In some grammar book I read: 

The use of articles with names of persons modified by adjectives is varied. In most cases no article is used with names of persons modified by the adjectives **old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy**.

> 
> *... she is the widow of **poor Giovanni Bolla** ..* (Voynich)
> 
> 
> *He saw that **old Chapin** wanted to moralize a little*. (Dreiser)
> 
> 
> 

When modified by other adjectives, names of persons
 take the definite article.

> 
> *He thought Amelia worthy even of **the brilliant George Osborne**.*
>  (Thackeray)
> 
> 
> ***The astonished Tom*** could not say a word.
> 
> 
> 

I wonder:

1. Is this a real rule?
2. Is this class of modifiers (old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy) a closed set?
3. Is there any reason for this rule?
4. Is it possible to say, at least in some contexts, "the young/old/dear/poor/little/honest/lazy Peter"?