WHO'S WHO?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15005, 29 May 1912, Page 10

WHO'S WHO?

John Charles Daley, the jockey whose death is announced at tho ago of 65, won the Derby in 1867 on Mr. Chaplin's Hermit, starting at 66 to 1. Daley won the Oaks the same year on Hippia, and three years later won the Two Thousand Guineas on MacGregor. Ho also won many other important races, including' the Goodwood Stakes twice. Tho Duke of Westminster has now returned to London from rather a prolonged visit to the Continent. His grace does not take the slightest interest in politics, and frankly confesses that he would not turn a hair if he heard that the House of Lords were entirely abolished. Polo is his great hobby, and ho is rapidly forming in the stables attached to Eaton Hall one of the finest studs of ponies that has ever been got together. Ho is looking forward, by the way, to another visit from the King and Queen of Spain to his lordly Cheshire seat next September. He is also greatly interested in the largo estates he possesses in Rhodesia, where he is now trying to grow cotton upon rather a large scale. He is already a large shareholder in the 'British South Africa Company, and it is reported that he will join the board of directors of the Chartered Company the next time a vacancy occurs. Ho has also some thought of going in earnestly for racing, so that the popular yellow jacket and Mack 'cap may soon be seen in the foreground once more. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. for Derby, and organising secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, was practically the railwayman's leader during the recent strike and the conference that followed it. Mr. Thomas began life in very humble circumstances. He commenced work at the age of nine, and is the first enginedriver to enter the House of Commons. Mr. Thomas has had some amusing election experiences. When ho was first contesting Derby, he was drawn into a heated political discussion on whether working men should have the vote. One speaker averred that a university career was the. necessary qualification. Mr. Thomas lay low. Then the speaker happened to mention Newport. "Do you know Phillips, the chemist?" asked Mr. Thomas. "Yes," replied the other, "I was an assistant there." "And at the same time that you were an assistant I was an errand boy there. To-morrow you will be a commercial traveller, and I shall be M.P. for Derby. That is my answer whether working men should have votes!" ~ Th? great success of Signor Mascagni at the London Hippodrome has probably exceeded even the management's expectations. Although tho famous maestro has composed a good deal of musio since CayaJlena Rusticana," it is that opera which is still the most popular of all his works, and the story of how it came to be written is an interesting one. Many years ago, Mascagni was earning a very small salary as the leader of a village band, and ho found that it was as much as he could do to support himself and his wife in comfort. In desperation, ho determined to put his whole soul into tho composing of an opera in order to make enough money to keep tho homo together, Abe result of bin labours was " Cavallena and in high glee he took the manuscript to a musical friend in whose judgment he had implicit confidence. To his bitter chagrin, this friend pronounced the opera to be "rubbish." Almost in despair, the composer returned home, but as some musio publishers in Milan were offering a handsome cash prize for the best opera i.* submitted *° them, Mascagni thought he would try his lock with the despised " CavsiUeria." To his great jov the opera won tho prize, and when it was produced in Rome it created an amount of enthusiasm among the audience that had seldom beforo been witnessed » any Mr. Thomas Robert Macquoid, RJ wao has s*o*9 at his London residence' at the age of 92, was well-known for over half a century as a water-colour painter and black S w £° arilst Time . w dealt My with him, as well as with his celebrated wife, who survives him, Mrs. SX?Sarah Macquoid, the novelisT" g£?£L until after their marriage in 1851 tW m Macquoid discovered that his S™} literary gifts. Ho encouraged write, and from the publica 0 d J* to first novel she produced at least one book every year, until her novels and books of travel numbered over - 60. Thev were both fond of exploring out-of-the-wav places in Europe, and the books which Mrs. Macquoid wrote as the outcome of these wanderings were illustrated bv her husband, among them being "Through Normandy." and "In the Ardennes." Thev celebrated their diamond wedding in Janu ary last year, and were the recipients of many congratulations. Mr. and Mrs. Macquoid met many famous people. ' They stayed at the same hotel at Perugia, in Italy, as Lord Leighton, His Lordship going thither in seach of quiet to prepare his lectures to students of the Academy, and Mr. Macquoid for the purpose of sketching. Lord Leighton took a great deal of trouble in making rough sketches of places which ho wanted them to visit, and these were always treasured by Mr. ! Macquoid. > His wife had vivid recollecj tions of Millais, at whose studio she was first introduced to George Eliot, who was there with her husband. Mr. G. H. Lewes. Mr. and Mrs. Macquoid had two talented sons, one of whom is Mr. Percy Macquoid, who, like his father, is a member of the Royal Institute, and the ofcEer & .solicitor, whoyhas' -written, several^booiß*