The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
yiRsryfh BEAU BRUMMEL.
Senator. Orator, Social Lion, Tramp, Beg
gar. but Always Prince In Manners.

Senator, Orator, Social Lion, Tramp, Beg
gar, but Always Prince In Manners.
Over on the Virginia side Of the Potomac. NOT
many miles from Washington, Is Q wornou, farm
on which lived for many years a man, who In
some respects, recalled Beau Brummel The
Virginia guide who pointed out the place 70 a
Sun reporter said after the old farm was passed:
-He was known as W. Brondus Thompson.
lie was man you would never forget II he
passed you. you would turn and look AT him, and
" you didn't know who he was you would ask
He waa a lawyer. and have heard people soy
he was a. great an orator as Senator Daniel lie
was elected TO the State Senate two or three tmcs
and then he was In the militia, and go, TO be a
Colonel. lie was from an old family. lie mar
ried a beautiful Virginia woman who became the
mother Of two boys and girl They were all
born in Virginia. Col Thompson got the West
ern fever and went to Missouri lie settled in
ST Joseph and began the practice Of his profession
lie became the lion Of the bar lie was the Fourth
oiJuly orator. and the speaker on all biz occa.
sions. when the Hannibal and St Joseph Rail-
road celebrated Its completion. Col. Thompson
was the orator Of the day. Old Joe Robidoux.
the founder Of the town. was living al that time.
platform was built out In the Missouri River,
and the people gathered on the shore to witness
the employing Of water from the Great axes and
the Atlantic into the Missouri Enough Of tho
water was saved for baptismal purposes. and
Col. Thompson in the presence OF the pOpulace,
poured II ON Robidoux's head and then the Col.
onel delivered his Grafton.
Ills family were great social favorites Ils
home Was the rcsor, Of young and old. Tho
mother and daughter we're conspicuous in church
circles and the boys were regarded as the bright
est in the town. To be In with the lhompsons
Npt NPfe m 4 ~
tournaments the daughter was always queen
Quicker than can tell you there las a sep
manned in the home The Colonel stayed In
The town but lived elsewhere. lie came down
@ sud finally he hS ,hs M beam
bloNtcd in the face, unsheved and With hair uncut
he continued to walk about the town where he
had been shining light But he was always
suavc No one ever heard him speak profanoIy
nor was he ever heard to utter disrespecuul
h. stopped people and begged them for the price
Of a dram Hut his request was courteous, and
10 give the military salute One Of the sons grad.
uated from the University Of this State Both
wen, into n, Confederate army ! know one
the mother and daughter are There was no
di,%er tn. secrs, Of the separation temsined
Of IT, and have tried to find out
"rh" Colonel he Was always called that went
70 Colorado during the Pixies Peak fever. Some
in a wagon hauled by oxen. After he got there
he was still a heggar. phncely in his manner.
and always tramp
Once he met m old ACQUAINTANCE In the street
and invited him with SO much courtesy TO become
his guest that the quondom Acquaintance. notwith.
standing the appearance OF the man, and his
history accepted The Colonel led the way 10
q den in which an lndan would not have lived
Tn" pallet was on the noor II con sisted Of shaw
ingS But In one corner an old trunk and
over II hung a broken mirror When the guest
was shown in the Colonel opened the Trunk, took
out hoiu". held II mp, and aid in a gracious
apology. An some rascal has been at my d..
chnt"r How unfortunate. just lend me a half
until get u Allied. and then we'll drink to Aud
Lang Synr
The man who told me the story said he could
not refuse. because the n On was still the emhodi.
urnt. In manner. Of siatrlinrss He did not
wait for the Colonel to return Soon after the
old man was found dead In his bed Of shaNings
IL" was a brother to Gen NJ. Jrh Thompson NJ
Confederate fame. once MAYOR Of St Joseph, who
issued a famous prorlh m alton for recruits while
he vas In The AZ M M of Aisaoun