WHO'S WHO?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13304, 10 October 1906, Page 9

WHO'S WHO?

If is not generally known that the Princess of Wales can play the harp as well as most amateurs. The Duke of Norfolk's silver plate is said to be the heaviest and most valuable in the possession -of. any private person in Great Britain. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts cherishes a guinea which was once bestowed in charity upon her grandfather, who could never be persuaded to dress according to his rank. Mr. Seymour Hicks, the popular actor, was originally intended for the army, but he soon abandoned the idea of a soldier's career, and went on the stage. He was first engaged as a super, and for nine shillings a week he-had to take five different parts nightly. Probably the most wonderful palace in the world is that of the Emperor of China. It. is full of priceless treasures. Another palace belonging to the Emperor is regarded, as sacred—so sacred, indeed, that any stranger entering it uninvited runs the risk of being put to death. Count Tolstoi, as is well known, always wears boots ol bis own making— boots are the admiration of the shoemaker who taught him the trade; but the latter was certain that the Count' would starve did he endeavour to earn a. living by bootmanufacturing, as the work put into each pair was too excellent and slow to prove profitable. The Hon. John Collier inherits some ofhis talent as an artist from his father, Lord Monkswell. The second son of the distinguished lawyer, the Hon. John Collier was desired by his father to adopt a business career. But he had more faith in the possibilities of art, in which his father had given him his first lesson. Mr. Collier went to the Slade School, and after that ho studied in Paris. Sir William Soulsby, the Lord Mayor of London's private secretary, has to attend to a correspondence that has a richly humorous side to it. Some people appear to imagine that the Chief Magistrate of the metropolis. is able and willing to do anything ho is asked. On one occasion a French peasant sent to the Mansion House a basket of pigeons with a request that the Lord Mayor would sell them and remit him the money. Strange to say, the request was acceded to. Letters begging that ino Lord Mayor will trace missing relatives frequently reach Sir WilI liam. " . , Tho Mikado of Japan dates his descent back 2566 years, when, according to native history, after endless ages passed in higher spheres, the Imperial family began its earthly career with the first 'human monarch, Jimmu Temro. One hundred and twenty-one monarchs have reigned since then. Mutsuhito, the reigning sovereign, was married ,! at the age of 16 to_Haiuko, the daughter of a noble, and two years older than himself, but the Prince Imperial and numerous 'surviving children are by 'other- wives. '•■■>.,*