The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-12-24
:, ,rrrER FROM WASHINGTON.
stetchimg from Life-Gen. Clingman's
pylae-Graphic Picture
Of the Gentleman
Bum.
From our special correspondent
WAsHINGroN, Dec. 10, 1886.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1886.
r., ,he Editor of the Dillon TRIBUNE:
There are various types OF life to be seen
a; Washington, some Of most curious
and interesting character; and / know of
none SO unique-smi gemeyis--as the "tlo-
tel Bum," who in breeding, education and
General bum. business methods, differs es-
sentially from the hotel buns Of our
larger American cities. Here the 'Hotel
Bum" is "gentleman," who has, to quote
his own language, "seen better days, Sir; !;
perchance an cx.nember Of Congress, ex-
U. S. consul, ex-army or naval officer, or
1udyc once learned in law; or It may be
that at some period Of his existence, gen.
eraly "bcfore the war, Sir" he was the
leading, wealthiest man in his section of
the country. His shirt is not always i'm.
,naculate, nor are his finger nails forever
free from dirt; but the Washington Hotel
Bum remembers what he once was, feels
his dignity, and maintains it at all hazard
With the regularity and precision Of a
clocks pendulum he "beats" from the Ar.
lington to Riggs, from Riggs to Willards,
from Wilards to the Ebbitt, from the Eb.
bit to the Metropolitan, from the latter to
the National, and then back again over the
whole ground, throughout the livelong
day; and "ere the shades Of evening fall"
his cauterized stomach is we'll filled up
with whiskey and crackers and cheese.
Condemn him as YOU must and will and
should, you cannot resist admiration for his
genial, polished and stalking" ways. He
makes you treat-"set 'em up'--and when
you part company with him you are puz-
zed to decide who has conferred the favor,
you or the bum. He wH glibly talk you
into drink before you know it, and then
coolIy borrow your last quarter, and, as
YOU hand it to him, make you secretly
wish you had five dollars to give him. He
is not a negative quantity by any means,
but has strong likes and dislikes; and, if
there is anything that fills his very soul
with gall and disgust, it is water. Water
is his very particular aversion--hs 'bete
noir'-no matter whether it comes from
spring, hydrant, pump or fountain. AS a
thirst.quenching element, he has no earth.
ly use for it, and as to bathing, ablutions
Of the body, he can prove in rounded
periods of Bum-logic, that it chokes diges.
tion-prevents the stomach from receiving
its daily modicum Of whiskey with that
degree of glowing titulation and commune
cation which every Bum stomach owes to
the rest of the animal economy. But, it's
in anecdote. story telling, that the Bum
comes to the front; it's then he shines a
star Of the first nagnitude; that is his
"trump card" and he plays it with a bold
hand-usually ITO vim" AS an illustra.
ton:
A few evenings since l was standing in
front OF Willard's, idly watching the
stream Of people passing, and hoping to
pick up an item for the TRIBUNE, when
my attention was suddenly attracted by a
deep, sonorous voice to my right, one
which knew had before heard, and which
latonce recognized as coming from. udge
NJ Of Georgia, once an honorcd represent
tative abroad of the Stars and Stripes: q
man Of education and varied information
and for several years marked, first, class
Hotel Bum. The "Judge" was talking tc
ayoung, greenish-lookirg chap, apparent
'y from the countrywide was charmed
and tlattered by his entertainers high
toned style. had barely made these
mental notes when tall, elderly, gray
haired man, with cane and decided
military bearing, passed. "Who is that?'
said the green.horn, pointing to the sol
dierly gentleman. The "Judge' saw his
opportunity, and determined that it should
not be lost His shrewd, cunning face said
in unmistakable language, "the whiskey is
IN sight, Ill dazzle you, my young fr'enc
"a drink I'm bound to have" THAT
said the Judge, "that is a warm persona
friend Of mine-one whom l have known
from boyhood; that, sir, is General Thorn
as l.. Clingman of North Carolina. He
was in the National Legislature when tho
'ocsin Of war was sounded; he at once re-
signed and left for the field Of action-com
manded brigade, Sir, and was with Gen
Jos' +. Johnstone when he surrendered Il
sherman. His conduct, Sir, on that occa
SION marked him as fearless and intrcp
commander allows that?" said thu
green chap. "Well, Sir, when Gen. John
s'one had concluded to surrender, Genera