ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11692, 29 June 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

! [FF.OM THE SOCIETY PAPERS.] A fiction- which lias been given a good deal in certain journals is to the . effect that applications have been made to Parliment for grants to pay the debts of George IV. • and of William IV. after the deaths of those Sovereigns/ The records of the House of Commons will be vainly searched (says Truth) for any mention of this subject. As a matter of fact, George IV. left a fortune of about £200,000, which passed to his successor, who also had a large amount of money when he died. George IV. was in debt when he came to the throne, but Sir William Knighton managed his affairs so cleverly that ail liabilities were paid off within a few years, and His Majust7 then began to save largely. The yacht-racing season of 1901 bids fair to be more interesting from every point of view than any experienced for several years, especially 'as British yachtsmen have never before been engaged in so many international races. Unfortunately, however, the new rating rule is expected to liav« an unfavourable influence, but as it only affects the racing under Y.R.A. rules there is no reason to suppose that it will militate against our chances of success in international contests. These latter comprise America's Cup, Canada's Cup, the Seav anliaka Cup, the Coupe de France, and the cne-tonner Coupe du Cercle de la Viole de Paris. The first-named. event has already been so thoroughly dealt with that it is unnecessary to further mention matters which have been common knowledge for some time. The Royal Temple Yacht Club is now negotiating with the Union des Yachts Francais with regard to the venue of the matches for the Coupe de France. It appears that the French club object to race at Ramsgate, and there seems to be no apparent reason why their suggestion that the matches should be sailed at Torquay or Weymouth should not be adopted.

An amusing incident occurred during the Easter holidays at Boulogne. The editor of a well-known London, weekly—a gentleman who bears not only an ancient and honourable name, but also a quite striking resemblance to King Edward— enjoying his cigar in one of the principal cafes in the town when he suddenly became aware that his presence was causing unwonted interest and no little commotion. Presently an old gentleman rose up and shouted "Vive le Roi de l'Angleterre!" a sentiment which was heartily joined in by most of the people in the cafe. The conductor of the orchestra, not to be behindhand, immediately struck up " God Save the King," but this was too much for the journalist, who made a bolt for the door and made good his escape !

The Cornwall children are now at Sandringham, whither they accompanied the King and Queen and their unmarried daughter. Little Princess Victoria is said to rule the Royal nursery, and this although she has two brothers older than herself. The Royal children are, it is said, watching every stage of their parents' journey, and Prince Edward is becoming, for his years, quite a geography expert.

Mdme. Patti has lately appeared in Paris after a very long absence. The occasion was a benefit performance at the Gaiete. Her appearance on the stage evoked enthusiastic applause, although on her entrance the public failed to realise, that the lady with the golden hair was the world-renowned diva. Mdme. Patti has transformed herself from brunette to blonde, but the result (according to a correspondent) is by no means felicitous. Her voice, however, still possesses that marvellous quality which has entranced the world of music for over half a century, Mdme. Patti having made her debut in New York in 1849, when a child, under the direction of Maurice Strakosch. The prima donna still runs on and off the stage in the same infantile mailer which has always been a speciality with her. Baron Cederstrom, looking very serious and important, was in waiting.

The name of Sarah Bernhardt will soon be seen on a shop front in Regent or Bond Streets. It appears that when she arrived ins. New York she met with a disagreeable surprise on. hearing that her niece. Mile. Saryta Bernhardt, and a friend of hers, Mile. Yvette de la Kheda, had just been made bankrupt, and had lost all the money which she had lent them two years ago. However, she did not scold them, as a commonplace aunt and patron might have done. To the intense relief of the unsuccessful milliners she kissed them tenderly, and, with her glorious smile, told them: "You are both pretty and winning little Parisians, and you have become bankrupt in the land of millions! Bravo, my dears! I am sure I <%dd never have done that. Now, shall we try our luck in London?" And she threw a bundle of banknotes into Saryta's lap.

A reference to Australian singers who have sung before the late Queen in private reminds a correspondent of M.A.P. that Madame Melba was the first Australian to sing to Her Majesty on any occasion, formal or otherwise. The circumstances of the diva's second appearance were quite exceptional, taking place at a time when her husband, Mr. Charles Armstrong, had already entered on divorce proceedings against his wife, proceedings, lie it said, which failed utterly. The occasion was the only one during her late Majesty's lengthy reign, when any person against whom such a suiit —even an unsuccessful one —was pending, had ever been commanded to appear at the Royal Court.

On one occasion when I was with Bishop Ingram at a bustling Midland railway station he was accosted by a somewhat imposing dignitary of the Church, who entered into grave talk with the then head of the Oxford House. Suddenly Dr. Ingram said, "Pardon me," and hastening after a roughlooking man who was passing, hailed him heartily, and the greeting was as heartily returned. After a few minutes of bright and laughing conversation, Dr. Ingram returned to us. "Whoever was that?" said the elder dignitary somewhat pompously. " Oh," was the reply, " that's one of the cleverest of my Victoria Park opponents. We always have a chat when we meet." " You don't mean he's an Atheist, surely?" was the response. Yes," said Dr. Ingram, " I do, or, at all events, lie fancies he's one; but he's such a pleasant fellow, and there's a lot that's good in him." And then, with a grave pause, he added, "And goodness can only have one source."

The Duchess of Fife, who opened the Glasgow Exhibition, is the eldest of the three young Princesses of Wales, and has all her life been of a shy and retiring disposition. Indeed, Her Royal Highness has been called our " shy" Princess, and her quiet, modest ways were often made fun of by her l ively young sister, Princess Maud. Princess Louise did not display, but kept hidden in secret, it is said, foV a lofig time, the first gift presented to her by the Duke of Fife, and no ring ever adorned her fingers till the one given by that nobleman on his engagement to hex'. The Duke's wooing was a veiy happy one. He was the most popular member of the Marlborough House set, and the Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales favoured his suit in every way. Princess Louise dislikes crowds and cereroonials, and loves a peaceful, domestic life. This she has found as the wife of the Duke of Fife, to whom she was married in 1889. While she does some quiet entertaining in her London house in Portman Square, the Duchess ' and her husband spend their happiest days in the country or at the seaside with their two pretty little girls. Mar Lodge is their house in summer and autumn, the Duchess, who is an expert angler, finding capital sport in the Dee. The Duke and Duchess pass much of their time at Brighton, where they have just bought a new house, and are often to be seen there seated on the sands playing with their daughters. When the Duchess was married she would not hear of a lady-in-waiting on her, and she either goes about unattended or has her husband by her side. She is very fond of the play, and is, with the Duke, a regular first-nighter at the leading London theatres. As eldest daughter of a reigning monarch the Duchess will, if course, take a more prominent place now in public life, where the charming ways of this too little known Princess are sure to make her one of the most popular ; and lov-. , able members of the Royq.l family- ,