AN ENTERPRISING NEGRO.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2750, 16 January 1882, Page 2

AN ENTERPRISING NEGRO.

The story of S. A. Butler, as given in the “ Southern Workman;” is interesting and instructive. Ho is a negro, reared in the United States, being the son of a preacher at Washington. He was edueated in Paris, and became master of the French, German, and' Italian languages. Attracting Anson Burlingani’s attention, he appointed,him his private secretary when appointed Minister to China. ’ Butler soon left the. service of the Embasßy,and held positions in one of the leading American trading houses,and later with the Shanghai Navigation Company. Finally the steamers of the Company were bought by a number of Chinese merchants, who i took Butler into their service and gave him full authority to reorganize the . steam service as ho thought best. Butler fully vindicated the confidence reposed in him and managed the affairs of the company so judiciously that at the end of two years it gained a net profit of 1,000,000 dollars, with every indication of heavy dividends in the future. The Company now owns 36 steamers, and is becoming a formidable rival of European steamer owners, with whom is destined to arise a vigorous struggle for supremacy on the Pacific. Butler is the moving spirit in all the enterprise of the present Company. ; -