PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8664, 5 September 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

PERSONAL ITEMS.

TnEF.E are six Jews in the House of Commons. The Prince of Wales carries £160,000 life j insurance. The anniversary of the death of Garibaldi was observed on June 2 throughout Italy. A farmer named David L. Fleming, aged 113 years, died lately at Kilcummin, near Killarney. The oldest reigning sovereign in Europe is the King of Denmark, who is one year the senior of Queen Victoria. People in Paris give Mine. Carnot the distinction of setting the fashions in dress, as Eugenie did in empire days. Mr. Rudysrd Kipling has returned to London from a short trip to America, looking (says the Athemeum) the very picture of health. It has been recently stated that the Queen travels free of cost to herself. This is not so, as Her Majesty pays at the rate of 7s (id a mile in England for a long or short journey, and first-class fares for all members of her suite. Mme. Sarah Bernhardt has just bought a large tract of laud at INeuilly, a suburb of Paris, for the sum of 200,000 francs. It is said that she contemplates the construction of a veritable palace there after she has finished her tour in America and Australia. The death is announced at Gottinpen of William Edward Weber, tho eminent German physical scientist. The deceased more especially devoted his attention to electro-dynamics, in which field his researches were profound and extensive. In 1833 he produced the first electro-magnetic telegraph. It is announced that Rubenstein, the eminent composer, is about to leave Russia for Dresden, which hereafter he will make his home. The announcement is not without its significance. Rubenstein was born in Russia, is a Jew on the maternal side, and was educated in that country. More than any other Russian composer he has by his genius made Russia famous as a musical country. The grave of Oliver Goldsmith, in the precincts of the Inner Temple, still remains in an untended condition. The secluded little courtyard has just been relaid with gravel, and the memorial stono of the poet bears evidence of irreverent treatment. Not only are the engraved letters becoming dim, but the tablet is scratched, evidently by heedless feet. Here is a fresh opportunity for something being done to prevent further desecration. Lord Robert Cecil, the third son of Lord Salisbury, who is at the Parliamentary bar, made his debut as a cross-examiner last week before the House of Commons Select Committee on the London Water Bill. He was junior counsel lor Hertfordshire, and his leader happened to be absent when the examination of an important witness concluded. Lord Robert acquitted himself exceedingly well, and he ought to have a brilliant career in prospect. He was married about two years ago to Lady Eleanor Lambton, one of Lord Durham's sisters, who brought him a fortune of £00,000.

In the account of his voyage out to the Cape, Lord Randolph Churchill has not a good word to say for anybody connected with the Grantully Castle. Captain, officers, crew, cookall seem to have been incapable of pleasing him. We regret to learn that the dislike was not confined to one side. Indeed, a passenger by the vessel on its return to London assures us that it will be long ere Lord Randolph Churchill and his party are forgotten. " They managed," says our informant, " to set everybody on board against them." If all that our informant tells us be true, it is "not difficult to understand the disfavour with which Lord Randolph's fellow passengers regarded him. He refused, it seems, to take his place at the general table, and had a separate table arranged in the saloon for himself and his friends. That is one point not altogether expected in one who professes to be a democrat. He sent stewards to request ladies to move from positions they had taken up so that hi 3 cardtable might be placed conveniently for himself. • On Sundays, moreover, he defied in a needlessly aggressive manner the feelings of the Sabbatarians. From all this it is not surprising to learn that when the vessel arrived at Natal Lord Randolph was [ burnt in effigy J