving
as his reason the fact that French.
when a young man, had been Of the
mob which drove Wendell Phillips out
of fremont Temple in Boston.
A warm friendship was established
between Mr.. Butler and Mr.. French,
and it was maintained for some years
after the close Of the Civil War. Mr.
French became the leader of the Mas
sachusetts Democratic organization,
gained the friendship Of Grover Cleve-
land. and was also banker OF intiu-
once. For some reason he and Cen
eral Butler were estranged, but just
before Mr.. French's marriage General
Butler desiring a reconciliation, sent
to Mr.. French by a common friend, a
wedding present. This was a pure
white. perfectly cut diamond about
/ the size Of small filbert When the
common friend delivered the diamond
/ to Mr.. French he was understood by
Mr.. French to say that it was the gift
of an old-time friend, General James
H. Wilson.
Mr.. French wrote in acknowledge
ment Of the gift. intimating that while
accepting the gift, yet il seemed to
| him that IL was too valuable and too
splendid a present to be made even by
most intimate friend. Speedily he
received a letter from General Wilson
in which was written that there must
be some mistake since, although he
would gladly have done something of
that kind had il been in his power to
do so, nevertheless he did not make
this present.
Thereupon Mr.. French demanded an
explanation of the common friend,
who was astOunded to learn that Mr.
French had understood him to say
that the diamond was a wedding gift
from General Wilson. The diamond
was. he said, the gift of General But
Ter. Instantly Mr.. French betrayed
resentment and anger. demanding that
the common friend return the diamond
Ito General Butler, and to inform the
general that Mr.. French had refused
to accept the gift. A few days later
this common friend met General But
ller in the Office OF a bank and he gave
back the diamond. saying that MI.
French demanded that he return the
Gift and to add that he desired no rec
lonciliation with General Butler.
General Butler took the diamond,
looked meditatively at il for mo-
lment. and then said to the common
friend. Let us forget the incident"
Two or three years later Mr.. French
found himself in serious trouble, In
volving possible prosecution by the
Federal Government at Washington.
He was conscious OF no wrong-doing
and vet IL seemed as though he might
technically have violated a Federal
statute. When he was in great dis
ltress over the situation General But
Ter called upon him and said 20 him
you are in grievous trouble. You
need the counsel and assistance OF
YOUR friends. MY counsel and as
sistance are offered TO you freely
without anv remuneration and they
nav be of service to YOU"
Then a reconciliation was effectef
and General Buffers counsel and as.
sistanoe awaited in lifting the seriou:
embarrassment from Mr. French.
Copyright 1915 bv r. J. Edwards
All rights reseryed.)
Tomorrnw Mr.. Edwr~1r win tell o.