PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

PERSONAL ITEMS.

It is reported that " Ouida" has become extremely religious, and will give up literature.

Lord Tennyson intends to pass next winter on the Riviera, and he is negotiating for a villa at Cannes. James Brown Potter indignantly denies thg rumour that he is about to begin divorce proceedings against his wife, the actress.

The betrothal is announced in Vienna of Sir Francis Montefiore with Mdlle. de Gutma.nn, whose father is the wealthiestironmaster in Austria.

Sarah Bernhardt (says Truth), who has been appearing at Nice in La Tosca," paid an afternoon visit to Monte Carlo, where she won £180 at roulette.

The plan originally formed, according to which the Czar would pay a visit this year to Central Asia, has been definitely abandoned. The Emperor's journey to the south will nob extend beyond the Caucasus. Mr. Gladstone was driving about, the park the other day in a light victoria, with Mrs. Gladstone by his side ; and you might judge from his animated talk and his beaming face he was in spirits as bright, as sunny, as fall of renewed life as the lovely day itself. Two children while playing on one of the quays at Cork fell into the River Lee. Mr. W .J. Lane, M.P. who witnessed the occurrence, jumped in to their assistance, and, though the current was strong owing to the recent heavy rains, succeeded in bringing both children safely ashore. The Portsmouth Times states that some alarming rumours have lately been current in naval circles regarding the health of the Duke of Edinburgh. It is stated, on apparently good authority, that His Royal Highness is suffering from blood poisoning occasioned through the use of a bad water supply at Gibraltar. The remains of Beethoven, which are at present interred in the Wahringer Cemetery, Vienna, will be exhumed, and reinterred in that portion of the new Central Cemetery which is reserved for the dust of eminent men. The remains of the illustrious composer will be laid between those of Schubert and Mozart.

M. Alexandre Dumas lives by measure and weight. He rises at 6.30 in the summer and 7in the winter. His first breakfast invariably consist of a glass of milk. The second, which he takes at noon, is a very plain meal. Dinner occurs at exactly 7, and at 10 he is in bed. He walks three miles every day and never works after 4 in the afternoon.

The following resolution has been adopted by the committee of the Cobden Club: —"The committee of the Cobden Club desires to place on record an expression of its very great regret at the death of Mr. F. W. Chesson. His consistent support of Freetrade, his efforts on behalf of the aboriginal races, his constant opposition to slavery, his firm adherence to Liberal principles and progress throughout the world, deserve the warmest recognition on the part of the Cobden Club ana of all other Liberal associations."

Mr. Irving Bishop disappeared from a private asylum in America a few weeks ago. It is now learned that he is in Honolulu on his way to Australia. A story of his insanity which was circulated in the East a month ago was fiction. Dr. Whitwell, who keeps the asylum, is a friend of Bishop's, and offered him treatment for nervousness. Bishop went to VVhitwell's for this reason. He was seen a number of times by the Herald correspondent just before going to Whit-well's. Bishop has in his baggage a trunk full of letters from certain members of the English aristocracy, all of them alleged to be titled women. There is a pretty widely entertained notion that Mr. Jay Gould is far from being well. Many of those who have seen him since his return to America from his voyage in the old world comment upon his appearance as an indication of the exhaustion of mental force, reflected through the deterioration in his physical appearance. It is generally supposed by these people that the severe strain imposed upon his brain by his active life in - business scheming is beginning to tell upon him, and that unfavourable reports regarding his physical condition may be received with more credence than could be given to similar statements a few years ago.