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Butterbur is rather a ridiculous character with a butterbrain
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How dare you say that about the character who I am, according to the BD personality test, most like, Diamond! [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
Actually, I can't say that I really noticed the incongruity that much before. I just thought of Butterbur as a kindly, but rather bumbling, barman. His name certainly goes with that characterisation.
But I can see what you mean about the contrast between his portrayal to the reader and Gandalf's description of him. I think that JRRT wanted to depict him as a "comfortable" character, while at the same time showing us that here was someone that Gandalf trusted (given that he entrusted Butterbur with the letter for Frodo).
I can nevertheless imagine that he did have a harder and shrewder side to him. He would have needed it, given some of the unsavoury types that seem to have frequented the Prancing Pony. It was, after all, a resting place for travellers from all over. We just don't see that side of him, since he has to appear safe and unthreatening to the Hobbits (unlike Strider, of course, when we first meet him).
Edit: Actually, having seen the quote that Lily has given, Gandalf's description doesn't seem too much at variance with the Butterbur that we meet. He is wise, not in words (or in memory obviously), but in dealing with people on his "home ground", ie the Prancing Pony. Gandalf therefore trusted him as someone who could look after the Hobbits in that environment.
[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]