PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10009, 21 December 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Paris Municipality has agreed to erect a statue of Sir Isaac Newton. A street already bears his name. Mrs. Eleanor Sidgwick, Dean of Nownham, the famous college for women, is a sister of tho First Lord of the Treasury, Mr. A. J. Balfour, and famous as one of the best mathematicians in England. Mrs. Hodgson Burnett is a groat lovor of pictures, and when in Loudon makes a point of visiting the various gallerios. Sho says that whon wanting inspiration for a story sho finds nothing so helpful as a good picture. King Humbert of Italy owns nearly two hundred horses, and the greater number of them are English bred. The doublo row of stalls forms a regular screot, and eac'i animal has its name printed in large white letters abofo the manger. On Profossor Blackie's grave, in tho Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, where lie many other Scottish men of lotters, a red granito Celtic cross has now been erected. On a panel beneath is carved the following inscription: -"John Stuart Blackie, Professor of Greok in the University of Edinburgh ; born 28 July, 1809 died 2 March, 1895." Lord Beaconsfield's brother still survives, a kindly old gentleman, who was for many years a clerk, in tho House of Lords. After retiring from his clerkship Mr. Ralph Disraeli was for a time in constant attendmice in tho lobby of tho House of Commons. He bears no resemblance to his more eminent brother. The other day ha was Been driving in the Park, looking vory halo and hearty. Tho lato Frederick Engels, the eminent Socialist, for many yoars resident in Manchester, as a partner in tho firm of Ermen and Engols, Pendleton, left directions in his will that his body was to be cromatod, and that tho ashos were to bo thrown into the sea. Tho fkst of theso directions was obeyed on Saturday, August 10, at Woking. Tho second has just been carried out. Tho ashes, which had boon retained at the mausoleum at Woking, wore takon thonco to Eastbourno, The urn was token straight oub to sea some six mile?, and at this distance, off Beachy Hoad, it was dropped into the water by Edward Bernstein and Edward A voting. Recently" (writes a Westminster Gazette correspondent) " I visited Thrums, and was struck by the sudden severanco of Barries connection with the littlo town which he has made famous. Since the funeral of his mother and sister ho has gone south, and his father, after a lifotime spoilt) there and in the neighbouring town of Forfar, has left for Motherwell, Kirriemuir residents aro proud in most ways of their gifted townsman, but somo of the older generation shake their heads sorrowfully over his lapse from tho paths of the commonplace. 'I'm suro,' said one, 'I canua see hoo Jamie Barrio over thoct o' writin' books, for his father was a ralo decent woel daoin' Ulan.' "

Sir F. Leighton has confided to a contributor to tho Vouug Wotnun the story of how he came t; bo at) artist. In his youth painting was not considered respectable, and Sir Frederic's parents shared, in somo decree, in that strange prejudice, but during a sojourn in Florence, when ho was about 11 years of ago, tho lad prevailed on his father to submit tho question of his futnre profession to Mr. Hiram Powers, tho celebrated American sculptor, Ho end to Mr. Leighton: " Let me have a portfolio of your son's drawings, and if you will call on me at the ond of a week I will givo you an opinion of them." "It was an anxious time for mo," say* Sir Frederic. "1 remember so well the afternoon on which my father wont to seo Hiram Powers to receive the momentous verdict. 1 sat down to my anatomical studies as tho best means of passing away tho timo. Then camo tho sound of wheols on tho gravel outside, and I threw down ray work and ran to tho window. When father stopped from the carriage ha was looking so pleased that I felt sure that he had brought good news." " Is there reason to expect, Mr. Powers," his father had asked, " that my son would attain to eminence if ho followed tho profession of an artist!" "Sir,'' was the reply, " yoar son may bo as eminent as ho choosos." " Then you think," pressed Mr. Leighton, " that I should make an artist of my son ?" " That, sir," was the reply, "' in is out of your power to do ; Naturo has dono it for you."