TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10872, 23 January 1901, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Queen's love for music is The well known, but it is not geneQueen's rally known that in her youth Singing she enjoyed the advantage of Lessons, receiving singing lessons from the celebrated Lab.ache. Madame Demeric Lablache, daughter-in-law of Signor Lablache, declares that one of the proudest moments of his life was when he was appointed singing-master to the young Queen of England. Her Majesty proved a remarkably apt pupil. She had a first-rate ear, unusual intelligence, and a very sweet mezzo-soprano voice, which was produced according to the old Italian methods. In addition to these gifts, she was possessed of an ambition to excel, and accordingly, Madame Lablache says, her progress was as rapid as a singer's could be. Signor Lablache considered that she had absolute control over her voice. The Queen sang in duets with Lablache, ''La Ci Darem," from. "Don Giovanni," being the one she liked best. On the occasion o? the first private concert at which these duets were given. Signor Lablache somewhat diffidently enquired if the Queen's name was to appear on the programme. "Certainly," was the reply.

"write in the usual way, "Duet, "La Ci Darem," her Majesty the Queen and Signor Lablache.' " A copy of this programme, which was printed on white satin, is now in possession of Madame Demeric Lablache, who is Court singer in Russia. The Queen was apparently at home in varied styles of music—the arias of the great'faiasters, sacred music, or operatic songs. She played the pianoforte excellently, could read well at sight, and her perfect ear was a delight to her singing-master. The Queen's voice was absolutely true, and as she acquired the best method of production, her notes remained fresh and sweet long after hey youth was past. Alter her marriage, she often sang duets witl) the Prince Consort, whose voice was a high baritone. The Queen sang at Apsley House in 1851, at a party given by the Duke of Wellington. Her Majesty was a great admirer of Mario's singing, and when she heard Jean de Reszke, the similarity between his voice and that of Mario struck her at once. An interesting account is given in the "Sunday Magazine" of Mendelssohn's visit to Buckingham Palace, , fiftyeight years ago. "Italy," which appeared in the great composer's first book of songs, was her Majesty's favourite, and Mendelssohn stated that "she sang it most beauty fully in tune, strictly in time, and phrased it charmingly; but where it goes down to D natural, followed by D sharp, she sang both notes D sharp ! With this exception it was really delightful, and I have not heard tlie last long G sung by any amateur with such ease, and in such perfect time." At Mendelssohn's request she sang "The Pilgrim's Song," quite faultlessly, he stated, "and with beautiful feeling and expression." Mr John D. Rockefeller, whose The daughter was (married a few Mockery days ago, achieved a record by of presenting, her xvith a dowry of Wealth, ten millions. He was able to do this without straining his finances, for he is believe-d to be tlie richest man in the world, and this gift to his daughter represents just about the sum pa.d in dividends by his Standard Oil Company in one year. Well-informed people say he is worth as much as £40.000,000. Yet this Croesus, with money enough, at command to buy principalities, is doomed to spend his days on starvation rations, just as if he were a city tramp. He must not smoke, nor dlrink, nor sit up late; he must take a long walk every day, whether he feels like it or not; he. must watch -his temperature closely to see that lie does not get overheated, and, above all things, he must dine upon skimaned milk and stale bread, with an occasional cracker thrown- in.' The reason for all this is that he is a sufferer from, acute chronic dyspepsia, and has been so for about fifteen years. This ia why he retains a staff of doctors, who earn large fees by telling him what he must not eat. Cream, butter, meat, fresh bread, white bread, sauces or gravies, Burgundy — all these things, and' much more, Mr Rockefeller must shun as he would shun a' serpent. While his table might be crowded with the choicest foods and rarest wines, the multimillionaire sits down each day to his simple bowl of crackers or stale bread, and skimmed milk, and a little tepid barley water. This simple meal he must eat very slowly. Sometimes he may take a little brown bread, but never with butter. Any fatty substance would cause him agonies v of indigestion. Even fruit is forbidden, except in the height of the season. Again, for four months in the year lie. must retire to his country place at Tarrytown, on the Hudson River, and there work as a labourer in the fields. From five o'clock in tlie morning till sunset, dressed in a suit of overalls, he toils bravely on witli his men, and after this heroic treatment he is able to return to his office and barely put through the winter. This programme is repeated every summer. Regular exercise is so essential in his case that even in the winter months he often walks the whole distance from his house on Fiftvfourth street to his office on Lower Broadway. While his most poorly-paid clerk may ride in the street car, Mr Rockefeller's strings of horses and luxurious carriages cannot avail him when this long morning Walk is before -<im. It is not too much to say that the man who gave ten millions to his daughter the other day for her marriagegift, would cheerfully pay twice the sum if thereby he could purchase a new stomach. • Alcohol is likely to have a new A sphere of usefulness. Its chief New use influence, according to prohibifor tionists, has hitherto gone iv Alcohol, the direction of darkening the world, but all this is to be changed. Alcohol, according to its friends, has cheered the earth * now it is to have an extended career of usefulness in illuminating it. A clever Frenchman, M. Denayrouze, of Paris, has discovered a process of lighting by alcohol which is said to surpass all other known illuminants. This new light has been improved by another clever Frenchman, M. Dusart, and, according to M.' Chaleyer, of Melbourne, who saw it in Paris, is the best he ever saw. The flame produced is perfectly white, and its power is described as wonderful. The liquid, which is colourless and odourless, is carburi. Ed alcohol, and the light is obtained by means of a wick. M. Chaleyer, who was asked by the ex-Minister of Defence of Victoria to make enquiries on the subject, saya that a lamp containing a little l.ss than a

finb of carburised alcohol will burn lot eleven hours, giving a light of from 80 to 100 candle-power at a amall cost. He adds that he saw cooking done by alcohol. M. Denayrouze and his assistants have discovered a process of solidifying alcohol so that itican be carried about in cakes in tin pocket. A cake of this land, on being lighted, will give off an enormous heat, and when this heat is no longer required,- the flamo can be blown out, and. the cake replaced in one's pocket when it cools. Apparently, alcohol has possibilities before it which were undreamed of in the last century.