The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-07-29

ported unfavorably upon that of the
Cristobol Colon, Hobson went down
in a diving bell and made the an
nouncement that it could be saved.
He is now in this country to hasten
the work. So great is the confidence
felt in him that the President took
his opinion above that of the
expert wreckers and will give
out the contract to firm to float it.
In view of the various and sundry
libels which have been printed of
Hobson, running the cadensa from a
sweet-faced college boy to bearded
looking genius, it might be interest
ing to know exactly how he does
look. / felt some interest in the
matter myself, and was glad when 1
had the opportunity to see him. 1t
is seldom that young man gets the
ovation that was accorded Hobson
in Washington last Friday.
He was recognized before he left
the Pennsylvania Station, and the
cheer that went up would warm the
heart of Sheridan, as cold as he
was reputed to be. There was a
mad rush for carriages, and many
took to bicycles, following Hobson
up Pennsylvania avenue and closing
on him as he neared the Navy De-
partment. A great concourse of
people followed him into the build
ing, and clerks and laborers came
out to see him. Old army generals
and naval officers did not think it
beneath their dignity to join in the
scramble to shake his hand and
cheer him along the corridor.
The only person who seemed
embarrassed was Hobson. He seem
ed heartily ashamed to be the centre
of such a crowd, and tried to explain
to few who got nearer him that
he had done nothing. Once in the
ante-room of. the Secretary of the
Navy one could get a good look at
him. The first conviction was
that he was a handsome man. He
looks an athlete, and walks with an
easy, graceful step. He looks one
squarely in the face. Yet there is
something appealing in his express
sion. He has not the stamp of a
conceited man, nor yet one who has
great confidence in himself. He
simply has the appearance of a
handsome Southern boy who has
nothing to be ashamed of.
One might think that he comes up
to the requirement Of the old South
ern gentleman, to ride well, to shoot
and to tell the truth. In fact,
the more l think of him, tLis
is just about as he does look. He
blushed like girl when, looking
around the room, he saw his picture
leaning against the wall. There
were several of him, two of Schley
and two of Dewey. They were
done in charcoal, and some were
bad and others fairly good. He
made no comment until his eyes
lighted on a face which he did not
seem to recognize. 1t showed a
young man with a Vandyke beard.
"Who is that?" he asked of
Secretary Long, who had his arm
through that of Hobson's.
"Why, that is one of our greatest
heroes.
Il don't think l ever saw him, :"
said Hobson.
ooh, yes you have" answered
Mr.. Long. "You know him very
well, or ought to. That is Naval
Constructor Hobson."
The whole administration seemed
proud of him Mr.. Long would not
let him out of his sight. He went
with him to the White House, and
from there to the club, where he
was warmly greeted by old friends.
The happiest man in the lot was
Chief Constructor Hichborn, when
he captured him for his special
guest at dinner.
Chief Hichborn said to-day that
he could not get him to talk about
himself Gle would do nothing
but harp on the floating of the hulls
in Cuba, as if" he said, cit were
half as interesting even to me as
the sinking of that hull, the Mer-
rimac, in the channel" Usually,
there is some one who is jealous
of a hero. Somebody who thinks
he could have done it as we'll
whatever it might be. But no one
has anything but praise for Hob
son. Schly has his detractors and
Sampson his admirers, but the two
men who stand out as popular
idols are Hobson and Dewey.
Neither seems to have an enemy,
and the smallest-souled man in the
country seems to have breadth
enough to acknowledge that both
are entitled to all the honor that
can be bestowed upon them. They
New England, Alabama
and America. They both possess
the twin virtues which excites no
jealousy nor wounds anyone's ego
5ism-bravery and modesty.-From
l Washington Correspondent.