The evening times., 1897-03-10
He Is the Chief Electrician of
the White House.
Is BUT TWELVE YEARS OLD
The Son of the Vice President Gets
a Specially Created Office From
President Mckinley-A Genius
who VIII Make the Bells Ring in
Marvellous Fashion.

| been appointed electrician OF the Whit
| House, an office created for him by Presi
dent Mckinley From very tender ag,
this precocious inventor has been bIesse,
with bells in his head and his acute knowl
| edge OF the wires enabled him. withou
| Endorsements, to have his office made tt
| order and filled by his own nominee. He
| Is the inventor OF the now famous New
| Jersey ring, an Ingenious device whereby
| a simple touch of the button at the from,
door rings every bell in the house
and in nearly every house in the same cir
cult. There are no long waits at the doors
OF the houses in Paterson, NJ j., where
Garry Hobart was born and learned his
trade. He will begin today or tomorrow
or perhaps on Friday to inaugurate some
reforms at the White House, which will be
submitted to Mr.. Mckinley at almost any
time of night or day when the scheme has
been perfected.
Young Mr.. Hobart has nevers been to
school. He is the product of a goyerness
who. from allthe accounts must have taught
him the theory of having the bells ring in
unison over any given territory by the
same operator at the front door. The story
OF how he put his theory into practice is,
however, more interesting.
He has gone into the electric annuncia-
tor business con amore He has a partner
named Ned Van Ripper, and the firm name
is Garret A. Hobart, jr., & Co., doing bust
ness at Paterson, n. j. 1t is not stated
what is the age OF Ned Van Riper, nor
whether it will be necessary to bring the
rest of the firm here TO do the lob at
the White House.
Mr. Hobart, jr., got the electric beIl idea
about year ago, when a fullfledgedeIectri-
clan rugged up the bells in his fathers
house After the job was complete, the
story goes in Paterson, young Mr.. Hobart
ripped them out and put them all back
again after his own ideas.
lie did it 10 well that his father almost
wished it had Teen failure, because
every man who came around looking for
a coasulship or rostofiice or scme other
sort of Federal soft snap raised a ruinpus
in the house just as soon as he laid his
finger on tile door bell.
To this day there are electric fixtures Ia
the obart mansion whereby, among other
things, the cook can light tie kitchen fire
by pressing button at the head Of her
ted the master OF the house may signal the
number OF the guests he is bringing home to
dinner the III oment he reaches the front
gate, or the incautiouse burglar may I'M
chain the watchdog by fumbling with tie
window fastenings.
Having 80 Installed his fathers house so
that one could hardly move an elbow with
out ringing an alarm or opening door, the
ambitious young electrician and his part
ner turned their attention to their neigh
tors For a modest consideration they Of
fered to supply them with complete cleo
tIic bell outfits. and the neighbors jumped
at such a chance Since that time the two
boys have carried ON their fad as regular
business.
Garret A. Hobart, jr., or Junior, as he
is called By everybody in the neighbOrhood
of his Paterson home, is not robust lad.
and for that reason was never sent 70
school BuG he takes a robust interest in
affairs outside OF his tutors and toys, and
would sooner contrive something odd and
useful with his sic nder fingers than readthe
most fascinating OF romances about Indians
or pirates.
Many months ago he began to delve into
the mysteries of applied electricity. Ned
Van Ripper, his most intimate cbum in Pat
erson, Joined him in his researches, and
the youngsters made astonishing progress
in their studies. SO successful We're they,
indeed, that the entire household or Ho-
bart was soon thrown into parox ysms Of
surprise, not unmixed at times with dis
may, for Junior wired the house over
in the equipment of various devices Of his
own invention, until the most simple oper
ations resulted in the most unexpected de-
velopments.
1t was observed by the Hobart family
that young Garry was plunged in deep
thought on the trip to Washington. He
said Muffin" when they asked what
was the matter, or il he was sick, and it
was noticed that as soon as he laid eye
upon Maj. Mckinley he frightened percep
tibly.
1t was on Thursday when he was pre-
sented, and after the ceremony he sided
up to his father.
II wonder" he murInured, whether
Mr.. Mckinley wouldn't hire me to keep
the electric bells in the White House in
order?"
81 don't know, Garry said his father,
laughing, and after patting the boy on
the head. he went over to talk to
Stephen B. Elkins As soon as he was
out or range Garry watched his chance
and slipped over toward the President.
Pretty soon he spoke to him, and after
for a moment with a look OF
the President began to smile
Then Garry retreated with broad grin,
and the President moved off laughing
softly to himself.
Late in the afternoon the President came
up TO Mr.. Hobart
Your boy" he said, 'has made formal
application to keep the bells in the White
House in repair during my administration.
And then the two fell to laughing
heartily.