THE PENALTY Of PUBLIC LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10425, 24 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PENALTY Of PUBLIC LIFE.

CURIOUS CORRESPONDENTS OF

CELEBKITIES. One of the penalties of being popular is that one must bear patiently with the thousands of unknown correspondents who write on every conceivable subject. It is said that, for some time after bis election to the Presidency, Mr. MeKinley received over a thousand letters a day.

The letter-bags of prominent men frequently contain the most curious documents. The Prince of Wales, for instance, some years ago, received a request from a tribe of Red Indians in Canada, that ha should adjudicate on some local question that had arisen. A party of white men were poaching on the preserves of the Indians, which the red men resented. A grand palaver was held, at which it was decided to send a message to tho Prince, who soon afterwards received an appeal couched in the following terms.: -"To the Prince of Wales, England. White men cutting timber on Eagle Lake. Would you kindly come and settle matter ? This was given to us. Please advise.—Kau Kiweasii, Chief, Wabigoon Lake." The Prince's reply would be interesting, but, unfortunately, it is not on record. A popular novelist once received an extraordinary proposal from a lady of rank. The suggestion was that the novelist should write a novel for a stated sum, and allow her tu put her name to it, " not for making money, but in order that people might think her clover and interesting." The proposal was rejected, but it is stated that several books have since appeared in the namo of the writer.

A literary man, writing a history, some months ago received a letter from an aged couple rotating at length an incident in which their son had been prominently (and creditably) concerned. The letter suggested that the recipient should "write up" the facts as nicely as he could and incorporate them in the history. Mr. Gladstone has his enemies. One of the most curious epistles ever received at Hawarden Castle was from a Welshwoman, in which the Grand Old Man was compared to Nero, and the writer expressed sympathy with Pontius Pilate for having boon compared to Mr. Gladstone. Statesmen often receive amusing letters from disappointed applicants for positions, or from ambitious politicians who want appointments.

The late Liberal Premier received a letter from a London gentleman urging his claim to the Government's patronage, on the ground that he was the member of a Liberal club in which a bust of the Premier had just been unveiled. A clergyman, who lo?t an Irish deanery through the Disestablishment Bill of IS7O, wrote to the next Conservative Premier, accusing Mr, Gladstone of defrauding him of his rights, whereby he and his wife— he was careful to add, was tho only surviving daughter of an earl—were "sadly disappointed." The new Archbishop of Canterbury, when Bishop of London, was the recipient of a valentine, representing » baby with a bottle, from a lady of wealth, who wanted His Lordship to compel a certain gentleman to marry her. The lady has since been declared insane and placed in a lunatic asylum. It is not an uncommon thing for politicians to receive lengthy comments on the political situation from people of whom they have never heard. A madman, some time ago, wrote an extraordinary letter to Mr. Chamberlain, stating his political opinions, which had, at least, the merit of being original. Madame Sarah Bernhardt receives letters from all over the world, from correspondents who offer to sell her wild animals as pets. The famous actress has been offered all sorts of creatures to play with, from a python to a lizard. Queen Victoria is no exception to tho general rule. People frequently write to Her Majesty asking ber to lend them small sums of money. Some of the letters contain the most persistent promises to return the loan in regular instalments. A week or two ago the Queen received ft letter from a well-known applicant at the Law Courts, who wanted Her Majesty's opinion about a Bill he had framed for the establishment of a Court of Criminal Appeal. Other correspondents request the Queen to relieve them from taxes, while more well-to-do subjects send Her Majesty specimens of their handiwork, such as stockings, ladies' mittens, gloves, etc. Medicines and prescriptions pour into the Royal residence by the dozen when a member of the Queen's household is ill; and at Christmas time the Queen has probably the most varied and extensive stock of Christmas cards in Christendom outside the manufactories.