New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-09

to proceed according 10 the Governors
instructions. which he did with the utmost
alacritv. When the saloons were closed, the
officials taken into custody, and the town
placed under military control Miss Hobbs
babe Coppcrheld a quiet farewell.
4 telegraph instrument clicked of the
story, and in the next twelve hours 1t was
printed in practically every daily news
paper in the United States and Canada:
Fern Hobbs got as much publicity out OF
this little incident as if she had been elected
10 a State office. The idea of sending her to
Copperfcld was bit freakish; but Cow
crnor West had good reasons for this I'M
prcccdcntcd procedure, which you will
understand when you read about the girl
remarkable career, and how II happens that
at the age of twcnty-Scven she IS the rlght
h; I'd Of the executive department OF
great State and receiving a salary OF three
thousand dollars a year.
Fern Hobbs was born on a sheep ranch
near the village of Naponce, Nebraska.
Her father, John Alden Hobbs came from
North Hampton, New Hampshire, where
his people had lived since that region was
first settled. When she was six years Old
the family moved to Salt Lake City where
she attended the grammar and high schools.
II was one of Miss Hobbs fondest wishes
that she might be able to 60 to college,;
but when she was eighteen her father met
with financial reverScS and the family
moved TO Oregon
Conditions made it imperative that she
become sclf-supporting. She was I'M
trained for clerical work, and in order to
gain a temporary foothold that would en-
able her to earn a living while preparing
for office work she got position as gov
erness in the home Of ]. Wesley Laid, a
wealthy citizen Of Portland. She spent a
year in the employ Of the Ladds, and put
in all her spare time with a shorthand book
and a rented typewriter.
When she went in search OF a position
she found that a stenographcr without eX-
pcricncc or recommendation from bust
ness school had a slim chance OF finding
work; but finally lawyer from Eastern
Oregon went TO Portland in search OF a
stenographcr, and some kind fate prompted
him to hire Fern Hobbs She worked in
the lawyers office for eight months. He
had considerable general practice, ran an
abstract office, and was United States Land
Commissioner and counsel for the State
Land Board. AbstractIng was tedious work;
but II gave Miss Hobbs chance 10 acquire
a wide general knowledge OF the handling
Of real estate, and II was there she learned
the first principles Of law regarding the dis
position Of government land. II was be-
cause Of this knowledge that Governor West
sent her to Washington last fall. There
was nobody in the State who knew more
about public land matters than did Miss
Hobbs.
It became necessary for her 20 be nearer
home; so she applied for a position in the
abstracting department Of the Title Guar
antee & Trust Company Of Portland, a con-
Germ in which the Ladds were stockholders.
When she received a favorable reply she
told the lawyer Of her intention 10 60 back
20 Portland. He recognized her exccp-
tional ability, and did not want to give her
up. He even lost his temper and wrote the