The record-union., 1898-08-14

soldier, the blue cap of the Jackie"
or the shoulder straps of an officer, a
new feature for an opera crowd
However as may have been surmised,
1t was not an opera crowd, and the
signs near the front entrance gave the
clue to their true character They read
Benefit for the relief of the needy
families of soldiers and sailors: Lieut..
r. F. Hobson to preside" etc.
The proceedings We're scheduled to
commence at 8 O'clock, but the par
ticipants being late in arriving, the peo-
pie found time to examine their sur
roundings. The band (Fanciullis sew
erty-first RegimenD filed into their
seats and soon were beguiling the
waiting hours with martial airs and
battle fantasies. One of the foremost
boxes on the lower tier was decorated
with colors caught up with a shield,
and this everybody rightly guessed
would be Occupied by she whom a little
later was enthusiastically cheered as
Mrs. HobsOn,' the prOudest mother on
earth. The curtain arch was festooned
With gigantic flags, gracefully placed.
Behind the speakers desk which was
covered with Union Jack, We're gath
cred several hundred people comprising
the chorus and invited guests, many
of the latter being high in society and
politics.
When General Woodford entered. the
first of the cheering occurred and from
! tben on anticipation was intense. E,v-
erybody was craning their necks and
opera glasses We're focused on the
wings, their owners eager to obtain the
| first glimpse of the hero of the Merri-
mac. sympathy for the young Lieu
tenant was rife, as his dislike Of such
occasions was known to ALL and much
wonder was expressed as to his ability
| TO discharge his temporary duties in
raceful manner. No naval officer likes
that sort of thing. and to Hobson's ma
ture il must have been particularly
painful.
The Lieutenant arrived about half
| an hour late. He entered in company
with Major Byrne. Preside Of the Re
| lief Society, and eX-Assistant Secre-
! tary of the Navy McAdoo. A roar OF
| greeting Immediately went up from
| those who could see him and from those
who couldn't. 1t was terrific. The large
| band did its best to be heard. but in
vain. They switched off from the star
| Spangled Banner to Dixie" and then
| in despair many musicians arose ana
wildly waved their instruments above
| their heads in enthusiasm. The object
| of it all paused for a moment as though
astonished, but. contrary TO expecta-
| tons, he didn't falter. He glanced for
! a brief moment at the box where his
/ mother sat, smiled and then slowly adj
vanced to the front of the stage where
| he sat down.
After the waves of sound had been
rolling from one end of the house to the
other for fully five minutes, Major
Byrne arose. and securing silence, an
nounced the purpose of the meeting and
| started to introduce Lieutenant Heb
son. Instantly another uproar ascend
/ Ell. People seemed to lose their heads
| completely, flags and hats were cast
| into the air and everybody made as
much noise as possible. with lungs, feet
and hands. Lieutenant Hobson took
/ few steps forward and to the right in
! the direction of the box in which his
\ mother sat, and then with shoulders
| thrown back and eyes cast straight
| ahead. ne stood in something of the
position of the soldier. He kept this pos
! ture until the applause subsidsd some
| what then his lips Were seen to move
4
| and utter silence was secured instant
| ~.
| To the relief of all, their hero spoke in
! a clear strong voice and without the
7, slightest trace of embarrassment he
| said: Wont you please give US yam
| kee Doodle?" The band responded at
4 once. and when they had finished Hob
| son started to speak. What he said
| could be heard all over the great build
/ ing, but not another sound interefered
| The speech Occupied half an hour prob
| ably, and several times pandemonum
! broke loose during that time He de-
voted his r. remarks almost entirely to the
! heroic devotion of the sailor of the
! United States Navy to duty and re-
| lating several incidents illustrative of
| his subject, finally, as a splendid de-
| nouement. recited the tale of the
| 'Gerrimac." To hear this bit of history
! OF international fame from the lips of
| the principal actor in 1T was a novel
| treat. and his audience listened with
! breathless interest. When he told how
! the sailor Charette replied to the ques-
/ ton of the Spanish Major, the people
attempt to outcheer former exploits in
the way of applauding, 1T was a di.fi-
(, cult position to be placed IN, that of