Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-12
HOBART'S SON.

Garret A Hobart, ir., is only twelve
years old, but he has preternaturally
acute perception of the aphorism that
to the vctors belong the spois.
Fired in his youthful Imagination by
this great patriotic truth, the Vice Pres
dents young hopeful has become an
otiice-holder. On the very day his papa
and Mr.. Mckinley were ipaugurated
the younger became an office older.
E4trely of his own initiative, he made
application to the President of the
United States for the position of GUS
todiau of the electric bells in the White
House Whereof the story is good
one, and well worth telling from the
beginning.
Garret A. Hobart, jr., or Junior" as
he is called by every body in the neigh
oorhood of his Paterson home, IS not a
robust lad, and for that reason was
never sent to school. But be takes d
robust interest in affairs outside his ,u.
'or and his toys, and would sooner con.
trive something odd and useful with his
slender fingers than read the most fas-
c,natiug Of romances about Indians or
pirates.
Many months ago ne began to delve
INTO the mysteries ofapplied electricity.
Ned Van Piper, his most intimate
chum in Paterson, joined him in his re-
searches, and the youngsters made as
tonishing progress in their studies. So
successful were they, indeed, that the
,nlire household of Hobart was soon
thrown into paroxysms of surprise, not
unmixed at times with dismay, for
Junior" wired the house over in the
equipment of various devices of his own
invention, until the most simple optr
atons resulted in the most unexpected
developments.
To this day there are electric fixtures
10 the Hobart mansion whereby, among
other things, the cook can light the
kitchan ire by pressing button at the
head of her bed; the master Of the house
may signal the number of the guests
he is bringing home to dinner the mo-
ment he reaches the front gate, or the
iucautious burglar may unchain the
watchdog by fumbling with the window
fastenings.
Having so installed his fathers house
80 that one could hardly move an
elbow without ringing an alarm
or opening a door, the ambitious
young electrician and his partner
turned their attention to their
neighbors. For q modest consideration
they offered to supply them with com
plete electric bell outfits, and the neigh
bors jumped at such a chance. Since
that time the two boys have carried on
their fad as regular business.
When Garret A. Hobart, the elder,
went to Washington to be inaugurated
he took Garret A. Hobart, the younger,
with him. Junior" was immensel,
impressed with everything he saw ou
that memorable occasion. but wi h
nothing so much as the brigades of
hungry looking people, who, his father
told hin, were officeseekers. The boy
relapsed into deep thought for few
minutes, and then he said wistfully:
Papa, l wonder if Mr.. Mckinley
would give me the job of taking care of
the bells in the White House ?'
The Vice-President was talking to
Senator Elkins at the time and his sons
artless query passed unheeded. Vast,
then, was his surprise and mystiication
the following day when the President
clapped him on the back and exclaime d.:
Hobart, that boy of yours in treas
ure! Tve just had the pleasure of ap-
poiutiug him electrician of the White
House, on his own applica ion. IN Y.
, Journal.