ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11346, 14 April 1900, Page 7 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

. ' [from the society fafebs.] Here is a hitherto unpublished story of the cfllantry of tho Duke of Roxburghe in an engagement at Rendsberg. It is contained in "•' a letter from a private in the Blues to his • sister at Farnham, which is printed in the Daily News :— General French ordered one squadron of the Blues to go out on reconnaissance to find the enemy. Well, after some time wo'did find them, but they were ju' too strong a position, and we only numbered 80. The bullets began to whistlo round, and the shells to drop, and our position became dangerous. We bad the order to retire, which took a little time, as we were all dismounted on top of a big hill, and the horses were a little way off. By the time we had reached the bottom of the hill someono had galloped off with ray horse, so I was left without a mount. The firing ' was getting rather thick, and I thought my ' last day had come, for I had no chance of getting away alone. But the Duke of Roxburghe came back to me, and I got up on his norse behind him, and he carried me in safety away from.the fire. So I owed my life to him." '

There is a taking little story afloat concerning Mr. Chamberlain, which, if it be not true, has at least originated from someone who has studied the Colonial Secretary and his ways pretty closely. It is said that one day lately Mr. Chamberlain was engaged in conversation with a friend in a well-known ■JiOndmi hotel, when a young man approached him with a diffidence that bespoke a great desire to exchange a few words with the great man or be snubbed in tho attempt. "May I speak with you lor a moment, Mr. Chamberlain?" be asked. "Certainly," was the ready reply, and the politician rose from his seat. "I cannot gay it here," said the young man, glancing nervously around and leading tho way to a remote corner of the room. Arrived there, he spoke his important communication in j Mr. Chamberlain's ear: "lam on the staff . of the — and I should esteem it a great favour if you will tell me what you think of the present situation in the Transvaal !" Mr. Chamberlain started, looked sharply at him. and then, his severity softening into pity foi the young man's simplicity, he said : "Follow me!" .Leading the way like a man requiring still greater secrecy for what he had to impart, he walked through the din-ing-room into a passage, down some steps into a remote, and curtained dark corner, where, after a hurried glance round to make sure jj there were no eavesdroppers, he whispered in tho young man's ear: "My friend, I really don't know anything about it!"

Miss Rhodes, - the sister of Mr. Cecil Rhodes, has never shown the slightest fear of her brother's safety during the long siege of Kiniberley. She said it had been fore- " told to her, both by cards and by two palmists, that her brother would live four years more, during which time he will achieve more than in all his previous career. Miss Rhodes is short and rather stout, with . massive, handsome features, very humorous lines round her mouth, and a remarkably square strong chin. Her hair is touched with grey, and her leonine head seems rather large for her vigorous frame. She is devoted to her brother, and is supposed" to be the ■ frequent recipient of his confidences on weighty matters. She is a great spiritualist, regarding death as a mere transition stage, which in no way prevents communication with living humanity. This view is ' shared by Cecil Modi's himself. Miss - Rhodes has but one weakness; she wants to ' marry off all the pairs of young folks whom she sees to be fond of each other. But she has never met the woman she thinks good <.■■ enough for Cecil Rhodes. '

V:. Dr. Warre, the headmaster of Eton, who / has given it as his opinion that every lad above the age of 15 should be taught how to bear arms, is himself a very muscular Christian, some 6ft high, and a typical representative of the Church Militant. He : ' was a great wetbob in his day, and for : many years coached the Eton eight for < Henley. Dr. Warre is immensely popular , with the boys, for, although he can gleam • with severity through his gold-rimmed spectacles when necessary,.he is in reality of a very kindly temperament, and has a passion for justice. And of such men are boys' heroes made.

Her Majesty displays at its highest the royal quality of grace in her smallest actions. Lieutenant "the Hon. P. Roberts earned the Victoria Cross by his gallant endeavour, with others, to save the guns at Colenso, and had he survived the wounds received in the undertaking would have, in the usual way, received the Cross from Her Majesty s hands. The Queen lias sent to Lady Roberts the Cross won by her lost son, and in sending it wrote to tell her that no hands but her own had touched it. She herself placed the Cross in the case which had been suitably inscribed, as she could not pin it upon the young soldier's coat.

Perhaps the most interesting debutante of 1900 will be Miss Jeanne Langtry, daughter of Mrs. Langtry—" -Mrs. De Rathe" still seems so unfamiliar. Miss Langtry is an extremely handsome girl, and Mrs. Cornwallis West is to be her social godmother. Miss Langtrv is not perhaps so beautiful in an orthodox fashion as her celebrated mother, but she has; in addition to pretty features, a quite noticeable air of high breeding and refinement, • She is also very highly educated, and has been kept in strict seclusion during her childhood and early girlhood—a fair 'and carefully guarded flowor. The voung lady is said to possess a handsome dot. . •-' . .

Lord Roberts, notwithstanding statements to the contrary, is not at all likely to be created a duke. Only two men (outside the Royal Family) have been created dukes during the present reign; and only two men (Marlborough and Wellington) have ever been created dukes for achievements purely military. Lord Roberts, however, will almost "certainly receive an earldom, with special remainder. Even had he not gone to South Africa at all he would be entitled to a new grant of his barony, extending the remainder; seeing that he had only one son to whom to leave the barony, and lost that son in battle. As to Lord Roberts' chief of staff, Lord Kitchener, he is not old, and he will have ample reward in the prizes of his profession. If he receives a new peerage, it is likely to be his present barony with an extended remainder, for he also has no present heir. As to the other generals, Sir Rcdvers Bullcr, Sir George White, and Sir Charles Warren are the only three who are G.C.B.'s—that is, who, if they receive further honours, must be made peers or baronets