The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-08
H0BSON A HERO.
While a Cadet He Showed His Su-
perior Qualities.

While Cadet He Showed His Su-
perior Qualities.
Lieutenant Richmond P Hobson, the
Santiago hero, has always been regard
ed by his comrades as a man of great
force since a demonstration ne gave TO
them at Annapolis early in his career,
and they used to say it was no use to
run afoul of Hobson, for he would win
in the long run. And this is why they
said so:
He is extravagantIy fond of milk,
and owing to certain unfortunate fam
lily reasons, nothing but milk does he
drink, except, of course, aqua pure.
When this popularity of his impressed
itself upon the other cadets, they not
unnaturally argued that a man who
drank only milk and water must be of
the milk and water type, and deep
down in their embryonic naval souls
they held in contempt Cadet Richmond
p. Hobson. They were civil to him, but
he was exceedingly reserved and self
contained and they really did not get
at the stuff he was made of-that is,
not for some time. Then they did and
never forgot it. Neither did he.
There is an unwritten law at Annapo
lis that no cadet, under any circum-
stances whatsoever, when on duty shall
report a classmate for any disregard of
duty or discipline, and the laws of the
Modes and PersianS were not more
rigidly enforced than is this one at the
naval academy. Never was it known
to be broken until one day, when he
had still two years more before his
course would be finished, Cadet HobsOn
on duty reported a classmate for a
slight infringement of discipline, and
said classmate was officially reprimand-
ed. Hobson's class could not believe
their ears when they heard the charge
preferred, and the corps d'eSprit of the
lower classes was shaken to their fOun-
dations by the establishment of such a
precedent, and with it all Hobson went
serenely and evenly on his way, max
ing no explanations, offering no extern
uating circumstances, but continuing
upright in the conscious rectitude of
duty done.
If anything could have made his
classmates more angry than the act it
self it was the way in which Hobson
carried himself afterward, and they
called an Indignation meeting of the
class to decide what punishment should
be melted out. They had a stormy ses-
sion, and then it was unanimously
agreed that Hobson should be wholly
and entirely cut and ta-boOed by them,
and, more than all that, not another
glass of milk should he have while he
remained in the academy until he had
begged pardon for his offense. Thus did
they expect to have him on his knees
or force him to retire from Annapolis
That line of action was at once
carried into effect. When Hobson met
any of his classmates about the
grounds they turned their backs upon
him or looked straight through him.
Never was a man more utterly sent TO
coventry. He had no part of any kind
in their life; he might have been suffer-
ing from a contagious disease. And,
more than that, to save his life he
couldn't get drink e. milk.
Hobson knew what it all meant, and |
he shut his teeth hard and never |
quivered. 1t was some time before he |
the milk drought with the |
proper cause. 1t hadn't occurred to |
him that the other cadets had noticed |
mis- fondness for that simple fluid. One |
lay at dinner when a glass of it was !
brought to him, the man next, hard |
pressed to prevent the victim from hav- |
ng the coveted drink, put some salt
n it. Hobson understood then. After
hat, except when he was off on fur
ough, he had no milk for two years.
Tie taboo lasted all that time. Many
l cadet has left Annapolis for a lesser
but not HobsOn. Through it
LII not once did he say he was sorry,
md not once did the cadets let up on
lin. Except his chum no one spoke
o him.
At last graduation day came, and
1obson stood at the head of his class
Without the sympathy of it. He was
more reserved and self-contained than
yer. His course of treatment hadn't |
ended to make him expansive, and he
vas somewhat of a mental cynic. After
he exercises he was turning to leave
he room Ohen the class leader came
Up and thu1-.2ed him on the back.
''Hobso4- he said, I'VE want TO tell
-ou you're hero. There isn't another
nan in the class that could have stood
Fhat you did and kept his nerve. You're
.rit straight through. viii you shake
ands?"
Hobson couldn't say much. He had
ather forgotten how. But the grip of
is hand was expressive, and he held
Ievee then and there.
Later he was served with a jug of
milk, and he drained loving cup. This
5 fact.
Hobson is still a bachelor, but rot
ecause ne hasn't had inducements to
inter- the holy bond. He is popular
mong women, and some of them speak
f him as a stand by. He will take
he most stupid girl out to dinner a2G
I've Her IL QciiSuLlul TIME, anu Ills |
oStesS at a dance always looks for
Iobson TO give the wall flower a few
turns. He viii fill in at ;
ne last moment at a dinner or theatre |
arty, as though it was a privilege. and {
hen he was transferred from Wash
lgton to the Brooklyn yard a wall of
espair went forth.
And almost III the same breath came
ne whisper that Hobson had been
-ansferred on account of a willy young I
ociety woman who had made up her !
lind that he fulfilled her ideas as to
hat her husband should be. For :
Ionths she had tried to steer her course !
, it should become Hobsons, when, /
restol Hobson was ordered off to
rooklyn and the would-be charmer
as desolate.
AT least that is what they say. But
5 she has since married another man. /
lere may not be word of truth in
Elk. $
HEROES OF THE FIRE-ROOM.