The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-24
HOW A HOBSON
BEE is CONDUCTED

From the Chicago Tribune
The scores on the stage were pushed FORE
ward by the hundreds on the parquet fooz
behind them. There was no division of men
and women Upward of 100 persons. among
them thirty or forty women, passed before
a kiss was given or received. Both sides, the
lieutenant making the one, the women the
other, apparently were waiting for the Ice
to be broken.
Several times rosy cheeks were held
temptingly near, and several times the gal.
liant lieutenant bent with the air of cour-
tier over pretty face, but he seemed to
lack the courage.
Never was accusation more false, though
1t came tauntingly to him from the rear,
where stood laughing friends and a crowd
of uproarlous men and boys. Under the
guise of a relationship kiss his lips were
given freedom for action. Two women,
young and pretty, came up the line One
of them held out card.
Were relatives of yours, Lieutenant
Hobson," she said archly.
Indeed, queried the smiling lieutenant,
I've been finding relatives ever since I
started west"
eve are, truly" was the response. 1--WE
are daughters of Ex-Governor Towle of
North Carolina"
"As relatives" said Lieutenant Hobson,
II must give you cousinly salute"
With deferential courtesy he threw one
arm around the neck of one of the two,
Mrs. Thomas Duerson Knight, and kissed
her with smack that was heard far back
in the parquet circle. With the same Gers
monial he bestowed kiss upon the sister,
Miss Mary Towle.
The performance was received by the au.
dience with a long drawn sigh of happiness.
Before the expression of popular approval
had subsidized a young woman dressed as a
school girl held her lips up to the lieutenant
as he grasped her hand. He lowered his own
until they rested upon hers, a clinging kiss.
far removed from the smack which had
started the kissing bee
My, but that's goodv' said a small bov
VINO had crowded his way to the front of
the aisle which had now formed beyond tn.
lieutenant to see how he rewarded affec-
tonate patriotism.
After that every woman who passed in
review ran gantlet-of derision IL she
failed to ask for the kiss her manner
showed she wanted, good-natured calling
of the number if she held up her Inns or
allowed the lieutenant to lift them to the
level of his own.
"AW-w-W-W-W!' was the slogan soundo5
after each encounter.
Aren't you sorry that you didn't.
greeted number who turned around re-
gretfully after their chance was gone
Yes, l am snapped one determined
girl, but l won't be long," And sha
wasn't She went back and was kissed
Kisses fell in steady succession after the
first half dozen had been given and each
kiss was favored with some comment not
from the lieutenant but from the aisle
members ahead.
You're No. 81 and YOU got the best kiss
of ALL"
Bend lower; he can't find your lips"
Hell do his part if you'll help him bit''
"Good for No. 76!"
Finally came the rhythmic count 100, 101,'
and on and on until all records of the kind,
if ever one existed previously, were left
far behind.
For thirty-six minutes the lieutenant
stood at the kissing post, giving an aver
age of five oscillations a minute. During
rush minutes he kissed as high as ten pairs
of lips, making up for the earlier minutes
when modesty held HIM back from making
a demonstration of his abilities. In the last
ten minutes he levied tribute, allowing no
girl woman to pass free. In some in
stances 1t was like confisca ton of sweets.
The lieutenant, however, would not be
vanquished, and when lips were not proffer-
ed he searched for them. Throwing his
arms around waist and shoulders, he held
the apparently defiant victims until he
could lay his face against their cheeks and
find their lips with his mustache. His &C!
tions caused bushes in plenty, but never an
outcry When marked obduracy was shown
General McNulta assisted him In pinioning
the pr 'soners. But for those who objected
there were many who repeated. One wo-
man stayed until she was kissed twice, and
one pretty girl received three salutes