Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-30
Beau Hickman.
[From the Washington Chronicle


We often hear it said that the most pitiable
object in life is a lady whose charms of youth
and beauty have long since disappeared before
the SHOWS of fifty winters, dressing aud putting
on the airs of maiden of sixteen. Not So A
lar more pitiable one is man, the counterpart
OF the being just mentioned.
remnant, worn and weather-beaten, ofthose
good old days" when omnibuses rolled in lone
ly state up and down the thoroughfares of the
nations capital, and Webster, Clay, and Cal
houn were the principal stars in the COMPRESSION
al playbills, may be seen almost any fine day
leaning against one of the marble pillars of the
Metropolitan horel, gazing at the promenaders
that pass along Pennsylvania avenue in piano.
ramic review. Beau Hickman, as he leans thus
with one foot crossed over the other, bringing
their broad surfaces Of bunions out in bold re-
lief against the pavement, is dressed in suit of
well-worn black, carefully brushed; green and
purple neck scarf, whose thread of once shining
gilt has long since assumed a dismal rusty
black, hangs negligently down in a wilted way
as if it too remembered the day when it asso-
cated proudly with ga number hundred and
fourteen vest or ninety-siX coat. Many are
the stories told of this decayed man of fashion
his sponging record wing, if possible, with his
miraculous and unending wardrobe.
Upon one occasion he arrived at the springs
only to find another beau installed before him
Cogitating on the distressing fact, he CHANGED
to meet his rival, who called his servant and
Dulj lay OuL my QulQDef eight
vest, my number eleven coat, and my number
sixteen pants" Whereupon Beau called his
servant and said: "Sam, lay out my number A
hundred and fourteen vest, my number ninety
SIN coat, and my number hundred and eight
pants for me to drive in" His rival. over
whelmed by these high figures, left the next
day. Being Pennies on one occasion about
dinner time, he walked into "Gladsby's" (now
the Washington house,, put his cap in his
pocket, entered the dining room, eat his dinner
after an exaggerated American fashion, Joe
Gargery would have said he "bolted it'), went
to the hatrack and selected one of the best,
walked to the depot, and took the train, which
was about starting for Baltimore. When the
conductor came around he found Beau leaning
out of the window intently studying the land
scape. He gave him push to acquaint him
with his presence, but the landscape held him
entranced. He gave him another, harder
than the first; when Beau came in so suddenly
as to knock his new hat off. He then rot into
an angry dispute with the conductor saying,
1T was new hat, just bought and had the
ticket in the band" and demanded the money
Tor the hat, which the conductor finally paid
him, and thus tRe Beau obtained his dinner, a
ride to Baltimore, and money enough for new
hat by that fast growing requirement called
Check"
Strangers who visit Washington often evnce
a great desire for the "honor" of an introduc-
ton, when the Beau tells them "tbat it has
imitation or Introduction fee." If they ask him
how much, he will tell them, "Members of con-
gress and gentlemen of distinction fifty cents;
others quarter of dollar" That the fifty
cents IS handed him nine cases out of ten need
not tell person of the readers discriminating
character But although in the old times Beau
put high estimate uHon himself we find
nm IN these degenerate days knocking down
the pleasure of his acquaintance for ten cents.
Modest men, fearful of ''hurting his feelings"
invite him to the bar, where he says: 81 never
drink; I'll take cigar or the change"
During the war Washington possessed a place
OF amusement of the lower order, called Can
terbury Hall, situate.on LouisianaEavenu6. A
conhagration which was for once blessed razed
it to the ground. The fire occurred in the day
time, and many witnessed it, among them Beau
Hickman, who stood beseechinc some one to
save his trunk, which was in an adjoining build
ing. as it was all he had in the world. Some
klnd-hearted person rescued it from the fast
burning building, when Beau kneeled on the
pavement, unlocked his treasure, and displayed
TO highly admiring and discriminating assem-
0lage fashion plates from the year 1900 up to
the year of the fire. Whether the benevolent
individual considered himself repaid by the dis
play for the risk of his life do not know.
Not week since our city Masons entertained
the Providence (R. ~ commandery. Beau was
assldlous in his attentions aud explanations,
dilating at great length upon the changes that
have taken place in Washington since he first
knew 1t. AS they were leaving Beau asked one
oil them for little recompenSe. 'WhatP eX-
claimed the Mason; "here we have been every
where about the city, received the utmost atten-
ton, had everything we could possibly desire,
and you are the first person who has asked us
for cent" "But, sir" returned the Beau,
you forget that not many men have seen the
sights have witnessed; few have gazed upon
the patriot Lafayette when he visited this couu-
try. Have not told you more of what person.
ally concerned Daniel Webster and John G.
Calhoun, and those men that will not be forgot
ten until the end of time, than you could have
learned from historians, who only delve in let
tiers or hearsay for their information? | have
grown old in the service, and if you strangers,
who have profted by my information, cannot
give little something toward my support
think it is very hard" The Mason succumbed
to the flowers of Beau's rhetoric, and lett with
food for thought.