Year: 1879

THE DUTCHER HOME.


NOW Much the Building Cost. and


Who Paid For 1t.


MEssRs. EDITORS "A communication
in your issue OF the 10Th inst, from
Mr.. George M. butcher, requesting
me to give a statement of all the
money given by the citizens OF Will
mington towards the building of the
butcher Home, and other matters con-
nected with the great revival of 1877,
'7S, has been noticed, and in reply |
will state that the entire amount Of
money expended on the butcher Home
was III ,529.74, OF which $866.02 was
from the citizens of Wilmington and
$663.72 from Geo. M. butcher. This,
however, cannot be taken as the entire
cost of the property, as there is a mort
gage of 5000 now remaining on the
land. Also there were favors shown
me by gratuitous work and by the
merchants, manufacturers and me-
chanics, with whom dealt, both in
the contraction and settlement Of an
obligation, that enabled me to make
the money 90 much farther than it
would otherwise have done, and ! will
state that Mr.. butcher, after NOV
ing into the house, erected the back
building, put up the fence around his
house, and the board walk, at con-
siderable expense to him, of which |
have no account.


1t must not be forgotten by the peo.
pie Of Wilmington and elsewhere that
there was also band of noble women
that helped to make this enterprise a
success, who through the heat OF the
midsummer sun toiled up the long
Eighth street hill, with their baskets of
provisions to feed those who were gra-
tuitously laboring on the home. By
this means number oftramps were al.
so fed and kept at work. will mention
here that there was another band of
noble ladies that la abored to help furnish
the home, and make it comfortable.
Would it be worth while after making
this statement, for me to take up your
time by giving a history of the causes or
reasons that induced Mr.. butcher to re-
main here during the revival, or that
ed to his final removal and acceptance
of the home.


Is there not enough in the self-sacri-
ficing spirit above referred to, to give
the public the keyto the whole question.
Let Inc say however that in view of the
hue and cry of mad dog that is now be
ing raised, and the unjust express
sions that are coming from many lils,
that we must be fair, and justice re-
quires me to say, that Mr.. butcher
never forced himself upon us. On the
contrary, he would have gone upon
several occasions but for the universal
request of the friends of temperance
that were laboring with him. After
the home project was underway, and
during the time that the jealousy of
Nelson J. Lee and others created such
an opposition, he requested that the
few dollars raised for the purpose be
given to him and the project abandon
ed. The building of the home was no
suggestion of his, and he would willing
ly have accepted and been thankful
for some humble cottage in the suburbs.
The fact is Mr.. butcher does not owe
the people of Wilmington any money,
he has retured full equivalent in
labor for all the money he received.-
We must not forget that the money be
spent on the butcher home was earned
insBrtish America during the great re-
vival there.


Let us also bear in mind this fact
that the entire amount of money spent
by the people of Wilmington on Mr..
butcher during revival services a-tipg
(of and on say) eighteen months, ,wouli
not reach $1,000. Now in view of this
fact. | hope we will never hear the
money that Mr.. butcher has received
again mentioned as subject of exulta-
tion and envy; especially when we look
upon the other side of this balance
sheet. Many of you remember the
statement of merchant of this city OF
the thousands Of dollars saved by
himself alone. How many more such
cases there are it would take too long tG
narrate; suffice it to say that no later
than few days since a worthy and
respected manufacturer of our city
gratuitously informed me that he had
experienced more satisfaction with his
men in the last year and a half than
during any other period of his history.
He then went on to mention their names
saying this one wasa drunkard, and
he has remained sober industrious man
even since he signed the pledge, and
has saved money both for me, and him.
self, and so he went through the list.


Now friends let justice be done and
let other employees and manufacturers
give their experience so that we may
know whether the cause of temperance
in this city has been failure or not
from monied stand point, which seems
to be the only way the question is to
bp viewed. II we were to take the hap
piness of the men and their families
into consideration as well as their souls,
it would occupy more space than 1t
would he proper for me to ask for at
the present time. A little heartfelt
reflection on the part of the people, and
the exercise of little gratitude to the
giver of all good, might help us lit
tie in the present emergency, and make
us better men and women. Hoping
that all things will work together for
good. | remain, Yours Truly,


GEO. W. WELLS.


Sheriff sales.


Sheriff PYLE adyertises to sell the fol.