The age-herald., 1900-11-04
Distinguished Visitors Will be Re- ceiVed Thursday Afternoon STATE CONFERENCE OF ). 4. R. Interesting Meeting of the Woman's Club Held Yesterday, the First
 of the Season-D0ingsi
 World of Society
BY ANNIE KENDRIcK WALKER.

The brilliant social side of the fair will also be characterized with patriotic inter- est, the coming of General Wheeler and Lieutenant Hobson being an event when Birmingham will again give expression to its patriotism in it's welcome to the dstin- guished visitors who will be its guests during the week.
 That upon the occasion of the second visit of Lieutenant Hobson to Birmingham he will be accompanied by his mother and his sister, Miss Annie Hobson, the events of the week will be made particularly bril- liant by the presence of these charming women. With the coming of these com rades in arms and the presence of the mother and sister of one of these heroes, one could but picture the meeting of these women with the daughter of the gray haired veteran of two wars, had it been possible for her to have accompanied her father to Birmingham; for while the war heroes enjoy a monopoly of public interest the heroines of war enjoy an adoration that is akin to worship. Tie remembrance that Annie Wheeler was an angel of mercy to the bronzed troopers who fought under the flag of her country would deepen the in- terest that would be attached to her pres ence by the side of the mother and sister of the gallant hero of the Merrimac. But there cannot be an occasion of tenderer sig nlficance than that upon which the eyes of the mother will rest proudly upon the fig ure of her son as he stands by her side at the great public function next Thurs day, while the privilege of greeting Gen. eral Wheeler, around whom the halo of war and romance chngs his long service for his country, both in peace and war, to greet the gallant general and Alabamas brave lieutenant upon the same occasion will be an event of memorable interest
 Both the Wheelers and the Hobsons have a wide personal acquaintance in Birming. ham. There are so many Greensboro peo- pie here, who know the Hobson family so we'll in their old home, and those who knew them best are the least surprised that Lieu tenant Hobson executed a brave act that flashed his name around the world. They declare that nothing else could have been expected of the son of such mother, who is herself one of the bravest and strongest Of women. She was North Carolina belle before her marriage, and much of her young ladyhood was spent at the executive man. sion in Raleigh, where she was the guest of her sister, Mrs. Fowler the wife of the governor of North Carolina. The family homestead, "Richmond Hill," which is to- day magnificent estate in the mountains of western Carolina, was the scene of Sal lie Pearson's wedding to James R. Hobson, who brought his beautiful bride to his home, Magnolia Grove, in Greensboro Ala. It is here that the Hobsons live, and where for many years the most brilliant social in- terest of the State was centered and which is to-day a place of historic interest in American annals. The house is colonial, and there surrounds it the most ideal envi- rcnment.
 Mrs. Hobson IS a little woman her figure retaining the youthful lines, and 1t is said that her eyes shine with the sweetest con tent whenever she speaks the name of her son.
 My dear Richmond is coming and can not express what his homecoming means to me-" she wrote quite recently to a warm personal friend in Birmingham, and 1t was not difficult to know that the son was to the mother what he is to the nation.
 Miss Annie Hobson, who will accompany her mother and brother to Birmingham, has also many personal friends in the city al- band will play during the receiving hours. though at the time that many of the old Greensboro families removed to Birming- ham Annie Hobson was child in pinaforee. Since then she has developed into beau- tiful girl and is one of the youngest State belles and beauties Her sister, Miss Flor ence Hobson, has frequently been the guest of Major and Mrs. Edward Magruder Tut miles, and a younger brother of the lieu tenants lives at Woodstock. Lieutenant Hobson will visit his brother during his