902 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters . 
took the form of individual pamphlets, and of separates from 
the transactions of learned societies. He also issued scores of 
leaflets hearing upon special occasions; many of these were 
poems of much merit—for although without pretense in this 
art, he was nevertheless a facile and clever versifier. He wrote 
much for Lippincotfs Magazine, Bihliotfieqa Sacra, the Maga- 
zine of American History and the American Historical Re¬ 
view. To the London Notes and Queries, an antiquaiian jour¬ 
nal quite after his own heart, he in some years contributed 
more frequently than any other correspondent. From the 
founding of the Hew York Nation (1865) until shortly before 
his death he was a constant and much valued contributor, and 
for that journal reviewed many important books, especially in 
the fields of western history and of world travel; his articles 
appearing in its columns numbered! over two hundred. Dr. 
Butler’s somewhat peculiar form of literary expression has been 
aptly characterized in an appreciative editorial in the Nation: 
“His saturation with the language of Scripture, of Shake¬ 
speare and of the Greek authors oozed up in his writings, giv¬ 
ing a characteristic quaintness to his style; sometimes, no 
doubt, too redundantly.” 7 
His contributions were frequently seen, either originally or 
reproduced, in the columns of the Madison press. This fact, 
added to a well-grounded reputation for general scholarship, as 
well as for the possession of a surprisingly varied fund of un¬ 
usual knowledge—a reputation that grew with his advancing 
years—resulted in Dr. Butler’s name being probably more of¬ 
ten mentioned by all classes of our people than that of any 
other of our local celebrities. i 
Although retiring from the pulpit over a half-century before 
his death, he was until a few years ago in frequent demand 
throughout the Horthwest as a supply preacher, almost annual¬ 
ly served as chaplain at university commencements and other 
public occasions in Madison, and was a legislative chaplain up 
to his ninetieth birthday. Upon the afternoon of that anniver¬ 
sary, the members of the state senate of Wisconsin honored 
i Nation, November SO, 190o, pp. 438, 439. 
