Year: 1873




Robert L. Hickman, Beau" Hickman.


A dispatch from Washington an
nOunces the demise of this once not
ed character. After dissipating a
competency he became an adventur-
er of the Dazzle order, modified by
aspirations to be considered a kind
of Brummel. His history is given
in a Washington journal briefly,
thus;


Robert L. Hickman was born in
King William Co., Va, according to
best data, over sixty years ago. He
was one of a family of six children,
three boys and three girls, Two of
the latter having married General
Eaton of North Carolina 1t is said
that on the death of his father he
was the possesser of about $4,000
in cash. At that time a young man
of good appearance, tasteful in dress
extrayagant in habits, and fond of
life, he made up his mind to see a
good time, and he saw it so well that
within a couple of years he was q
bankrupt. The story further goes
that in his distress he applied for
aid to his brother-in- law, and that
gentleman, disguised with the ac-
tions of his relative, sternly refused
all aid, but finally concluded to give
him a check for $4,000 on condition
that he would leave and never return
to his house again. Beau accepted
the proposition, took the money, re
turned to his old haunts, and. cast
ing aside his valuable but bitter ex-
perience, was soon again reduced to
want, condition, it is said, which
was hastened by the elopement of
colored mistress, who took with her
considerable of his funds. Then
Beau concluded that the world owed
him living. Too proud to work,
too honest to steal, he adopted his
vagabond, bohemian life, and levy
ing a tax on all who came in cantaet
with him, made it pay.


Among the anecdotes related Of
him are the following, as to how he
rode free on q railroad. He took
common card, stuck it in the band
Of his high hat, and getting an in
side seat, stuck his head out of the
window. Along comes the conduc-
tor for his tickets, and noticing the
gentleman seated apparently in a
deep study, tapped him on the shoul-
der. Beau started up suddenly, and
off went his hat. Then he became
indignant, wanted the train stopped
whether or no, and insisted so Vehe
mently in his rights that the poor
conductor was scared, and rather
than loose time he agreed to pay
for the hat and pass the gentleman
over, both Of which he did. The
story soon got out. and Beau was a
dead head with that conductor as
long as he remained on the line.


His advice to strangers about go
ing to gambling houses was also
good: you want to tackle faro?
he would say; swell now let me give
YOU a little advice, and I know all
about it. You go in, and if there
many players aud any big ones, you
get in and play light; the dealer will
be mad as -- when he sees it,
but you need not mind. He's bound
to let you win and 90 for the big
ones. Then when you get stake
don't be too greedy, but leave" For
this good advice he would always
add: "You owe me about a red
chip In asking for money he
would always call for chips, desig-
mating chips as follows: A white
chip 81: red chip So; blue chip
S26-the several amounts being lev
led according to his estimate Of the
ability of the giver When he
'struck" a man for a "blue" if he
didn't respond, Beau would not con
slider it beneath his dignity to fall
even to the white, which he then ak
cepted with thanks.