PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 16

PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT.

Miss Florence Nightingale says that her first patient was a wounded. Scottish shepherd dog. One of the crowns of the Sultan of Turkey is in the shape of a turban. It has two rows of little gold spires round it, each of which is surmounted with a gem of great size and value. The Queen of Portugal is said to be the latest disciple of Professor Rontgen. Indeed, it is hinted that the extent to which she carries her enthusiasm for the new photography would cause her to be considered a nuisance if she were not a sovereign.

Mr Melton Prior has been through fourteen campaigns and sustained eight wounds. Three times, indeed, the famous war artist was included in the list of killed. Mr Prior has been all over the world in the service of the Press, and has been present at nearly every important Royal wedding during the last twenty-five years.

The following bears witness to the eminent practicality of the Princess of Wales. In the confession-book of a Norfolk lady it is said that Her Eoyal Highness has left a record in her own writing of two interesting facts—one, that her favourite art is millinery; the other, that her favourite employment is " minding hor own business."

It is interesting to note that among the descendants of Gustavus Vasa, the liberator of the Swedish nation from the Danish yoke and the founder of Protestantism in Sweden, the four-hundredth anniversary of whoso birthday was recently celebrated, there have been twelve emperors, thirteen empresses, forty-nine kings, forty-six queens, and a vast number of princes and dukes.

The first public appearance of Lord Russell of Killowen was made at a mutual improvement society at Newry, at the age of eighteen. He took part in an essay competition, won the prize and read the essay, which had for its subject " The Age We tiive In," bofore a large audience at the local Institute. At this meeting young Russell made the acquaintance of Dean Bagot, on whose advice, some years later, ho went to London to study for the Bar. The present Emperor of Austria owed his accession to the throne at an early age to Prince Felix von Schwarzenberg, who became Austrian Minister in 1848, when Vienna was in revolution, Lombardy invaded, and Hungary in a state of rebellion. Von Schwarzenberg persuaded two Emperors to abdicate, and took young Francis Joseph to Santa Lucia to be invested sovereign. The famous Minister was a believer in force, and used to say that you could do anything with bayonets— except sit on them!

Leo XIII. is not only the head of the Roman Catholic Church, but he is also the oldest bishop in the world, having been consecrated in 1843.

President Kruger, of the Transvaal Republic, once ran against three Zulu runners and beat the best of them by some ten miles, covering, himself, over 80 miles in the twenty-four hours, -which, for an untrained man, was an extraordinary fea,'^.'

Lady Londonderry owns on,e of isa most beautiful yacht's in the a small vessel and is. ru,ade entirely of cedar' and mahogany, the metal work being of silver-plated aluminium with gold beading and soroll work. The sails are made of silk, and the yacht has been rondered unsinkable by metal cases at the ' bow and stern.

Professor Rontgen finds that the discovery of his famous " X Rays" brings upon him as much worry as glory. Instead of being able to work on quietly, ho, L-j. overwhelmed with correspondence from all parts of the world, 'Professor is rather a singular looking l man. He has a very long faco, atill further lengthened by a beard, a prominent forehead, large ears, and big, bright eyes.

Dr Newman Hall is one of the wonderful old men of the age. In his eighty-first year he can still walk ten miles with pleasure and enjoy a holiday in climbing mountains. His sight and hearing are also perfect. The well-known divine hae been a teetotaller since ho was and has never smoked. His father ajadj mother were also abstainers. Walking haa been practically Dr Newman Hall's only exercise, but this- he has made a practice of obtaining every day.

The Crown Princess of Denmark is the tallest royal lady in Europe, her height being over 6ft 2in. She is granddaughter of Mile. Desiree Clary, who married Bernadotte, afterwards King of Norway and Sweden. The Crown Princess of Denmark is the richest as well as the tallest of European Princesses, she having a considerable fortune from her internal grandfather, Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, in addition to. the. fortune left to her by her father.

The chief diversion of Madame Navarro (Miss Mary Anderson) is chess playing.

The latest recruit to the ranks of royal musicians is the Khedive of Egypt. The Prince's specialty is dance music. One of his waltzes was recently played by the military band at Cairo.

The Sultan of Turkey is a good shot with the revolver, and can break a dozen vases while galloping past them on horseback. He has always been particular as to the horses of his army, and each regiment which accompanies him to the mosque is mounted on Arabian animals of one colour.

The Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria is emulating the professional " strong man." She practises regularly and systematically with large dumbbells, and can lift a man with, one hand. She is said on one occasion, when a heavy iron column fell on a man, to have lifted it high enough to enable him to be drawn from under.