Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-03-27
AN ODD CHARACTER.
CAREER or wAsHINoToN's MOST &c
CENTRIC CITIZEN.
Yrancis Dunlop, Born In the Lap Of Luz
ury and spIsndidiy Educated, saddsniy
Became Crotohsty and Remained 10 Un-
til His Demise.

public stage when Francis Dunlop diod.
For 40 years he had been an object Of re-
mark on account Of the extravaganza of
his dress and the popularity OF his express
sion and his movements, and for as long
time he was tho inspiration of the jeors Of
the heartless and ignorant and tho pity OF
tho charitable.
Born In the lap Of luxury and the son
Of proud and influential parents; reared as
tho youth OF tho old regime were reared,
with tho care and perseverance, that such
people bestowed upon their children;
trained by tutors until q mind already fer
tiic became rich In Its resources and gradu.
ated from Princeton with the high honor
to be expected from onewho had possessed
such advantages. young Dunlop entered
manhood with every promise Of success-
ful career. Suddenly his mind became
crochety. No one has ever been able to de-
termine exactly the oanse Of his mental
failure, or, rather, the sudden exaggera-
tion of It's whimsical tonden,ies. 1t IL
said that he was struck violently In the
head when no was q boy, and that hard
study, followed by lively journey through
Europe, brought on the malady that never
left him..
From q polished, elegant, social man,
of life, so far as appearances went, Dunlop
changed into secretive misanthrope.
with apparently but one idea In the world,
and that was to outrival Beau Brummel
in his apparel and the Count 'Orsay In
his walk and actions.
His manner was equally singular.
Piercing eyes stared coldly from large eye
glasses beneath heavy black eyebrows,
heightened with the aid of black pigment
His head was carried very slightly to one
side, his arms being immovably down
straight from the immense padded shoul.
ders, and he walked mincingly on his toes
For 40 years or thereabouts his figure
was as familiar to Washingtonians as the
domo Of the capitol, yet he walked through
the crowded streets staring like an image
at the people who passed and to all ap-
pearances utterly oblivious OF everybody.
Sometimes when the street gamins would
jeer him too noisily he would seem to be
about co pause and give them q lesson,
but such lapses were only momentary.
Store windows had q fascination for
him, and he would pick his way down the
business streets, stopping now and then
before an attractive display, apparently
unconscious Of the display he was making
Of himself. In the better establishments
he was regarded as good customer, espe.
cinlly few years ago, when he came into
possession Of considerable means. He was
a remarkably good connoisseur Of pictures
and gems, for 1t must be understood that
Dunlop's eocentricities did not eradicate
the finer qualities Of his intellect. The
few who were permitted to sustain some.
thing like intimacy with him can abun.
dainty testify to this. and he has no more
sincere mourners than those who over
looked his grotesque fancies and enjoyed
the friendship and the pleasure 1t meant.
He was an omnivorous reader of books,
but was quick to discern the good from
tho bad, and when the subject of literature
was broached his share In It's treatment
was always sure to be instruoting and
gratifying to his companions. Sometimes
his views were extravagant, and he grow
impassioned in pointing out the failures
OF authors who, In his opinion, had missed
chances for greatness.
OF late years Mr.. Dunlop's circum-
stances became altered, and he could nc
longer indulge his extravagant tastes and
fancies as had been his wont, but he con.
tinued to dress In his own singular style
and to whet his passion for books.
Hundreds Of stories will be told Of him,
many of which are apocryphal and most
OF them untrue. On account Of the mass.
Two appearance of his shoulders no was
gifted by the imaginative with gigantic
physical powers, and tales are told Of the
prizeflghters he whipped for doubling the
genuineness Of his physique. But he was
q quiet, inoffensive man In everything
save his personal appearance, and even
s.charity must admit that he was appalling
to tho weak nervcd. He cared nothing, as
has been Indicated, for the general run OF
humanity, but he had friends whom he
cherished, and no prince was moro prodi-
gal in his hospitality than he was to such.
One incident illustrating this trait oi
bis character occurred several years ago.
when he occupied rooms in the National
theater building. His windows looked
out on the avenue, and when President
Harrison's 8 inauguration was drawing near
two Of Mr.. Dunlop's friends requested his
permission to bring their wives and view
the parade from his apartments. He was
eager to grant this request and accord
ingly the gentlemen and ladies made their
way to his rooms when the March morn.
ing arrived.
There was sidcboard In the room load
cd down with every conceivable substan
tial and delicacy to make long parade
vigil bearable. Mr.. Dunlop greeted his
visitors cordially and then left the prem.
ises. The others waited for him patient.
ly, the parade passed and was dispersed,
and night came on. Nothing on the side
board had been touched, the guests believ.
ing that their host would return. At last,
hungry and tired, they went home. When
Dunlop came back and found tho feast un.
disturbed, he was very much hurt. As
the knights Of old had placed their castles
and all they contained at the service OF
their brothers, SO had he placed his all In
the keeping OF his friends, and no was
pained that they had not used 1t as he
wished them.
So no lived, and so he died. Washing.
ton Post.
Candy Making and Teeth.