General Benjamin F. Butler built a house in Washington on the same plans as his home in Lowell, Mass., and his studies were furnished in exactly the same way. He and his secretary, M. W. Clancy, afterward City Clerk of Washington for many years, were constantly traveling between the two places.
One day a senator called upon General Butler in Lowell and the next day in Washington to find him and his secretary engaged upon the same work that had occupied them in Massachusetts.
“Heavens, Clancy, don’t you ever stop?”
“No,” interposed General Butler,
“‘Satan finds some michief still
For idle hands to do.’”
Clancy arose and bowed, saying:
“General, I never was sure until now what my employer was. I had heard the rumor, but I always discredited it.”
