The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-15
VIRGINIA BEAU BRU MMEL
Senator, Orator. Social Lion. Tramp,
But Always Prince in Manners,


over on the Virginia side OF the Poto-
mac. not many miles from Washington.
is WORKOUT farm on which lived for
many years a man. who in some respects
recalled Beau BrummeL The Virginia
guide who pointed out the place to
sun reporter. said. after the Old form was
passed.
lie was known as W. Broadus Thomp-
son. He was a man YOU would never for
get. Ii he passed you. you would turn
and look at him. and If you didn't know
who he was YOU would ask. He was
lawyer and 1 have heard people say no
was as great an orator as Senator Dan
Tel. lie was elected to the State Senate
two or three times. and then he was in
the militia, and got to lee "A colonel. He
was from an old family. lie married a
beautiful Virginia woman. Who became
the mother of two boys and "a girl They
were all born i'm Virginia. Col. Thompson
got the western fever and went ID Ms
souri, He settled I'm ST. Joseph and began
the practice of his proio, sion lie be-
came a lion of the bar. He was the
Fourth-of-Juy orator and the speaker on
all big occasions. When the Hannibal and
st Joseph Railroad celebrated its COM
pletion. Col. Thompson was the orator
der oi the town. was living az that time.
A platform was built out IN the Missouri
River and the people gathered on the
shore 20 witness the emDtying Of water
from the Great Iakes and the Atlantic
into the Missouri. Enough OF the water
was saved for baDtismal purposes and
Col. Thompson In the presence OF the ror
ulace, poured ID on RObldOuNs head, ana
then the Colonel delivered his grafton.
Ills family were great social favOrites.
His home was the resort OF young ana
old The mother and daughter were con-
spicuous IN church circles and the bows
were regarded as the brightest I'm the
town. To be IN with the Thompsons
meant that you were an right socially.
At the tournaments the laughter was al
ways queen.
Quicker than I can tell there was p
separation. Mrs. Thompson and her fami-
ly remained In the hcme The Colonel
stayed I'm the town but livel elsewhere.
He came down like a stick. lie lost his
practice. lie became gCuty, and finally
he reached tho common level II a tramp
I'm appearance. Ragged as he was. bloated
In the face unshaved and with hair rn-
cut. he continued TO walk about the town
where he had been shining light. But ho
was always suaye. No one ever heard
him speak profanely. nor was he ever
heard TO utter dislespectful word about
women. He got 10 that level where he
stopped people and vegged them for the
price OF dram. But his request was
courteous. and no matter whether ho got
II or not he never failed 70 give the MILL
tary salute. One Of the sons graduated
from the University OF this state. Both
went into the Confederate army. ] know
one IS dead. and / think the other Is.
and / am sure the mother and daughter
are There was 10 divorce. The secret
of the separation)remained In tho family.
II II was ever told never heard OF IT,
and I have tried 10 ind out.
1.-THE colonel. he was always called
that. went 10 Colorado during the Pixies
Peak fever Somebody paid his way out.
lie made the Journey In a wagon hauled
by oxen. After he got there he was sim
a beggar, princely I'm his manner, and al
WAYS n tramp.
"Once he met an old Acquaintance in the
street and invited him with so much
courtesy to become his guest that the
ouondam acquaintance. Notwithstanding
the appearance OF the man and his HIS
tory accepted. The Colonel led the way
10 a den I'm which an indian would not
have lived The pallet WAS on the floor.
II consisted OF shavings. But IN one cor
ner was an old trunk. and over II hung
a broken mirror. When the guest was
shown in the Colonel opened the trunk.
took out n bottle. held II up. and said I'm
a gracious apology, All some rascal has
been az my decanter. How unfortunate.
lust lend me half until I get II filled.
and then we'll drink TO Aud Lang
Syne
''rhe man who told me tho story said
he could not refuse. because the man
was still the embodiment. In manner.
Of stateliness. He did not walt for the
Colonel 20 return. Soon after the old man
was found dead In his bead OF shavings.
lie was a brother OF Gen. NJ Jcfi Thomp-
son OF Confederate fame. once mayor OF
ST. Joseph. who issued a famous procia-
nation for recruits while he was In the
swamps OF Missouri IN. Y. Sur.