ITEMS OF SOCIAL MEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8156, 18 January 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL MEWS.

[from the society papers.]

This story of the Parnell Commission is not bad, if true. It is told by a London correspondent. Sir Henry James, nob knowing of Mr. Davitb's intention, and thinking that ho himself would have to address the courb forthwith, had provided himself with a large bottle of eggflip, or some such preparation, for the purpose of moistening his throat. As soon as Mr. Davibb declared his intention of speaking, Sir Henry James leaned over and asked him how long he would probably take. " Oh," replied Mr. Davitt, " certainly the whole of to-day, and very probably all to-morrow." "Well, then," said Sir Henry, "in that case you had better take this," and straightway he handed over the bottle to the Irish agitator, who, it is said, has found it greatly conducive to the prolongation of his oratory.

Already there are indications that next season will be as matrimonially brilliant as the one that has just passed and furthermore it is rumoured that, like this season, the hymeneal events will be crowned by ft royal marriage. We have heard so mauy times of the impending betrothal of Prince " Eddy" that it has become like the fabulous cry of " wolf, wolf," bub it is now stated on very good authority that we may confidently expect this long-deferred event on His Royal Highness' return from India. The bride to be, according to rumour, is pretty Princess May of Teck, whose name lias several times been linked with that of her royal cousin. At all events, it is an open secret that the young Prince has for some time past been deeply in love with the charming daughter of the popular Duchess of Teck, and that grandmamma's opposition has been the only barrier to the engage-; raent. The Queen's views regarding "eligibles" have considerably broadened within the last few months or so, and it is said that she now sees no just cause or impediment to the union. The Princess May is popular with all classes, she is amply provided with pin-money, and I can think of no one who would be so gladly welcomed by the people as their future Queen.

The first Sir Robert Peel was one of England's wealthiest sons, and subscribed £10,000 to the patriotic fund raised early in the century. He left a vast fortune to his eldest son, albeit providing very liberally for his other children. The Prime Minister, Sir Robert, was a man of exemplary personal habits. He lived handsomely and hospitably, both in town and country, and was fond of assembling round him in the autumn at Drayton Manor the leading men of the day. His chief expenditure was in pictures, for which he gave very largo sums, and formed an exceedingly fine collection. These he left as heirlooms in the hands of trustees. Besides a large gallery at Drayton Manor, he had a very choice collection in Whitehall Gardens, and during the Reform Bill troubles of IS3I he is said to have had a vessel moored off his house, ready to convey away valuables if matters threatened danger. The present Sir Robert is not generally credited with having been financially prudent —at all events, in the earlier portion of his career. He has long since given up residing at Drayton Manor, although he did pay it and the neighbouring town of Tamworth a visit when his heir came of age. He is still a large landed proprietor, with a rent-roll of many thousands a year ; but we know that there is sometimes a great difference betwixt a rent-roll on paper and the portion of it which the owner '' touches," as the French say, more especially in these latter days, and Sir Robert is not regarded as rich.

The new trial of the breach of promise case of the German governess, Wiss Wiedemann, against the heir of the Earl of Oxford will be heard this session. During the long vacation Mr. Robert Walpole's solicitors have been actively working up fresh evidence. Marco Pasha, the landlord of the Hotel d'Angleterre at Constantinople, where Miss Wiedemann was in service, has been specially brought over to this country and examined on commission. On the other side, Miss Wiedemann has taken the opportunity to obtain the proofs of the birth of her child.

I have often been asked the origin of the phrase "The New Journalism," which, as Air. Andrew Lang observes in the new number of Longman's Magazine, "is now much attacked and vehemently defended." The phrase was first used by Matthew Arnold in an article in the Nineteenth Century (May, ISS7). He mentioned no names in connection with the phrase, but enumerated its distinguishing virtues as being "ability, novelty, variety, sensation, sympathy, generous instincts."'

Mr. Smalley has been retailing reminiscences of Lord Wolseley. " Lord Wolseley," he says, "more than any other man I can think of, or ever heard of, is the incarnation of frankness. There is no subject on which he will not say his say in any company ; no man on whom he will not express his real opinion, in the presence of any number of his fellow-men." Yet, says Mr. Smalley, he can be courtier as well as censor, and there have been perhaps few examples of more delicate and ready tact than Lord VVolseley's at the Queen's dinnertable at Balmoral on his return from Tel-el-Kebir. The Queen drank his health— compliment of the most marked and unusual kind. What was he to do? What did etiquette permit or require ? There was no precedent, and the solicitude of the company was painful. To propose Her Majesty's health in return seemed an assumption, of equality as between subject and sovereign. Lord Wolseley rose ; his face, I imagine, a * hade paler than usual. "I beg your Majesty's permission," he said, "to offer a toast to the health of my gallant comrade-in-arms, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, whose services and whose courage have alike been conspicuous in Egypt." They say the Queen was so delighted with this compliment to her son that Lord Wolsjley's place in favour of his Commander-in-Chief was higher than before, and has ever since been maintained.

A story is told of Mr. Barnum, which may or may not be true. It is said that some five-and-thirty years ago he delivered a lecture at Oxford before an audience composed largely of undorgraduates. The subject was " Humbug," and the students were very unruly. In fact, M\. Barnum shared the fate of many other entertainers in those days, and could not obtain a hearing. At length there was a lull, and the speaker, seizing the opportunity, shouted out, "Then you don't want to hear anything about humbug ?" "We don't," was the immediate reply. Mr. Barnum looked steadily at his audience and returned, " Well, I have got your money, and there's no humbug about that !" Peace with honour was immediately proclaimed.

An extraordinary scene took place in the corridors of the hall at the Law Courts, London, the other day. A well-dressed lady was ejected from the Court in which Mr. Justice Kay was hearing cases in private. Her piercing screams and cries for justice disturbed nearly all the courts in the neighbourhood, and the corridor was thronged with spectators. In the centre of the crowd she knelt down and prayed that fire might be sent down from heaven and crumble the walls of the courts The attendants interfered and the unfortunate lady was removed to a waiting room, shouting as she was conveyed downstairs, " Justice !" and " Purify your judges 1"

A Madrid correspondent records an interesting sight witnessed during the visit of the Archduke Albrecht to Madrid, when the little king received him in state, seated gravely upon the throne, upon which he was with difficulty persuaded to mount, stating that he preferred to sit upon his mother's knee. The baby king, perched upon the huge throne, surrounded by all the grandees of Spain, presented a comical spectacle. It is stated that His Majesty had many spirited encounters with his attendants during his stay at San Sebastian, being only held back by main force from joining the groups of children on the sands at play, and frequently dissolving into tears when interrupted at his games to salute the passers-by in the military fashion with his tiny hand.