PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8986, 17 September 1892, Page 4 (Supplement)

PERSONAL ITEMS.

- - —•*•■ _ Mr. Sims Reevks will become, a professor at the Guildhall School of Music. Dr. John Thomas, the able Welsh Congregationalist minister, died on July 14. The Empress of Russia is suffering from an affection of the eyes. She is compelled to wear spectacles, and several specialists have been consulted. On July 13 the King of Greece received Admirals Tryon and Murkham, and the captains of seventeen ships were presented by Mr. Egerton, the British Minister. Andrew Marsden, well-known in racing circles ana who years ago fought Joe Wormald for the championship of England, died suddenly at his residence at Nottingham, on July 20. Count Tolstoi has no confidence in English Trades Unions. "I fear," he says, " that in the course of time they will merely substitute for the injustice of the minority that of the majority." The Pope has a weakness. The Vatican correspondent of the Figaro avers that Louis XIII. takes snuff el beuueoup. However blonde and suave may be the Pontifical snuff, it sullies the cassock of snowy whiteness which the Pope alone is allowed to wear by the Roman Church. Lady Dundas, daughter of the Earl of Zetland, Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, was married lately to Lord Southampton, the ceremony taking place in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. The bride wore a dress of white velvet, trimmed with ostricli feathers, her train being borne by three limy pages. At '. Paul's Church, Knightshridge, on July 11, was celebrated the marriage of the Earl of Mar and Killie, Scots Guards, and the Lady Violet Ashley, fourth daughter of the Countess of Shaftesbury, and sister of the present peer. The nave was lined during the service by the non-commissioned officers, drummers, and pipers of the Ist Battalion of the Scots Guards. The Queen of Wurtemburg showed great presence of mind, whilst driving lately when the hind wheel of the carriage broke near Rosenstein, so that the coachman and footman were thrown from the box and severely injured. Her Majesty, proving quite equal to the emergency, climbed on to the box, seized the reins, and brought the horses to a standstill; after which she continued her journey on foot. Sir Arthur Hardinge, K.C.8., colonel of the Coldstream Guards, died at Weymouth on July 21, from injuries received some days previously. Sir Arthur was driving in the neighbourhood with one of his daughters, when the horse took fright, and the occupants of the carriage were thrown out. Sir Arthur sustained a fracture of tho left collarbone and eighth rib. He was 64 years of age. The Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda, accompanied by the Maharanee and her two sons, visited the Queen at Windsor. The Gaekwar wore European dress and a crimson and white turban, the Maharanee a rich Oriental costume, and the purple vel vet gold-embroidered caps of the young princes were adorned with jewelled aigrettes. The Gaekwar was an interested listener at the singing of the Sunday-school choirs at the Cyrstal Palace. The following information has been furnished by Countess Leon Tolstoi regarding the health of her husband, the well-known writer The Count is never altogether well now. He has not regained his strength since his last gastric attack, and his activity amongst the distressed peasantry tires him more than it did in the winter, and allows him no opportunity of resting and recruiting. There is a good deal of distress in many of the villages in the district, and help is still distributed to the needy by means of the free kitchens previously established." Mr. Labouchere recently stated that the bill for costs owing to him from men whom he had exposed for the public benefit amounted to nearly £19,000. The last action he was called on to defend was one for alleged libel brought against him by Mr. Horatio Bottomley, late of the Hansard Union. It was withdrawn on tho day of trial. Mr. Labouchere casts the blame for this state of things—that is,, for what amounts practically to the blackmailing of newspapers.that dare to speak'the truth— on the public. It might be replied that the legislators are at fault, and of those Mr. Labouchere himself is no unimportant member.