PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

PERSONAL ITEMS.

De Lesskps is enjoying perfect health. Marcus Aurelius was Matthew Arnold's favourite author.

Mme. Nilsson has just recovered from, a long and annoying deafness caused by abscesses in both ears.

Queen Olga of Greece is making several garments with her own hands for her eldest daughter's " marriage basket." John Bright has declined the honour of a peerage and a consequent membership in the House of Lords, proffered him by the Queen. The Grand Duke Alexis, brother to the Czar, is said to be able to drink more champagne than any other European Prince, even in Russia.

The heirs of the late Sir Joseph Withworth will give to the city of Manchester, England, £135,000 for a* Whitworth institute of Art and Industry. The funeral of General Sir Duncan Cameron was followed by a large assembly of mourners, friends, brother oflicers, and men who have served under him.

The Buenos Ayres Standard announces that 300,000 negroes from the United States, with a capital of £400,000, are about to emigrate to that republic and form an agricultural colony in the Chaco. The Bishop of London has risen to be a wit. As lie was taking leave of a parishioner with a very large family the lady said, "But you haven't seen my last baby." "No," he quickly replied, "and I never expect to !" Lord Dudley, the wealthy young English noble who has just come into possession of his heritage of some £400,000 per annum, has already developed a strong taste for gambling, and recently lost £20,000 at < 'ii'g and £10,000 at cards. Mrs. Sydney Smith Swann, the wealthiest lady in Maryland, with the exception of Miss Garrett, has filed a bill in the Circuit Court of Baltimore, praying for an absolute divorce from her husband, Donald Swann, on the ground of unfaithfulness. King Oscar ot' Sweden recently called on the Pope, and instead of kissing his hand, as is the custom, kissed him soundly on both cheeks, to the surprise of the courtiers. It was the greatest shock the traditions of the Vatican had received since General Grant shook hands with Pius IX., and said, " How do you do, sir ?" Queen Victoria is quite well posted on current literature. Every new book of any prominence is at once sent to her. If she is attracted by its title, it is read to her by some maid of honour in waiting. During the morning the Queen always listens to several columns of the London Times. She has a great liking for newspapers. In 186S Napoleon 111. obtained from the heirs of Talleyrand a postponement of 22 years more before the writings of the former can be published. This period will be ended in May, 1800. The manuscript is in the hands of the Duke de Montmorency, second son of the Duke de Talleyrand, grandson of the writer, the Prince de Talleyrand. It is stilted in reference to the proposed improvement of Salisbury and Cecil Streets, Strand, that in Cecil - street, once the residence of the Cecil family, Queen Elizabeth, when a guest of the Cecils, slept, and that amidst all alterations the room lias been preserved intact. The original Salisbury House, one of the famous Strand palaces, was built by Sir Robert Cecil, created Baron Cecil in 1603, and Earl of Salisbury in 1605. Queen Elizabeth is recorded to have been present at the house-warming in 1603.

The Duke of Portland, in consequence of his carrying off the blue ribbon of the Derby, has become the prominent figure of the day. Although he has been on the turf only since 1881, he has had a phenomenal success. -He is now only thirty-one years of age. He is middle-sized, dark, with good clear colour and very regular features. His forehead is broad, "his eyes blue, large, and clear, his nose straight, his mouth full-lipped and shaded by a short brown moustache. His chin is strong in line and clean shaven. He is the most prominent noble in sporting circles, besides being enormously wealthy and unmarried. He is at present Master of the Horse to the Queen and the sixth holder of the Portland Dukedom.