Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-09-11
From the New York World }
ROBERT L. HICKMAN.

ROBERT l.. HUMAN.
For considerably more than the past ff-
teen years figure of a man Of strange
mien. of broken physique but Of certain
IeJonnaire appearance. attired in the last
seasons fashions, . good deal the worse
for wear, but bearing himself with the
mingled mir Of the adventurer and the man
Of the world. has challenged the attention
Of strangers and citizens upon Pennsyl-
vania avenue. in Washington. It was
chiefly around the portals of the National
Hotel and Browns (now the Mctropoli-
tau) that this noticeable personsge was to
be met with, euriously but not disrespect-
fully eyeing the passers-by with Keen
glance. lesning, as he stood or iimped,
upon his walking stick for surcease from
the pains Of corns and bunions. and gen.
orally carrying shawl or faded spring
overcoat jauntily hanging upon his len
arm after the manner OF man OF the
promenade. This person. SO familiar to
thousands Of Americans whom business or
pleasure have drawn to the national cap
i,al within the last score of years, was Ro-
bert l.. Hickman, better known as beau
Hickman. or. more briefly. "the Beau"
whose death in Washington yesterday
morning is announced By telegraph.
Over beau" fIickman's early life. or
even his origin. the mystery Of doubt,
perhaps difficult to be solved. hangs, shut
ting out the inquisi.ions of the curious
According to his own account he was born
in 1918. but where and Of what family is
| not known. His patrouynic is that of an
old and respectable family Of Virginia and
Kentucky. and rumor-the gossip of the
aaneurs abou. the streets Of Washington
has averred that he was q native Of
North Carolins, his parents and connec-
tions having been people of high social
standing. But as this sketch Of man
who stood solitary in his peculiarities, and
in his life concerns himself alone. the
question Of his birthplace and of his early
days is immaterial. The architect-oI
rather the destroyer-of his own fortunes
Beau" Hickman owed his notoriety t
himself and to the questionable manner ii
which. like Falstaff's companion. he made
the world bis oyster, and opened it afteI
his own chosen fashion. What is know
Of his advent into the walks Of mature lif,
is that he inherited large sum Of none!
'-S40. 900 it is said-a very respectable
fortune at the date when he obtained hi
:majori.y. Those who know, or affect t
know. Of these early days Of his experien
ccs. say that when he secured this inherl
tarcc he developed into man Of fashion
: the fashion wherewith competent tai
lor invests an individusl-as well as
. man of the world. In the former capac
, ty he shone . circumscribed edition {
!; 'Beau" Brummell and the dandies OF ii
Regency. the delight and the profit ofta
> lors; in the latter the fascinations Of II
turf aud Of the green table wooed him
his loss. Baltimore. chiefly. it is SAT-
|, was the scene of "tho Bcau's" FIRST cost
g dash at life Had he possessed the 70
.e tune. the privileges. and the advantag
:. of his prototype of Whites and Ranelae
+ the distinguished patronage of roy
prince. and the eager welcome of soci
r ty like that which prevailed in London
the beginning Of the century-'Bca'
Hickman might have added to ADeric;
]. annals the record Of Brummell or Mas
D. but as it was. missing his opportunity in
y prosaic and rather cynical age. his pa
= sion for the turf and his mania for betti,
Is 3 reduced his resources and deprived him
a. his revenue. 4 man Of uudeniable v
= and humor. marvellously comic rdco
l. teur. a story-teller who has creased mo
a faces in his time with hearty laughter th;
II Yorick. the Dane. ever looked upon
would have seemed appropriate that Hic
man, too, should have had his admiri
Lord Alvan!ey. who would have honor
!, the bills Of his laundress. aud have n
his |. o. Us a, maturity with ready cas-
q But failing this prop. be fell back up
or himself, aud the result was the adventr
er who for SO many years was pointed
h. 10 strangers as one Of the institutions
!. Washington.
Beau" Hickman's existence in the c:
ital was that of harmless mendicant
bu. mendicant OF alluriug ways. who
! turned TO the giver in provocations
, laughter more than he had received in
- value of the aims. 1t was before the '
nv especially-wheng gold and silver circu
NV ted, and when people perhaps were m
Oi- disposed to laugh than they now are-t
y's he reaped his best harvests. He was
eussomed to haunt the Offices. the dc
ways, and the bar-rooms Of hotels ..on
Avense-the National and the Metrol
isan chiefy~-on the lookout for s.rane
IN whom, being m excellent judge Of ph
ognomy. he would gauge By the stard
-. Of his experiences with mirthful souls
.ne me When he perceived group Of this
Ia sis,iuc or standing together and eonv'
md ing. With their talk mingled with lau
En- Ter. he would sidie toward them and \
'' ies listening to them for moment. woulC
.rie .rude into the conversation with CO
remark, a twinkle in the eye. and
GUS twitch Of the neck aud the face
- last pecu.iari,y characteristic OF bis
z which was probably the promcn's'o'
N that paralysis Of which he died-w
IN would Immediately rivet the attention
or. hi. listeners. Then he would ammo
himself ss - Beau" Hickman" b
ads Hickmsn whom everybody bad bear
per (and iadecd nearly everybody Who
oks. vent 10. Washington had heard OF
uar- and would branch out into an anes
for applicable to the subject Of converse
IA lie possessed all the gifts OF the IL
improvissscrc. and could concoct apo
der, moment story Of the most lidi
asrs. character He never smiled when b
,oy n a, -t., L.. \.