PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 13

PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT.

The founder of the Ked Cross Society, Dr Henri Dunant, is living almost forgotten in the hospice of Heiden in the Swiss Canton of Appenzell. The horror with which he contemplated the terrible scenes that followed the Battle of Soli'erino, first moved him to make an appeal for the protection of the sick and wounded in Wa±"< Dr Dunant's efforts were at length rewarded by the conclusion in August, IS6-L of the Geneva convention and the institution of the Sad Cross Society.

Perhaps the very finest collection of gold pique work in the world was that formed by tho Jate Sir Julian Goldsmid, M.P.,- consisting of all sorts of snuff-boxes, and famey articles made out of tortoiseshell inlaid -ivith the precious metal. The lata baronet was a keen judge of objects of art, and his house in Piccadilly—one of the most sumptuously famished mansions in London—was stored witll choice pictures, valuable engravings, old English and foreign silver, china tapestry, sculptures and rare musical instruments.

The Czar, whose coronation has been interesting the world, is one of the fev**' monarchs who married for love. Hisr father, the late Emperor, had made choice of one bride; the Czarewitch, as he then was, had resolved to wed another, the Princess Alix of Germany. His tour of the world was planned in the hope that he* would forget her. But the young- man'spurpose was not to be shaken, aed at> length the late Czar gave way. The Courtship took place principally at Waltoji-on-Thames, when both the Prince and* Princess were on a visit to Prince Louis of Battenburg. It will be remembered that when on his visit to England the present Czar made comparatively few public appearances. He was better employed.

Archduchess Dorathea of Austria is a talented composer. She has written a Royal hymn for the regiment commanded by her father, while a gipsy song which blie composed for a band of travellingmusicians who were at the time in rather low water has become so popular that it may be said to be famous.

Lord Francis Godolphin Osborne, at present lieutenant on the Queen's yacht, is the heir-presumptive to the Dukedom of Leeds, for the present Duke has no sons. The Dukedom of Leeds is a poor one, relatively speaking. The present Duke, during his father's lifetime, found it advisable to take to business, and entered a large distilling firm. His brother was glad to add to a slender allowance by entering the navy, where interest soon found him a comfortable berth on the Queen's yacht.

Since the little King of Spain completed! his tenth year, on the 17th of May, he has. been duly set up with a separate establishment of his own. His Majesty has always had his own groom of the chambers, master of the horse, black rod, and gold stick, but now every officer of his household will bo distinctly his own, and though ho will still reside under the same roof with hia mother and sisters, his establishment will be ordered on distinctly different lines. Young as he is, Alphonso XIII. fully appreciates the change, for he hss always had a deep sense of his own importance, and it would be hard to count the number of times that he has claimed the most cherished dolls of his sisters in these words : " Give them to me, for I ana King."

Mr George Hepburne Greenham, who is now retiring after nearly twenty-seven years' service in the Criminal Investigation Department of Scotland Yard, has been Chief Inspector for sixteen years. He is a clever linguist, speaking Italian, Gorman and French fluently, and having an invaluable acquaintance with other Continental languages. Mr Greenham's special work has always been to accompany Her Majesty when travelling abroad. When with the Queen, he is in attendance from the moment she risoa ;n the morninguntil she retires again to bed. Whether Her Majesty is indoors or taking recreation in the grounds or driving iu the public thoroughfares, Mr Greenham is always within call. On one occasion, while on duty at Camden House, Chislehurst, he was taking a stroll round the grounds, when ho discovered a Frenchman in the act of taking deliberate aim with a revolver ;it the Prince Imperial, who was reading at the time in tho library. The man's finger was already on the trigger when Greenham dashed up the miscreant's arm and finally secured him. Mr Greenham is a smart looking officer with plenty of hair on his head, a full moustache, and a small beard.

Profesor Morris, who occupies the Chair of Modern Languages in the University of Melbourne, is referred to in the Daily Chronicle as a distinguished Oxonian and the brother of the late well-known London Jesuit, Father John Morris, whose sudden death in a suburban pulpit a couple of years ago will be remembered. Father Morris was secretary to Cardinal Wiseman, and was engaged on a biography of that great Archbishop of Westminster at the time of his death.

Mr Chamberlain can be caustically frank. While asserting that Healy is "the ablest Irishman alive." He adds : "No successor exists to Mr Parnell. He was a man of great ability, with no scruples, but thoroughly able. The Irish have no striking figure now in Parliament. Mr Labouchere still keeps pegging away at the peers, but no one takes him seriously. He is like Wilkes, who once said, ' Whatever else I am, lam not a Wilkesite.' Mr Labouchere might say the same of himself. He laughs in his sleeve at his own metier."