PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3675, 27 February 1899, Page 3

PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT.

The German Emperor has lately displayed a’liking for English novels, and is said to have taken a number with him on his iounrey to the East. * » Mr George Wyndham the new Un-der-Secretary for War, was very popular while in the Coldstream-Guards, and was generally known as “ Ham” by his suSbrclinates who were devoted to him. * * * i ‘ » * The Duke of York’s favourite recreation when on board ship is playing card s with his officers. He is a capital wins 1 , player. The Duchess of York has also taken to the game lately. The 1 tallest member of the English Ba" is Mr Coward, whose “ linked length ” reaches a height of 6ft 6m. Ho playfully speaks of himself as the greatest Coward at the Bar.” One of the shortest barristers is Dr Ball, who reaches little higher than Mr Coward’s watchchain. , Mr Cecil Rhodes hates penmanship, though ho sometimes writes lengthy private letters. He is said to have remarked lately that he looks forward to living long enough to-see telephones and phonographs and electric telegraphy entirely supersede the v. r riting of correspondence... ....

Lady Cadogan. tho wife of the Lory Lieutenant of Ireland, is famous amonr grand dames as a sportswoman. Hunting is her chief delight, hut in yachting, boating and racing there are lew.ladies who can surpass her. Lady Cadogan a great lover of horses, and takes adee-> interest in her husband's racing-stable S at Newmarket « • » » »

The King of Benin, who gave us s-> much, trouble two years ago, is residing in dignified retirement at Old Ca.laba- , on tho coast of Africa. Horn he lives, surrounded by his wives and courtiers, in a house of mud with a roof of corru - gated iron, and plays at still being c. king. He wears a long white robe hanging from one shoulder to his sandallo 1 feet, and has a somewhat dignified appearance. 1 ' i

Sir Richard Webster, the AttorneyGeneral, is as proud of his resonant baritone voice as of his forensic success. Frr many years ho sang regularly in a church choir, and has donned a surplice morr than once since he has been AttornevGeueral. Sir Edward Clarke, too, is an

agreeable singer; and Lord Herschellis wedded to the .which he plays with uncommon skill. - * -* ♦ * * The Princess of Wales has enjoyed her title for a longer period than any of her predecessors, with one exception. She was married to the Prince of Wales over thirty-five years ago. * * * * * Mr George Meredith, the famous novo list, has probably covered more ground on foot than any writer of our times. Like Sir Robert Menzies, he laughs at “ wind and weather,” and may frequently be seen tramping in Surrey lanes and fields, in the most unconventional attire.' Dr the inventor of the Gatling gun, is now eighty years of age, although ho looks very much younger. He is tall and erect of carriage, with a typical American face. As might be supposed, gunnery is his pet subject, but he is none the less a srong advocate of arbitration as the best method of settling international questions. & ** * * ♦ Major Marchand, wdiose name has become so prominent in connection with the “ Fnshoda incident,” is a man who has sprung from the ranks. The son of a carpenter, he commenced life as a notary's clerk. But so strong was his ambition to become a soldier that, although at first, in deference to his mother’s wishes, he remained a civilian, he ultimately entered the army. He is said to possess remarkable skill as a tactician, and is engrossed in military matters. Two only of the Sacred College of Rome—Cardinal Oreglia and Cardinal Rampolla—are of noble birth. The rest are of more or leas humble origin. * * * The young Queen of the .Netherlands is one of the most skilful and enthusiastic of Royal painters. She has at present a passion for military and her great ambition is to paint a thrilling battle-pcture. * * * * . . * • Lord Warkworth, ’ the son -of -Ear) Percy and - the .grandson .-of. the veteran Duke of Northumberland, is one of the most promising of coming Peers. He had . a brilliant career at Eton and Christchurch, the twin nurseries of statesmen, and entered Parliament as a “double first” and Newdigate prizeman. He has been travelling in Asia Minor, where he has studied Eastern politics. * * . •» * 1 * General Conpinger, who will retire soon from the United States array under the age limit, is ‘ the representative of one of’the most ancient Roman Catholic families in Ireland, and is hoir-preahmp-tive to the estate of Ballynolum, in the county of Cork, a property with a rental of £IO,OOO a year, which has been for several centuries in his family. . He is related to the Duke of Norfolk and the Marquess of # Ormonde. # If Li Hung Chang lives until next February he will be 76 years old. If report be true, ho is the richest man in the world. . . • „ « » » * • The Duchess of Westminster still wears the largest flawless turquoise owned by any private individual; and the Duchess : of Sutherland possesses the only complete necklace of black pearls. * * * * *. The Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar is said to be the wealthiest Prince in Germany. His wife, who was his first cousin, and, like himself, a grandchild of tire Czar Paul of Russia, brought him a dower of £4,000,000, in addition to vast estates in different parts of Europe. His private income is not : over-estimatea at £2OOO a day. «.» * * * The strange resemblance of the Czar of Russia to our own Duke of York is not merely physical. ; Their tastes are almost identical, from the boyish pastimes of collecting stamps and birds eggs to cycling and shooting. Although they are rivals in a dozen directions, - they are warm friends. ‘ » * » * * c, Judge Parry, son of the famous Sergeant Parry, himself a clever man of letters, is more devoted to literature than to law, although both have brought him distinction. In his earlier years he was a dramatic critic of repute; and his best literary work includes a book- of letters from Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple, and a clever book for children, called “ Katawampus.” * * * * * When Mark Twain and his wife were on their wedding tour, he wrote to a friend at Buffalo to secure lodgings for them,. This friend met- them at the station on their return, and assured them that would' (find their boardinghouse satisfactory. On reaching there they were welcomed by the bride’s parents, who asked them to accept the house as a wedding gift. Overcome by the surprise, Mark took his wife’s nand, and, stepping up to her parents, simply said: “Happy twain.”’ * * * * * A very curous trait in the family oi the Premier is the nervousness from which almost every member suffers. It is perhaps most marked in Lord Hugh Cecil, ■ the youthful . member for Greenwich, who appears to suffer terribly whenever he makes a speech. Although naturally eloquent and keen-witted, his nervousness handicaps him heavily. Lord Cranbome and Lord Robert- Cecil suffer from the same disability, and even the burly Lord Salisbury himself, a man of a thousand speeches, admits that_he jfeuffers tortures of anticipation until he is actually on his feet. ’ The young Empress of Japan denies herself many luxuries m order that she may have her private money to use in charity. She is so tender-hearted, that the Palace officials have orders, to prevent her from hearing of any too sad disaster that occurs in the Kingdom. The Empress possesses one great friend among her Court ladies, all of whom aro devoted to her. .

Dr Dupre, chemical adviser on explosives to the Homo Office, is a native of Mayenco, .where ho was born in 1835. Ho is the descendant, through his father and mother, of two old Huguenot families. After studying; in Germany at 'several schools and universities, and taking high degrees, he came to London, rather more than 40 years ago, since which time he has been actively, employed as a scientific chemist. Dr Dupre has held many important public positions, and his name has figured prominently before the world in connection with various dynamite outrages and more than one celebrated poisoning case. Some years ago Dr Dupre linked himself still more closely to the country; by marrying an English lady.

One of the great events of the year in Siam is when the King visits the temples in and around- Bangkok. He goes in his state barge, which is about 100 feet in length and a mass of carving and gilding. In the bow .are stationed 70 trumpeters. Ho is rowed by 50 men dressed in scarlet, wielding gilded oars. A temporary throne for the .King is in the centre. The barge is preceded and followed by a largo number of state barges, each containing a prince or high nobles. When the King approaches a temple long lines of priests, in their yellow rohes, kneel down, and upon his entering the building he kneels before the altar. After repeating a few of the precepts of Buddha, he retires amid much ceremony.

The Marchioness of Twceddalc, who, by the way. is.a charming Italian lady, is among the few women who have driven a railway engine.