PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9028, 5 November 1892, Page 12 (Supplement)

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Constance, Countess of Orkney, formerly Gilchrist, is entitled to walk eighty-rive paces in front of the Countess of Clancarty. Anton Dvorak, the great composer, was a poor butcher's boy in Bohemia. The masterpiece of this graduate from sweetbreads is his Suite in D. Sir Lyon Playfair, who will adopt as his title Baron Playfair, sailed from Liverpool on August 24 on board the Teutonic for America, where he will remain about three month*. The Rev. W. J. Dawson has terminated his connection with Wesleyan Methodism. He has entered upon his new sphere of labour at the Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church, London, According to the Washington Herald Mary Anderson is this year 33 years of age, Sarah Bernhardt 48, Mrs. Langtry 42, Mme. Modjeska 48, Christine Nilsson 49, Adelina Patti 49, Marie Roze 46, Ellen Terry 44, Minnie Hauk 39, and Mrs. W. H. Kendal 43. * • lb may nob be generally known that Mdins. Bernhardt adds to her other accomplishments that of being an enthusiastic and successful angler. When an enterprising interviewer went to see her the other day at the village of Benodet, Cape Finisterre, he found her out on the river in a boat plying her angle in a pouring rain. The friends of Mr. Thomas Allen Reed, the well-known shorthand writer and reporter, are taking steps to commemorate that gentleman's phonographic jubilee. A committee has been formed with this object, and ib is hoped that some substantial testimonial will be presented at a public meeting in London at the end of October. i By the death of Mrs. Carruthers, of Inverness, there has passed away probably one of the last of those intimately connected with the family and household of Sir Walter Scott. Mrs. Carruthers was the youngest daughter of the great novelist's faithful friend and amanuensis, William Laidlaw, of Kaeside, Abbotsfield, and author of " Lucy's Flittin'." The deceased lady's husband, Mr. Robert Carruthers, was editor of the Inverness Courier, and a wellknown biographer and editor of Pope. It is not often that a talented man rejoices in the possession of a daughter who inherits to some degree his own cleverness. Bret Harte's young daughter Jessamine has, however, made an entirely satisfactory debut in literature. She is described as tall and handsome, with fair curling hair and dark eyes. Her dress is characteristic, and she seldom varies from her own special style —a long, plain skirt, and full blouse waist, with a broad waistband, being her invariable costume. It suits her individuality, and she is sensible enough to adhere to it. The Berliners are becoming quite uncomfortable at the continuous journeys of their King and Emperor, so that, in joke, it was recently said that the civic authorities would shortly present an address to Hi 3« Majesty, begging hitn to pay the German capital a visit during one of his many journeys. If the Emperor wore not an autocrat, affairs could be carried on very well indeed without his presence. As, however, no measures whatever can be taken without his consent, things have now for some months been at a standstill, in spite of what the papers says about His Majesty working so hard. The Rothschilds own five chateaux at Ferrieres, fifty miles south of Paris, and here they go for a good time in summer, all together often, and as sociable a family as one may find in a long journey. Barcn Alphonse's chateau has a famous cellar, and, when Prince Bismarck occupied it, without the owner's invitation, in 1871, Bismarck knew more about its old vintages than the steward thought. When ordered by the warlike Prussian to produce some of his treasures, this venerable functionary swore there was nothing bub vin ordinaire in the house. A rope was brought and a noose made, and in no time thereafter the rarest Johannisberger Schloss, in crystal goblets ten inches high, was served, to the great i Bismarck's delight, .•'