Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-07-08

cial washington. Few possessed
greater charm of person. 1t was his
face that brought women to his feet
and won for him the soubriquet Of est.
john
Hobson's features are regular and
finely chisled in profile. His voice is
low, his manner gentle. But there is
little of femininity in Hobson's charac-
ter. He is willful in disposition, and
has never been known to abandon a
purpose upon which his heart had once
been set.
All his life he has been seeking to be
great. 1t was not an affectation. It was
simply the following of the Fremont
ton of his destiny.
In 1885 Hobson entered the Naval
Academy at Annapolis from Alabama
at an age below that of any other
youth entering the naval school. He
was born August II, 1870, at Green's
boro. In 1889 he was graduated at the
head of his class. He also was at the
head of his class in the Southern uni
versity, before he entered the Academy.
At school he was unsociable and
made few friends with his fellows. His
character was misunderstood, and he
was dubbed "girlish." He had fond
ness for big words, which often sub
jected him to ridicule. 1t is said that
once, when he had endured the jibes
Of his playmates for some time, his pa
thence reached a limit, and he notified
the others as follows: Il do not de-
sire, nor will tolerate, any more of
your senseless contumely"
After graduation the cadet spent two
years studying at the School of Naval
Construction in France, and two SUBJ
sequent years at l'Ecole Polytechnique,
Paris. This was at the expense of the
government. In 1898 he returned to the
United States and spent two or three
years at the Brooklyn navy yard, act
Ing on the staff Of Admiral Bunce, COM
mander of the North Atlantic squad
ron. Eventually he was connected with
the bureau of naval construction in
Washington. This inactive life did not
meet his ambitions. He tried to get into
the Turko-Grecian war, but failed, as
he had failed in going to Japan in 1895.
Through influence with Secretary
Herbert, Hobson had rule put in force
which provided for the naval construc-
tors being always on sea duty. 1t is a
rule which is not popular with con-
structors, or with the commanders of
vessels to which they are assigned.
Hobson was buffeted from vessel to
vessel and from station to station until
4 few months ago, when he was at the
naval academy as instructor in naval
construction.
When the war broke out the lieuten-
art Immediately made application for
sea duty, and Commodore Hichborn
permitted his assignment to the New
York with squad of boys for instruc-
ton in naval warfare.
Before Santiago Hobson grasped the
situation quickly and devised what was
ultimately the successful mission of the
Merrimac.
BY right the post Of command was
his. 1t was his opportunity, and he &C.
CepLeQ IL.
Mr.. Hcbson is the author Of the polit-
ical-naval-military paper on the "Sit-
uation and Outlook in Europe" which
has received considerable attention
abroad. During the China-Japan war
he was selected as the American naval
observer, but his selection was re-
voked, owing to the opposition of line
officers to those in the construction
service. His expert knowledge was rec
ognized by the Mexican government,
which designated him, in 1896, to con-
duct trials and pass upon the Mexican
dispatch vessel Donate Guerra, built
at Philadelphia.
' Constructor Hobson is great
nephew Of Gov. John Morehead, of
North Carolina. His father is Col.