Year: 1877

how They met.


From tho Alta California.


During the war and the occupa-
ton of New Orleans by General But
Ter, few can fail to remember the ia
nous order relating to the conduct
of females on the street, by which
the General gained, to say the least,
a worldwide notoriety, and for which
he has been more censured than COM
mendcd.


1t was bright and sunny day,
when the citizens were getting more
reconclled to the unfortunate posi-
ton in which the fortune of war had
placed them, that company Of sol
diers, with arms reversed and mufn
ed drums, were passing through one
ofthc principal streets Of the city,
hearing to his grave dead comrade
who had been an especial tavorite
among them. The sound of the
drum, though familiar, never failed
to bring to window and to balcony
the inmates of the houses it passed.
While the funeral procession was
moving along, and at a moment when
there was lull IN the music, a loud,
jeering, and discordant laugh was
heard emanating troma female figure
in one Of the balconies of the nearest
house. Its meaning was but too
easily understood, and it was with
some difficulty the soldiers were re-
strained from rushing into the bull
ding and wreaking their vengeance
on the inmates. News OF the occur
renee was brought to General Butler
at headquarters. In ten minutes at
ter file Of soldiers were seen ap-
preaching the house, entering, aud
soou emerging, bring with them the
supposed culprlt, which proved to be
a fair rebel, the wife of distinguish
ed lawyer, and now well-known
and highly respected citizen of the
First Ward in this city. General
Butler was greatly excitcd,and when
the fair lady was brought into his
presence her defiant air and bold as
sertion of her right to laugh when
and where she pleased served only
to inflame his anger. A brief hear
ing was had, and resulted to the as
constituent and terror of the culprit,
in a sentence of immediate removal
and close confinement.


Surprised and terrified at the un-
expected result, for the first time a
shadow of regret and submission
was evinced by the condemned. In
vain she appealed for time to say
adieu to her family and friends; in
vain did she declare that the laugh
ter was accidental and in no way IN
tended as disrespectful manifesto.
ton toward the dead. General
Butler was as unimpressable as iron,
and before night closed upon the
city the lady was on her way, unat-
tended except by a military guard,
to the de>olate home provided for
her, and in which many tedious
month was passed before she was re
leased.


Years went by-the war was at
an end-by degrees the animosities
it had created had to great extent
died out or been forgotten, when
some few winters since, At party
given by Cabinet officer, and which
was, in tact, a perfect jam, General
Butler and the lady reterredto found
themselves together under the same
roof for the first time since the oc-
currence we have related. 1t was
at the very height Of the crush that
the General, in endeavoring to make
his way out of the supper-room, was
made painfully aware of the incon-
venicnce attending his somewhat un-
usual corpulence. Just as he was
crowding his rotund figure through
the door a gentleman slid by him
having on his arm a lady, who, though
no longer young, still retained many
vestiges of former beauty, and was
in figure inclined to embonpoint.-
Her escort, who had passed the Gen.
eral with some difficulty, found it
impossible to draw his companion
after him farther than the doorway
cncounteriDg the burly form of Cen
eral B. A deadlock was the conse
queuce, and the two parties found
themselves face to face, and IN much
closer contact than seemed desirable
on the part Of the lady at least. A
moments glance, a hurrid recogni.
ton, an exclamation Of surprise and
perhaps disgust OH the part OF the
lady, a look Of embarrassment on
his countenance, and the General
recognized in the one with whom he
was in such close contact his former
prisoner, and, as he did not doubt,
one of his bitterest enemies. Afraid
to meet what he supposed would be
the fierce aud scorntul look Of the
lady, he gazcd wildly all around her
muttering:


"I'll try and let you pass, madam" +"
was surprised by the lady replying:


"You are more considerate now,
General B., than you were when we
last met, and when, despite the ur
gent pressure brought upon you to
obtain my pardon, YOU held me a far
more blaIneless and unwilling pris
oner than am even now"


"Madam," said the General, shad