The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-09-17

THRELlNG DALEY
olas; and when the month was up ono
more, passed over the street and stoppe'
at the Metropolitan for thirty days.
When was mustered out OF the yolun
teer service III Arkansas, OF the close Q
the war, h ID on my staff several officer
who had never been In Washington, and
as these gentlemen wished to see tn
National Capital, l invited them to 90 OF
with me. We had hardly arrived ant
pu. up ut the Nstional Hotel, when Beal
Hickman paid usa visit aud l Introduce
him, to, the staff. For a wonder, Beal
was In funds, and be -
a. TREATED us MAGNlFIeESTLY. ~.
He invited oil hands repeatedly to
drink, and set out the cigars OF the bes
and most costly brands. Next day saw
Beau in the corner Of the hall Of the hote
In close conversation with Col. Bowen,
big.hearted and genuine Michigander
and, in o few moments, lie went down int
his breeches pocket, and, hauling out his
wallet, handed something TO Beau. In :
day or two 1 found Beau had borrowed
from nearly all my officers, and, feeling
that was in measure responsible,
took the old beat to task, and remonstra-
ted with him for his conduct. He was
very humble, but said, "What can ont
do? One, you know, must live like agen
tleman, and to do It requires money"
When the officers found out the real
character Of the man, they had .. hearty
laugh at each other, and freely iorgave
Beau, for they had just been mustered oul
and paid of, and had come to Washing
ton to spend their three months extra
pay, and did not regret the little OF II
Beau had got. 2 E-
Hickman was fond OF picking up new
acquaintance; and one evening, at Wash
ington, while in the Metropolitan Hotel
he asked Gen. Burbridge, who was talk
ing to me, to point out TO him some
Liberal" KESTucK1ANs.
Burbridge pointed to Col. Scott, a grave
and ferce.lookirg man, and said, "He Will
help you, Beau; he Is good fellow"
Hickman soon managed to engage the
Colonel, In his adroit way, In casual con.
versation, and, oil, course, ended byasking
him for q dollar. Scott, as was expected,
Beau sharply, and scolded him
for begging In such o manner. Beau got
away speedily, and, coming back to Bur-
bridge, said, "He is no gentleman; he has
insulted me-"
"Who has p inquired Burbridge.
"That man with the big black beard"
replied Beau. pointing to Col. Scott.
"My God !" cried Burbridge, "you are
q dead man, Hickman; that Is not the
man I sent you to; thatis Col. Scott,
THE DuELIsT AND DESPERATE.
he will kill you II you have given him
the slightest ofiensc.' Beau was evident.
ly q coward, for he turned white as q
sheet, and gotout OF the hotetin hurry.
Col Scott roomed with me, and, not
wlthstanding his great practical beard
and fierce looks, was one OF the gentlest
and most amiabie of men. Told him Of
the trick Burbridge had played on Beau,
and Scott, entering into. the zest Of the
Joke, said he would scare Beau out OF the
hotel, to the infinite relief OF the guests
and landlord. Next day Burbridge met
Beau on the street, and said to him, "look
out, Beau, Col. Scott Is after you"
IT WAS VERY FUNNY
to observe Beau, night alter night, come
to the door Of the hotel, and peep In to
zee II Scott was about. He would ad-
vance step by step, and reconn0itre every
chair and corner tor the enemy, and, II he
caught but as much as glimpse of the
black beard in the distance, away he
would 20, and we would see him no more
that nieht about the Metropolitan.
One Of Beau's favorite tricks was to get
to the new Senators aud mem
bers OF Congress, and
CHARGE FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
It used to be $40 for Senator and s.
for a Congressman; but, Of late years,
Beau reduced the price oil introductions
to IS for a Senator and % so for q Con-
gresham. Some Of them rebuffed him
sharply, but nearly all paid.
The Southern men were Beau's best
patrons, and, up to the beginning OF the
Rebellion, he throye aud prospered on
their generosity. He said to me, one day
after The war: u was loyal, but my best
friends were Rebels. The carpet.sackers
are mean set, and won't pay their dues.
They are, / assure you, sir, altogether
contemptible, and
A REGULAR SET OF DEAD BEATS"
This he said gravely, as though he were
the most honorable gentleman in the
world, and least Of all dead.beat him
self.
Oflate years Beau had had hard time
to get along, and / am told sometimes
nearly starved. He had irregular set Of
friends over the country, whom he called
us CONTRIBUTORS" 80. 81;
They numbered over hundred. and he
charged them the small sum Of 25 cents
per month. II they failed to- send on
their dues, when they amounted to 81
Beau would have letter written, and TO-
mind them gently they were in arrears.
thiuk It was on this stipend Of charity
he relied mainly since the war for q
scanty living.
lie was the
ONLY REAL GENTLRMAN.BEG6AR
ever saw IN America, and as such was
peculiar. His manners were courtly, his
language chaste, and at times beautiful.
he never lost his temper, and his urbanlty,
even to those who insulted and rebuffed
him, was so marked as often to make
them ashamed and regret their roughness
to the poor old man. He must have re-
ceived in youth an excellent education,
and was well read. His voice was smooth
and soft, and words always came at his
to express his ideas clearly, and
often elegantly. In person, he was tall,
spare, and inclined to be raw.boned. His
face was neither handsome nor ugly, and
Il always wore a pleasant smile and had
. most intelligent expression. Poor old
Beau we shall miss him when we go to
Washingtopn. - q