INTERESTING ITEMS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 309, 5 November 1910, Page 3

INTERESTING ITEMS.

Mr Eustace IL Miles has won the amateur tennis championship nine times in the last twelve years. He is a vegetarian. A motorist driving a 200 horsepower car at landiauapolis, U.S.A., recently covered a mile in 35 3-5 sec. During one morning the aged Emperor of Austria received some 200 persons, with whom he conversed in German, French, Hungarian and Italian. Sir John Villiers, the first peer created in the reign of King George, owns 35,000 acres of property in the Paarl and Worcester districts of Cape Colony.

In spite of his great learning Sir Oliver Lodge is no believer in the sedentary life, and he has continually urged the necessity of outdoor recreation. "Games should be played in moderation by all," is a saying of his, and he himself is an enthusiastic golfer, and goes in for mountain climbing and horse riding. "There is as much room for the man of mediocre ability at games as there is for the steady, plodding man of business," he has written. "We cannot all be brilliant at everything. Because many don't excel at games they stop out, and are content to be spectators. That is a pity."

Queen Alexandra has resolved to set apart the time hitherto devoted to the duties of the throne to the hospital and nursing schemes with which her name is inalenably associated. After the period of mourning her Majesty will be found in active and continual touch with these enterprises, and more particularly with the great hospital scheme of which King Edward was the inspiration and staunch supporter.

Considerable importance is attached to a talisman possessed by Princess Mary. It is an ancient Egyptian stone, found a few years ago in one of the pyramids. It was bought by the Princess Royal when in Cairo, and on her return home she gave it to her little niece, who wears it constantly. It is attached to a fine chain of Indian gold, and it is said that on two occasions when Princess Mary forgot to wear it misfortune has befallen her. On the first occasion she fell from her pony in Windsor Park and bruised her shoulder, and on the second she lost her purse while out with her governess in the West End.

A story told of John Burns is characteristic of the man. From a small lodging on the Surrey side of the river a youth looked out of the bedroom window and saw the light burning steadily on the Clock Tower of Westminster. Parliament was sitting. Another youth was dozing in a bed in the far corner of the room. "Alec," said the first youth, still looking out of the window, "you see that light?" "What about it?" sleepily answered the boy addressed as Alec. "Some day I shall be working under that clock." It was a bold statement for one who was earning a few shillings a week in a factory, and it thoroughly aroused the other. "What do you mean?" he asked. "When I am in Parliament," was the reply. "Don't talk rot," said Alec, and went to sleep again. The youth who was inspired by the light on the Clock Tower was John Burns.

The African explorer, Mr John Boyes, who left his native city of Hull eight years ago, has returned. Leaving Hull to go to sea at the age of 13, Mr Boyes went to Africa for the first time in 1896, and he went through the Matabele campaign. Later he was made king over a tribe of savages, called the Kikurus, and reigned over them for three years, when he resigned his regal position because of difficulties with the British Government. In 1902 he came back to England for a short holiday, and then returned to British East Africa, and travelled 1200 miles over desert country between Abyssinia and British East Africa, suffering considerable privations through lack of water. He states that he is the second white man to cross the region, the first being Lord Delamere. Whilst engaged in big game shooting in the Congo Free State he met ex-president Roosevelt, who asked him where he could find white rhinoceroses. Mr Boyes told him of the only place where these could be found, and Mr Roosevelt afterwards shot eight animals.

Mr Harry Payne Whitney, the American millionaire, who derives his wealth from banking and railway enterprise, is illustrating the pitch of costliness to which sport in England may attain. Mr Whitney has spent about £IO,OOO upon grouse shooting over the Holwick moors, Upper Teesdale/ Mr Whitney left New York on August 13th by the White Star liner Celtic, and disembarked at Holyhead. With him travelled Mrs Whitney, their two children, and a number of American sportsmen, including Mr E. Hame, a cousin of the late "Railway King, "Mr Burden McPayne Thompson and several other well-known "New Yorkers." Upon disembarking the party proceeded to London. They visited York, and upon the termination of the racing there travelled by special train to Darlington and thence to Middleton-in-Teesdale. After spending a dav amongst the grouse Mr Whitney travelled to York by special train to witness the racing, and then returned to New York before the end of the month.

i A woman of very real influence in ! her own circle the German Empress is i simply worshipped by her husband and ' children. The love of her sons is well .. illustrated by a story told of the Crown . Prir.ce in his boyhood. One day, while ■ giving the Prince religious instruction, the Court chaplain tried to imprcr's him that all people are sinners. ■ "Well," ejaculated his Imperial High- • ness, "father may be a sinner, as you I say, but I'm quite sure mother is not."