WHO'S WHO?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13647, 15 January 1908, Page 9

WHO'S WHO?

The recent death of Baroness Alphonse de Rothschild recalls a curious story of how the famous banking house really had its origin in a boy's hobby. The boy was Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who was born at Frankfort in 1745. His father was a money-changer, and the lad made a hobby of collecting the curious > coins Avhich were not current money, but which occasionally came into his father's possession. These, he subsequently discovered, became valuable as curios, and the business instincts which he then displayed showed in what direction his proper talent lay. He entered a- bank, and by shrewdness and honesty—he was known a's "the honest Jew:" —ho laid the foundation of the banking businesses which are now world-famous, and died a millionaire.

The news that the health of Miss Florence Nightingale, "the mother of trained nurses," who is now in her eighty-seventh year, is' giving concern to her medical advisers has aroused the sympathy of the whojfe nation. For many years past the lady whose heroic deeds as a nurse during the Crimean war stirred the hearts of the world, and led a grateful country to vote her the sum of £50,000, which she devoted to the founding of a Home for Nurses, has led the life of a recluse. She has always disliked publicity of any kind, and when it was proposed, a short time ago, to place a tablet on the house near Park Lane in which she resides, in honour of her name, Miss Nightingale immediately declared her intention of mov- , ing if such an idea should be carried out.

There is no prospect that the daughter born to the King and Queen or Italy recently will be without a resting-place, for the Royal palace is stocked with cradles, most of them presents when the Crown Prince was born. Seventeen of them came from different parts of the world, one from Italian residents in New York, and another from the Argentine, embroidered in Indian style with coloured grasses. In addition there is a sumptuous cradle presented to the Queen when little Princess Yolande was born. The base is of bronze, delicately chiselled, and tinder the arch Romulus and Remus play with the traditional wolf. Above, stands mi angel holding a laurel wreath. The cradle is of solid silver, surrounded with shields of all the districts of Rome.

Lord Rayleigh, who recently celebrated his sixty-fifth birthday, is notable, not only as the discoverer of argon, but as one of the largest dairy-farmers in England. He farms for this "purpose alone more than 2000 acres of land, and 1000 cows graze on the meadows round Terling Place, his seat in Essex. To many people it may seem strange that Lord Rayleigh, who is without doubt the greatest scientist in the House of Lords, should interest himself in such a project as. dairy-farming. His lordship, however, has always taken the keenest interest in the land problems of to-day, and it was a desire to demonstrate in a practical manner what can be done in the wav of dairyfarming that led him to develop his farm at Terling.

Colonel Mapleson tells a story of the biggest salary he ever paid. The recipient was Mme. l'atti. ' In her contract it was stated that Mme.. Patti was to be paid £1000 before each performance, and one evening, said the colonel, the treasury was a little short of shekels to meet immediate needs. I sent my treasurer to Mme. Patti's dressing-room with £800 and a message to the effect that the remaining £200 would be forthcoming very shortly. Almost, immediately I had a visit from'Mmc. Patti's maid. Carrying a shoe in her hand she observed that her mistress was fully dressed with the exception of one shoe, which she was not inclined to put on until the. £200 was handed to her. At that moment my treasurer appeared with the necessary balance, and without delay I wrapped up a sum equivalent to £200", deposited it in Patti's shoe, and sent it to her with my best compli- , incuts.