Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-30
AN ODD CHARACTER.
CAREER OF WASHiNGTON'S MOST &c
CENTRIC CITIZEN.

ury and Splendid1y EducAteo' Sooue"i1
Became Crotchety and Remained So I'm
| til His Demise.
| The most eccentric character that Wash
| inoton has ever known passed from the
| public stage when Francis Dunlop died.
| For 40 wears 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 a
| time he was the inspiration of the jeers OF
| the heartless and ignorant and the pity OF
the charitable.
Born in the lap of luxury and the son
| of proud and influential parents; reared as
| the youth of the old regime were reared,
| with the cere 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
| such advantages, young Dunlop entered
| manhood with every promise OF success
| full career Suddenly his mind became
crochety No one has ever been able to de-
! termine exactly the cause of his mental
| failure, or, rather, the sudden exaggera-
| ton of its whimsical tendencies. 1t is
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 aristocratic regard for. the nicetiea
| 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 shout
| ders, and he walked mincingly on his toes.
| For 40 years or thereabouts his figure
| was as familiar to Washingtonians as the
dome of the capitol, yet he walked through
| the crowded streets staring like an image
at the people who passed and to all up
pearances utterly oblivous of every body.
| Sometimes when the street gamins would
| jeer him too noisily he would seem to he
about to pause and give them lesson,
| but such lapses were only momentary.
| Store windows had a fascination for
| 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 good customer, espe-.
| cially 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 eocentricities did not eradicate
| the finer qualities OF his intellect. The
few who were permitted to sustain some
thing like intimacy with him can album
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.
| He was an omnivorous reader of books,
| but was quick to discern tho good from
| the bad, and when the subject of literature
| was preached his share in it's treatment
| was always sure to be instructing and
| gratifying to his companions. Sometimes
his views were extravaganza, and he grew
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 no
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
| I've appearance of his shoulders he was
| gifted by the imaginative with gigantic
! physical powers, ana tales are told of tho
| prizefighters he whipped for doubling the
| genuineness of his physique. But he was
| 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 been indicated for the general run OF
| humanity, but he had friends whom he
! cherished, and no prince was more prodi.
gal in his hospitality than he was to such.
| One incident illustrating this trait CT
! his character occurred several years ago.
when ho occupied rooms in the National
| theater building. His windows looked
| out on tho avenue, and when President
! Harrison sinauguration 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 sideboard in the room load.
| ed down with every conceivable substan-
tial and delicacy to make long parade
| vigil bearablo. 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
4 Dunlop camo back and found the feast I'M
| disturbed, ho was very much hurt As
the knights Of old had placed their castles
and all they contained at the servise 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 lives, and so he died Washing,
| ton Post
| Candy Making and Teeth.