The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-26
A PRINCE FOR AN HOUR.
HOW Mr.. HOBBS PERsoNATED
PRINCE YTURBIDE.
An Incident OF Life In FL Paso-A Royal Visitor
Is snubbed and Neglected While Hobbs
Fares Right Royally-Hobbs
Soon Decamped.

The recent military arrest Of young
Yturbide. better known as Prince
1turbide, in Mexico, recalls a curious
episode in which he figured some years
ago in this city, says an FL Paso (Tex.)
correspondent of the New York Trib-
une. Those who have had the good
fortune to encounter his royal high
ness remember him as rather beefv.
stolid young man, with a 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 q
good fellow. In 1883 he came up over
the Mexican Central, and stopped for
the day at FL Paso, putting up at the
Grand Central hotel Among the pas
sengers on the train was a gentleman
bearing the plebeian name Of Hobbs.
Mr. Hobbs was the proprietor of faro
bank at Chihauhau, and the proprietor
also of luxuriant purple-black mus
tache, a five-carat diamond pin. and a
very gorgeous suit of clothes. lie, too
was good fellow. They both arrived
at the Grand Central at about the
same time, and registered together,
MIR. Hobbs inscribing his plain, every
day name on the leaf, and the other
lnscribing the royal abbreviation,
"Yturbide." The clerk wheeled the
register around, and then RAPIDLY sized
up both guests to determine which was
the prince. He had no difficulty what
ever in making up his mind, for the
beautiful garments and flashing jewels
OF MIR. Hobbs filled the popular idea
exactly OF the attire of royalty. Seiz-
ing that gentleman's valise, he led the
way to the sacred apartment known in
Western hostleries as ''the bridal
chamber" and reverently bowed him
in. When he returned he beckoned to
the porter.
''Show this man to Al 1-44," he said,
Indicating one of the dens in the car
ret.
The news soon spread that a 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 was 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 it did
he ''played it," to use his own express
sion, 'for all it was worth.'' Present.
ly one of the bolder of the group
pressed him to join in bottle of wine.
He promptly accepted. Another and
another followed, and such a popping
of corks and fixing of Heidsieck we're
never before heard in the house.
Meantim the autograph fend put in
an appearance, in numbers. Dozens
of plush-bound volumes were thrust
into his hands, and, nothing loath,
MIR. Hobbs called for pen and went
to work. He had no idea how to
spell "Yturbide,' and simply made a
hideous, indecipherable scrawl, bear
ing down as hard as he could and per-
manently disfguring 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.' It was that
more than anything else that made
people afterward want to lynch him.
While all this was going on Ytur-
bide was proving up and down the
office, lonesome, miserable, and aston
ished at the universal neglect. When
dinner was announced Mr. Hobbs was
escorted to the dining-room and seated
at a table by himself. The cook had
risen to the occasion, and masterpieces
with fearful names followed each other
in innumerable courses. TO tell the
truth, Mr.. Hobbs was by this time
pretty we'll loaded, so to speak, and
began to put some vivid coloring in his
royal role. He made strange. ornate
gestures; he punched the walters in
the ribs and shuffled a pile of butter
dishes through his fingers like a stack
of poller-chips, while Vt urbide sat
among lot of New York drummers,
gnawing a tough surloin and cursing a
country that had no respect for princes.
AS desert was being served a party
of distinguished Mexicans from Paso
del Norte, across the Rio Grande, put
in an appearance. They had heard of
the princes presence and came to pay
their respects. They were led into
the dining. room, and advanced to the
table, hats in hand.
els this Prince Yturbide?:' asked
the spokesman.
you bet it is, said Mr. Hobbs,
loosely. my father was the King of
Clubs and my mother was the Queen
of Diam onds."
"Senor!' exclaimed the Mex lean
turning to the landlord, 'this is an
impostor."
At that moment florid young man
pushed his way through the crowd
and remarked: my name is Yturbide.