New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
HOBBS FED LIKE A PRINCE.
PERSONATING YTURBlDE-AN INCIDENT OF
LIFE IN Ell PASO.

FL Paso. Tex, Jan. '1O.-Thc recent military
arrest Of young Yturbide better known as Prince
Yturbide, in Mexico, recalls a curious episode
in which he figured some years ago, in this city
Those who have had the good fortune TO en-
counter his royal highncss remember him a
rather becfy, stolid young man, with decided
taste for plain English fabrics in dress and a
bad habit of speaking Of me brawses. yknOw,
when he alluded to his trunk checks However.
he is good fellow In 1888 lie came up over
the Mexican Central, and stopped for the day
at Ell Paso, putting up at the Grand Central
Hotel. Among the passengers on the train
a gentleman bearing the pleb name of Hobbs
Mr.. Hobbs was the proprietor Of a faro-bank at
Chihuahua and the proprietor also of a luNuriant
purple-black mustache, hvc-carat diamond pin
and very gorgeous suit of clothes. He too
was GOOD fellow They both arrived at the
Grand Central at aboht the sane time. and regis
tered together, Mr.. Hobbs inscribing his plain
everyday name The leaf, and the other
scribbling the royal Authorization. "Yturhide'
The clerk whrlcd the register around and then
rapidly sized up both guests TO determine which
was the prince. He had no difficulty whatever
in making up his mind. for the beautiful gar
mcnts and flashing Jewels Of Mr. Hobbs filled
the popular idea exactly of the attire Of royalty.
Selling that Gcnteman's valise he led the way
10 the sacred apartment known in Western
hostclries the bridal chamber. and revcrently
bowed him in. When he returned he beckoned
10 the porter.
Show this man to 4-l1-44." he said, indicating
one of the dens in the garrett.
The news soon spread that live prince was in
town, and a crowd Of tuft-hunters congreGated
at the hotel to get a look at him. Consequently
when Mr.. Hobbs appeared he the subject of
such adulation as he had never known At first
he attributed this TO his beauty, but gradually
the truth dawned on him. and when il did he
played it," to his expression. for all
il was worth" Presently one Of the holder OF
the group pressed him to join in a bottle of wire
He promptly accepted. Another and another fol-
lowed. and such popping of c0rkS and hzzng
of Eedscck were never before heard in the house
Meantime the autograph ficnd put in an appear
ance in numbers Dozens of plusl-bound volumes
we're thrust into his hands, and. nothing loath, Mr.
Hobbs called for pen and went TO work. lie had
no idea how to spell "Yturbidc." and simply made
hideous indecpherable scrawl hearing down
as hard as he could and permanently diShgurinG
each book Some he embellished with such good
old chestnuts as When this YOU see. remember
me. Last, hut not least and Yours for health. y
1t was that more than anything else that made
people afterward want to lynch him.
While all this was going lturhide was
proving up and down the office lonesome mis-
CRADLE and asionishcd AT the universal neglect
When dinner was announced Nr. Hobbs was cS-
corted 10 the dining room and seated al a table
hy himself The cook had risen 10 the OCCASION
and masterpieces with fearful names followed
each other in innumcrable courses. To tell the
truth. Mr. Hobbs by this time pretty we'll
loaded, so TO speak, and began 10 put some VIVA
coloring in his royal role lie made strange ornate
gestures he punched the walters in the rlhS and
shuflcd a pile Of butter dishes Through his fingers
like a stack of poker chips while lturbde sat
among a lot Of New-Nork drummers, gnawirg
tough srloln and cursing country that had no
respect for princes
As dessert was being served party of dstln-
ccuishcd Mcxicans from Paso del Nortc, across the
Rio Grandc, PVT in an appearance. They had
heard of the Princes presence and came 10 pay
their respects They were led into the dining
room, and advanced to the tables. hats IN hand.
is this Prince Yturbde ?" asked the spokes
You bet it is" said M Hobbs locoscy. MY
father was the KIne Of Clubs and my mother was
the Queen Of Diamonds
senior" exclaimed the Mexican, turning n
the landlord this is impostor."
Al that moment a ford Young man pushed his
way through the crowd, and remarked Ny name
is Yturbidc, gentlemen. What can do for you !?
The scene that followed painful one, and
is easier imagined than described. Suffice II that
Alr IobbS's effects we're removed from the bridal
chamber and deposited upon the sidewalk, and
the subject is a one 10 this day 10 the gcnlal
landlord Of the Grand Central. II may be well
10 add that the foregoing is not a lary-tale, but
narration of facts, and that there were several
bumps that light on Mr. Ilobbs's Uranium that
were not in his chronological chart.