The evening times., 1898-12-21
HOBSON KISSING OVER
THE ENTIRE CONTINENT
CLAIMS PAY FOR HIS AUTOGRAPH
Presses Fair Lips at Every Station in Kan
sas-Enjoys the Job Thor
OuPhIy.

Topeka, Kan, Dec. 21-Lieut. Rich
mond Pearson Hobson is today the most
thoroughly kissedsman in America Aft
er kissing All women in Kansas City last
evening, he resumed this morning his
journey to San Francisco. His trip across
Kansas was one continuous kissing bee.
Reports received at Topeka last night in
dicate he kissed more than 700 Kansas
girls and women yesterday, and the num-
Der may reach 1900.
His train made less than dozen stops
during the day. Al each stopping place
there was large crowd, women predom-
mating. In each instance Hobson de-
scended from the car platform and en-
ployed all the time until the train started
in violent osculatory exercise.
AT Topeka, where the train waited
| twenty minutes for dinner, at least 500
women We're in the crowd. Ii was a we'll
| gowned gathering. Some of the society
leaders were there. High school girls
/ were on hands in numbers. and they were
| all on. the qui vive to see the famous
| young lieutenant
! As the train came to d stop the women
pressed eagerly forward and the men in
| the crowd fell BACK TO watch the per-
formance Hobson lost time. He APP
| peared almost Immediately on the car
| platform.
"Ah! there lie is" rose a chorus of
| feminine voices. Isn't he sweet? He
| is Just too lovely for anything, and
| similar expressions were heard
| Lieut. Hobson smiled benignly on the
| crowd. He seemed TO know what was
| expected OF him, for he descended the
steps Immediately There was an awk-
! ward pause for several seconds The wom-
| en-. who surrounded Hobson expected to
| be kissed and IIobson expected 10 kiss
| them, but each woman seemed reluctant
| TO be The first. and IIobson was embar-
| rassed before the breaking of the ice ne
woman came to his rescue, giving him
! an opening which he accepted
| Lieutenant, she said, sweety hand
| ing him card, won't you please give
me your autograph"
"Of courseI will" he replied. laughing
| ~, Il will be delighted to give you my
autograph, but you know have establish
| ed an iuyariabe rule that she who re-
ceives my autograph must pay the penal
ty.' p"
The woman blushed and demonstrated
| mildly. Hobson saw he was losing vaIua-
bic time.He quickly srasped her in his
| arms and kissed her fun upon her lips
This incident served To break the ice
for him. Emboldened by his success. he
passed rapidly down the line. kissing wo-
men and girls right and left. II is esti-
| mated that he kissed fully two hundred
women on the platform al Topeka.
During the trip to Junction City Hobson
was questioned about his kissing expert
ences.
II have often noticed" he said. that
men brought prominently into public no.
tice have been the recipients of marked
attention from women. l never thought
was destined 10 have such an expert
| ence But here am in the midst of il.
Now what wousl You? Would you run
away from IT. No. ! am not going TO,
either. / am man. and ! propose TO en-
| joy it while it lasts.
! DO YOU not get tired kissing so many
| women" ] asked him.
mo, / haven't yet. ! have thoroughly
enjoyed it so far. l suppose If l had
kissed one woman as often as | have
kissed different women today | should be
! thoroughly exhausted. But the constant
change is delightfully."- exhilarating, don't
YOU see? When the kissing is fast and
! furious 1t sometimes gets just little
tiresome. and IL sometimes happens that
/ faces are presented that | would fam pass
by But when | start In / have TO take 1t
as il comes There is no selecting; every
thing goes II IS always a very enjoyable
experience for me-.