The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-08-29
AN ODD. CHARACTER.
CAREER o. WAsHlNGToN's MOST &c.
CENTRIC CITIZEN.
Francis Dunlop, Born In the Lap of Lux.
ury and Splendidly Educated, Suddenly
Became Crotchety and Remained So On.
til His Demise.

ury and Splendidly Educated, Suddenl,
til His Demise.
The most eccentrio character that Wash
lngton has ever known passed from thu
public stage when Francis Dunlop died
For 40 years he had been an object of re-
mark on account of the extravaganza Of
bis dress and the popularity Of his expires
sion and his movements, and for as long 9
time he was the inspiration of tho jeers d
the heartless and ignorant and the pity Of
the charitable.
Born in the lap of luxury and the son
Of proud and influential parents; rearedras
the youth of the old regime were reared,
with the care and perseverance that such
people bestowed upon their children;
trained by tutors until mind already fer,
tile became rich in its resources and gradu.
ated from Princeton with the high honor
to be expected from one who had possessed
manhood with every promise of success
full career. Suddenly his mind became
crochety. No one has ever been able to de.
failure, or, rather, the sudden exaggera-
said that he was struck violently in the
head when he was a boy, and that hard
study, followed by lively journey through
Europe, brought on the malady that never
left him.
From polished, elegant, social man,
with an aristocratio regard for the niceties
Of life, so far as appearances went, Dunlop
changed into secretive 1nisanthrope,
with apparently but one idea in the world,
and that was to outrival Beau Brulnmel
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 Shout
ders, and he walked mincingly on his toes.
For 40 years or Whereabouts his figure
was as familiar to Washingtonians as the
dome of the capitol, yet he walked througl
the crowded streets staring like an image
at the people who passed and to all ap-
peararces utterly oblivious of everybody.
Sometimes when the street gamins would
jeer him too noisily he would seem to be
about to pause and give them a lesson,
but such lapses were only momentary.
Store windows had a fascination fol-
him, and he would pick his way down the
business streets, stopping now and then
before an attractive display, apparently
unconscious of tho display he was making
Of himself. In the better establishments
he was regarded as q good customer, espe-
cially q few years ago, when he came into
possession Of considerable means. He was
remarkably good connoisseur Of pictures
and gems, for it must be understood that
Dunlop's eccentricties did not eradicate
the finer qualities of his intellect. The
few who We're 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 it meant.
Ho was an omnivorous reader of books,
but was quick to discern the good from
the bad, and when the subject of literature
was broached his share in its treatment
was always sure to be instructing and
gratifying to his companions. Sometimes
his views were extravagant, and he grew
imprisoned in pointing out the failures
of authors who, in his opinion, had missed
chances for greatness.
OF late years Mr.. Dunlop's c1rcum-
stances became altered, and he could no
longer indulge his extravaganza tastes and
fancies as had been his won't, 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:
- 4 &C. -1o 10
gifted by the imagin alive with gigantic
physical powers, and tales are told of the
he whipped for doubling the
genuineness of his physique. But he was
q quiet, inoffensive man in everything
save his personal appearance, and even
charity must admit that he was appalling
to the weak nerved. He cared nothing, as
has beon 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 of
his 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 Inauguration was drawing neal
two Of Mr.. Dunlops friends requested his
p6r1ulSSlOu " OEluS CAleAE WIVES anu VIZ"
the parade from his apartments. He was
eager to grant this request, and accord
ingly the gentlemen and ladies made thei1
way to his rooms when the March morn
Ing arrived.
There was sideboard in the room load
ed 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 the 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 he was
panied that they had not used it as he
wished them.
So he lived, and SO he died. -Washing-
ton Post. .I+
Candy Making and Teeth.