The Washington herald., 1918-09-01

bdidHCcu IncutdHtlcs ana Oftcn VII
sshady yimmie.s
Ths FIRST character Of whom there
Is any record was Shady Jimmie, :"
whoseN bailiwick was Garrison street.
now Eighth street southeast, In what
Is known as the navy yard section.
According To old-timers, jimmie
nourished In that locality at the time
the British invaded Washington In
1914. He invariably wore q discarded
marine uniform and described himself
as the general commanding the
American army.
After the British had retired from
this vicinity, Jimmie came out OF his
hole and related how he had met
the red-coats singlehanjed on the old
Bladensburg pike and had slaughter
ed them by the thousands Jimmie-s
real name and his ending about 1884
have always remained mysteries.
Prince Of American Bummers.
Beau" Hickman. familiarly known
as "the Prince Of American Bum
mers." was undoubtedly the best
known Of Washington characters. In
many respects he possessed the
characteristics and special genius OF
George Brummeil. the noted Beau
Of England. Both "yseau" Hickman
and Beau Brummell were Of re-
spectacle parentage. In education
they were about equal. neither at
tanning any degree Of proficiency
Where the one boasted the exquisite
ness of his toilet snd elegance Of
manners, polished in the drawing
rooms Of a monarchical aristoci acs.
,he other prided himself on having
been reared In the half feudal. ha.f
democratic mannerism OF his native
state.
Beau" Hickman was q veritable
Chesterfield in polite manners and
typical old-fashioned dandy in
attire. Topped of with q white
beaver hat. so stylish in ante
bellum days, with tucked and frill-
ed shirt front. Prince Albert coat.
known in the old days as spike
tall" bright yellow trousers. and
a wonderful vest Of several colors.
its front illustrated with brilliant
hued birds and flowers, evidently
of NEUROLOGICAL design. he always
presented q most picturesque ap-
pearance.
The only unelegant feature of his
wardrobe were his shoes. He was
a sufferer from a large and virile
crop of corns and bunions and his
shoes, necessarily made to order.
were puffed and puckered. The
same viriie crop caused him to
hobble along painfully. and he as
sisted locomotion with heavy
walking stick. T.
A Virginia Gentleman.
Robert s. Hickman. sometimes
known as Colonel Hickman. but
more generally designated as
Beau" was a native of virginia,
and was born in 1913. His obses-
sion was that virginia gentle
man was the ideal of chivalry. He
first came to Washington about
1884, when he was a young man.
and brought with him a rather
generous supply of money. He as
ISOLATED with sports and patronized
the race tracks, and became noted
for his excellent judgment and
knowledge of horseflesh-
He also became q regular habitue
OF the club and boasted an init
mate acquaintance with some Of the
most eminent statesmen Of the day.
His money purchased him admit
tance into fashionable society. and
being a good story teller and en-
tertainer, he became the life Of the
club and a welcome guest at the
convivial gatherings of the early
days.
Having determined upon a life of
easy idleness. a few years later found
Beau a beggared bankrupt because
of his riotous living. He then adopted
a sort of vagabond Bohemian career
which he tried to dignity by the title
of profession" He became so mo-
toriovs that he was regarded as one
Of the interesting sights Of Washing
ton and strangers asked to be shown
mers." He possessed q remarkable
memory Of faces and names and knew
all the public men Of his time.
He was tolerated by statesmen be-
cause of his Jokes and the ingenuity
Of his tricks to replenish his purse.
some Of the famous men Of that era
would introduce Beau" to their
visiting friends as Col. Hickman"
and then retire and watch the manner
in which he would collect from them
the price Of his acquaintance. or bis
fee for a funny story.
Used First Names.
In order to impress strangers with
his Importance he always employed
/ the first name of famous men in
, speaking Of them familiarly, as Tom
jefferson. Andy jackson. etc. Beau
maintained quarters in an obscure
section of Washington, and but few
persons knew Of their location. Az
ternons and evenings he could in
variably be found in the lobbies Of
the Metropolitan and National hotels
Being asked by friend as to the
location Of his office, Beau" said:
MY office Is in my coat tail pocket"
He was an effective story teller and
there were wealthy men at the Cap
ital who indulged the humor Of his
cummings and the nonchalance of his
grotesque gentflity. After telling Q
story Beau" would remark:
THAT story IL worth 50 cents"
Should the listener hesitate I,
pay. Hickman would come bacl
with:
1T was a d. good yarn; com,
across with the chips"
For a long time Beau" was ,
favored guest at Browns hotel
(now the Metropolitan). and at tn,
National. being mistaken in eacl
instance for q wealthy Kentuckian
The records of the hotels shoult
show that he piled up big bills q
both places and there never was
settlement. It was an axiom In oh
Washington that Beau" Hickman
never paid a debt. and practicall!
every tailor and shoemaker In tn,
city had reason to deplore hi
patronage. It was the habit Of tn
Prince Of Bummers to assess mem
bers Of Congress. government ON
cia1s and wealthy visitors with |
regular and specific amount, and h,
would make his collections in