WHO'S WHO?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 10

WHO'S WHO?

The oldest frequenter of the Divorce Court is Mr. F. E. Fenn, a well-known Fleet-street journalist, who has been present at the granting of 30,000 decrees nisi. Mr. Fenn was appointed a divorce reporter 35 years agoduring his honeymoon, as he will tell you with a chuckleand his reminiscence's, which ho is about to publish, should make very interesting reading.

If Mr. George Alexander, who will try to enter Parliament at the next general election, succeeds in winning, a seat, he will break the record in being the first actor to sit in the House of Commons. His ambition reminds ono of the versatility of other M.P.'s. Sir Gilbert Parker and Mr. A. E. W. Mason, for instance, are wellknown playwrights. In a somewhat different category are Sir John Williams Benn, who as a lightning sketch artist will compare favourably with the best professional talent, and Mr. Julius' Bertram, who is an organist of repute ; whilst Sir Robert Price, who is a capital vocalist, is 1 aleo known to; fame as a etepdancer.

Sir William Matthews, chief of the engineering firm of Goode, Son, and Matthows, .who designed the new gigantic- National Harbour at Dover for the protection of British Dreadnoughts, is the world's har-bour-builder. An energetic Corniehman of 65, lie has constructed harbours and piers in all parts of, the world. One of the most notable engineering feats carried out by his firm was ■ the construction of the famous Colombo Harbour. Their biggest undertaking, however, .was Portland Harbour," which locks in the largest area of deep water of any British artificial harbour. It took 23 years to place the millions of tons of masonry and concrete into position.

Sir Mackenzie, principal of the Royal Academy of Music, tells a good story of how he won the King's scholarship. When lie entered for it he was engaged to play ,in an orchestra, and in order to attend , the competition he stayed <yway from a rehearsal- without first obtaining permission. At the next rehearsal the conductor told him "his services would no longer be required, as he had taken "French leave." Young Alexander got up to go, saying as he did eo, " Well, I don't care; I've won the King's scholarship!" "Oh, you have, have you?" said the conductor, in an',altered tone. "Very well; under the circumstances, you may stay." ( . Here is a characteristic story of (Mr. Max Beerbohm, -whose-new book has just been published. Ho was engaged by a weekly paper to succeed Mr. Bernard Shaw as dramatic critic. - The manager told him what salary Shaw had received; "Of course, being comparatively inexperienced," the manager added, "you can scarcely expect so much." "Oh, yes, I shall,'' rejoined Mr. Beerbohm, decisively. " Indeed, I shall expect' more! You see," he explained, "as Shaw knows the drama thoroughly, it was perfectly easy for him to write' about it. Now, as I know nothing about it, it will be awfully hard work." That a 13-year-old boy should command such an unprecedented salary as • £100 a week is. indeed a notable event. Such, however, is the case with Wilfred Morrison, the boy singer of Toronto, who is to be paid that sum by a New York concert company for a tour of the United States from New York to San Francisco, and thence to Australia, the trip to last one year. Sir Edward Clarke, K. C., who has invented a new system of rapid writing, which he calls " Swifthand," is a splendid example of the self-made man. When quite a 6mall-• boy -he determined to become a barrister, but his father was poor and could not i afford the education required. So the future K.C. set out to educate himself, and began by winning an English literature prize offered by the Society of Arts. Soon after he gained a post in the India Office, where he worked until he had saved enough money to pay for his education for the Bar. Perhaps Sir Edward's chief weakness is his love for somewhat unconventional raiment. His yachting " getup" is said to be fearful and wonderful, while the story is told of him being mistaken by an American for a Royal duke as he emerged from the Law Courts one day in all the glory of a light grey frock suit, gray gloves, white l>.t, red tie, and i patent leather shoes. |

M. Lepine, the v famous Prefect of the Paris police, who was fired at during the recent disturbances in Paris, does not know the meaning of fear. He will mix with the most riotous crowds, armed with nothing but an umbrella. During political troubles some time ago a riot threatened, and M. Lepine had but a few men with • him: but, brandishing his umbrella, he made a charge with his followers, and, at the head of them, drove through the yelling mob, which promptly scattered. M. Lepine is a quietlooking gentleman, and usually wears a black coat and top-hat. But the most .brutal Apache of Paris would think twice before attacking him. The Prefect's post is no sinecure. He has under his control 12,000 police, 6000 Republican Guards, and 1800 firemen.