The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-09-17
BEAU HICKMAN.
Anecdotes of the American Gen.le-
man Beggar.

Anecdotes of the American Gentle.
man Beggar.
From the Chicago Tribune.)
OMAHA, NIB Sept s.
Perhaps am one OF the very few peo-
pie in the United States who will regret
10 hear Of the death Of poor old "Beau
Hickman" Inever visited Washington
but made 1t my business to. look him
up and generally found the Beau poor,
needy, seedy and glad to see anne. To most
people be was o bore; butto me he never
rendered himself! obnoxious, and confess
to the very bad taste Of always finding in
Hickman q '.saaf ass 4-fs
SOURCE OF AMUSEMENT.
Ills anecdotes oil dead Statesmen, and the
peculiarities Of some Of the living ones,
were so extremely interesting, and lew
men could talk better than Beau, after
dinner, in an easy.chair, and with good
cigar TO puff. Then Webster, Clay, Ben
Ion. Calhoun, Hayne, and scores OF Others
came from their graves in all their glory,
and Beau would sit for hours and tell
stories OF the Washington lie OF these
great men. believe, as rule, heSwas
truthful, and made 1t point never to
speak III Of the dead.
In their time, both Clay and Webster
admitted Hickman into their society. and
made sort Of companion OF him. Then
he was not the poor, old, dccrepit, i'll
looking man we have seen him OF late
wears. hut a tall. Straight, well. dressed,
handsome, dashing fellow, with money In
bis pocket, and bank account TO draw
upon. &c had $4,000 left him, but lost
Il betting OF horse races. So polite was
he, and courteous in his manners, that,
for long time aiter.he lost his money,
the turt-men received him ana permitted
hin TO
BET WITHOUT quitting UP"
When he "lost,n he promised to pay
and, when he "won," he collected the
STEAK with as little delay as possible. He
was Of an old Virginia family, well rails
ed, and gentleman both Ia education and
In manners. His relatives cut him as
dead beat on their bounty, and perhaps
no brother was ever so unwelcome as he
when he visited "the family" as he called
bic brother. He was generally supplied
with some ready cash, and showed back
to Washington as soon 'as possible. In
deed with money In his pocket, he never
fingered long,-ior, when In tunds 10
run with" Beau thought the National
Capital was the proper place for a gentle
nsH 10 live. i-i
One day, only a few years ago, l found
him at the National Hotel, greatly de-
pressed in spirits, and asked him what
was the matter.
"SIr," he replied, politely. "Ihave had
nothing for four days. am unable 10
raise single copper, aud am even now
SUFFERING WITH HUNGER"
Knowing what q beat he was, and
thinking he was trying to create sympathy
aud got dollar, ! said, tarly:
"Beau, ] am ashamed OF you, and you
ought 10 be ashamed Of yourself. You
know always give when i have a mint
70, and l have paid you my monthly dues
one month In advance already; so 70,
ought not to make such m appeal at thu
time BY pretending you arc out oil tund'
and even hungry 'glC.yQ
''AlGsr he said, ut is only too true, 40!
! know not where TO 60 or what to do;
and the mans eye and earnest name
convinced me he was telling the truth.
Visit your relatives" I suggested.
THAT won't do" he replied. ~ don
want TO go down TO Virginia; and, be
sides, Il Ia not long since they gave nj
$3.50 to come back 10 Washington AM
sIAy.n " .7T'
@Then they must keep you away; and
Iyou are In the strait you say you ar