Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-19
LIVED LIKE A PRINCE,
How Common Card Shark Imper-
sonaIed Xturbide.

Ihe recent military arrest of young
Yturbide better known as Prince Ytur-
bide, in Mexico. recalls a curious episode
in which he figured some years ago in FL
Paso, Texas. Those who have had the
good fortune to encounter his royal high
ness remember him as rather beefy,
stolid young man, with decided taste for
plain English fabrics in dress and bad
habit of speaking of ''me brawses,
y'know," when he alluded to his trunk
checks. However, he is a good fellow.
In 1888 he came up over the Mexican Cen
tTal and stopped for the day at FL Paso,
putting up at the Grand Central Hotel
Among the passengers on the train was
a gentleman bearing the name of Hobbs.
Mr.. Hobbs was the proprietor of faro
bank at chihuahua, and the proprietor also
of a luXuriant purple-black moustache, a
five carat diamond pin and very gorgeous
suit of clotheJ. He, too, was a good fel-
low. They both arrived at the Grand Cen
| tral at about the same time and registered
together Mr.. Hobbs inscribing his plain
| everyday name on the leaf and the other
| stribbling the royal abbreviation, "Ytur-
bide." The clerk whirled the register
around and then rapidly sized up both
1
He had no difficulty whatever in making
up his mind, for the beautiful garments
and flashing jewels of Mr.. Hobbs filed the
popular idea exactly of the attire of royal
| ty. Selling that gentleman's valise, he
led the way to the sacred apartment known
in western hostelries as The bridal cham
ber" and reverently bowed him in. When
he returned he beckoned to the porter.
''Show this man to 4-11-44. ." he said. in
dicating one of the dens in the garnet.
The news soon spread that live prince
was in town, and a crowd OF tuft hunters
congregated at the hotel to get a look al
him. Consequently when Mr. Hobbs ar-
peared hc was the subject of such adula-
ton as he had never known At first he
attributed this to his beauty, but gradual
Il the truth dawned on him, and when ii
did lie played it." to use his own express
sion, ''for all il was worth. r Presently
one of the bolder of the group pressed
him 10 join in a bottle OF wine. He
promptly accepted. Another and another
followed, and such popping of corks and
fixing of Heidsieck were never before
heard in the house. Meantime the auto
graph fend put in an appearance in num-
bers. Dozens of plush h-bound volumes
Were thrust into his hands, and, nothing
loatb, Mr.. Hobbs called for pen and Went
to work. He had no idea how To spell
''Yturbide,h and simply made "A hideOus.
indecipherable scrawl, bearing down az
hard as he could and permanently disfig-
uring each book. Some he embellished
with such good old chestnuts as: "'When
this you see, remember me" Last, but
not least" and Yours for health" 1t was
that more thar anything else that made
people afterward want TO lynch him.
While all this was going on Yturbide
was prowling up and down the Office lone
some, miserable and astonished at the uni
versal neglect. When dinner was an.
nounced Mr.. Hobbs was escorted to the
dining room and seated at 4 table by him
self. The cook had risen To the occasion
and masterpieces with fearful names fol
lowed each other in innumerable courses
To tell the truth Mr.. Hobbs was by thi,
time pretty well loaded, SO to speak, and
began to put some vivid coloring in his
royal role. He made strange. ornate ges
lures. he punched the walters in the ribs
and shuffled a pile of butter dishei
through his fingers like pack of pokel
chips, while Yturbide sat among lot oi
New York drummers gnawing tough sir
loin and cursing a country that had no re
spect for princes.
As dessert was being served n party o.
distinguished Mexicans from Paso de
Norte, across the Rio Grande, put in al
appearance. They had heard of tn,
princes presence and came to pay thei
respects. They were led into the dinin,
room and advanced TO the tables, hats il
hand.
lis this Prince Yturbide." asked tn
spokesman.
''You bet it is" said Mr. Hobbs, jocose
ly. "My father was the King of Club
and my mother was the Queen of Dia
monds.''
''Senor," exclaimed the Mexican, turn
ing to the landlord, "this is an impostor
At that moment forid young mai
pushed his way through the crowd and re
marked "My name is Yturbide, gentle
men. What can do for you."
The scene that followed was a painful
, one, and it is easier imagined than de
scribed. Suffice it to say Mr.. Hobbs eff
! fects were removed from the bridal cham
Der and deposited on the sidewalk, and tn
, subject is sore one to this day TO the &c
!, nial landlord of the Grand Central. i
! may be well to add that the foregoing i
|, not fairy tale, but narration of facts
and that there were several bumps tha
night on Mr. Hobbs Uranium that wer'
not in his chronological chart.