ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11771, 28 September 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from THE society PArrr.s.]

The will of the Empress Frederick, is not to be opened until four weeks after her decease. Her late Majesty is believed to have left a fortune of about 20 millions of marks, besides the estate at Friedrichshof', which is said to have cost her six millions of marks, including the building and decoration of the chateau and the laying-out of the gardens. The bulk of the Empress Frederick's private fortune consisted of the immense sum which was bequeathed to her by the Duchess of Galliera. These funds were all at her own disposal. The Empress had a life interest in the bulk of the private property of the Emperor Frederick, and she received £100,000 from Queen Victoria on her marriage. This money all passes under settlement to the younger children of the Emperor and Empress Frederick. It is understood that Friedrichshof and its contents and the Cronberg estate are left to Princess Adolphus of Schaumburg-Lippe, with reversion to her brother, Prince Henry, while the money is bequeathed in certain proportions among the younger children, being divided according to their respective means. Nearly the whole of the Empress Frederick's property has been left in trust, ,-is were the fortune and estates of Queen Victoria.

The death of the Empress Frederick baa caused a very large amount of leasehold property to fall into the hands of the freeholders. The life of the Empress, as Princess Royal, was put into a great number of ieases during the forties, as was then a common practice, and in most of these she was the last survivor of the original three lives. A Royal life was usually selected when practicable, being always, "as it were, "on view," and certain to be'well cared for.' It is understood that the leases of very considerable properties belonging to St.' Cross Hospital, at Winchester, "have reverted to the trustees of that charity, the income of which will thereby he much augmented.

The title of "Father of the House of Commons, vacant by the death of Mr W B. Beach, passes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, who has 37 years of unbroken service to Lis credit. Sir Michael—who, by the way is a cousin of the late holder of "the title—was first elected member for East Gloucestershire at a by-election in 1864, and retained this seat for 21 years. In 1885 he removed to West Bristol, which constituency he has since represented without a, break. His majority at the last contested election was about 2000 in an electorate of 8000, but latterly lie lias generally been returned unopposed. Sir Michael has played many pans in his time, all with conspicuous ability. Lord Beaconsfield early discovered his talents—he came to the House with high honours from Eton and Oxford— in 1868 he was already an Under-Secretary of State. From that date his position in the'party was assured, and it is generally recognised that no Conservative or Unionist Government could ha called complete without "Black Michael."

It is well known, apropos of the relations between the Sovereign and the Prime Minister, that Lord Beaconsfield was the statesman whom Queen Victoria liked best. Mr. Gladstone annoyed her by addressing her "as if she were a public meeting." The relations between the present Sovereign and his first Minister are as happy, we may be sure, as the most loyal subject could wish. King Edward spoke many years ago of Lord Salisbury as "a highly accomplished and very clever man," and in explaining his mother's liking for him he gave as the reason the fact that Lord Salisbury was "not Utopian." King Edward, who was then Prince of Wales, regarded Lord Salisbury as tryingto study the methods of his great ancestor who was Prime Minister of England under Eliabeth.

Mr. Thomas Brock, who is to carve the statue of Queen Victoria which will stand for posterity as the national memorial of the Victorian era, has a link with fame of which everybody may not know. Most of us carry his work in our pockets. He designed the last Victorian coinage, and every coin issued from the Mint for years past has borne tribute to bis skill. It is odd to remember that every coin bears his initials— because, perhaps, not one person in a, hundred has ever noticed it. Ask ten of your friends if they have ever seen the initials "T. 8." on a penny, and they will all, if they are average men, say "No." Yet Mr. Brock, to stretch a. phrase, signs every penny, every sixpence, every sovereign. Most of the coins issued from the Mint in the nineties bear his initials. Mr. Brock is one of our most successful sculptors, which is a, way of saying that he is one of the most brilliant. He is young in the fifties, but lie has a wonderful record of work, and all parts of the kingdom are richer in sculpture for his contribution to modern art. Worcester, where he was born in 1847, has one of his statues of Queen Victoria, and a bust stands in Belfast. One of his greatest works, a magnificent equestrian group, which lie has called " A Moment of Peril," has been bought for the nation; and his statue of Eve, worthy a subject of universal human interest, is in the Tate Gallery. The statues of bishops, poets, and statesmen which have come from Mr. Brock's studio are more than one can remember haphazard, and they are all in places of high honour.

Major Karri Davies, who has declined the honour of a C.8., is an Australian by birth. He first came into prominence at the time of the Jameson Raid. As a member of the Johannesburg Reform Committee he was cast into gaol, being eventually sentenced to two years' imprisonment. When, by arrangement, the members of the committee were released on asking for Mr. Kruger's clemency Mr. Davies and Mr. Wools Sampson refused to .ask for pardon, and remained in prison. They were, however, unconditionally released at the time of the Queen's Jubilee in 1897, having served eighteen months of their time. In the present war both Major Davies and Major Wools Sampson have served with much distinction.

Among the many charming little stories told of the late Princess Royal when a child the following is one of the prettiest, evincing as it does indifference to childish punishments and pure love of a bit of fun. The Princess, like so many children, cherished a wholesome dislike to the then Physician in Ordinary, not entirely unconnected with delicacies denied and rhubarb prescribed. Therefore, the Princess invariably, and with firmness, alluded to him as " Brown." This vexed the Queen, who insisted on respect being paid to all members of the Household. Her Majesty, indeed, punished her small daughter more than once for a breach of etiquette. Nevertheless, one day when the child happened to meet Dr. Brown, in one of the corridors, she said mischievously Good morning. Brown." And then turning to where the Queen stood with eyes of grave disapproval and meditated punishment, added: " And good night, too. I'm going to bed." Then slowly, and with all the sweet dignity of three summers and golden curls, she walked to the nursery and bade the surprised attendant to put. her to bed— 'Cos I've been dis'pectful to Brown."

Mr. Beaumont, the well-known actor, seems to have got moie than the ordinary amount of amusement out of touring—perhaps because he is such a good companion himself. In one of his companies there was a certain actor who frequently boasted of his knowledge of Scotland —he could talk like a Highlanderin fact, any real Scot would recognise him as a countryman at once. At last a time came when the company was booked to appear in a rather far distant little town in Scotland. The actor, expressing his satisfaction, bought a bottle of whisky to celebrate his return to the land of bis birth. They arrived at the end of their journey in the early morning. His companions urged him to speak to a sandyhaired, typical-looking Scotch porter on the platform. The actor thrust his head out of the window and cried: "Hoots, mon ! It's a braw mornin' for a' that The porter gave him one expressive look and answered, in the strongest Cockney: " G'arn ! Yer can't talk Scotch! Put in yer 'ead an,d sleep it orf 1"