PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4407, 13 July 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

PEOPLE WE READ ABOUT

Mrs Carrie Nation, whose anti - liquor crusade in America made her so notorious, was recently sentenced to undergo a term of solitary confinement in Wichita gaol. She ha? now become insane. Some physicians think she will recover, but others believe her case to be hopeless. Meanwhile she has been released on bail. *-» * . »

The Duke of Fife is building a handsome residence at Brighton, not far from the new pier, and apropos of this house comes a capital storv of the Duchess. The touch of nature which makes us nil akin docs not escape Royalty, and our Royal Pamilv knows better than most of us the infliction of unwanted callers. The Duchess was walking along the parade at Brighton to her house, when, as eho approached her own door, she saw a carriage waiting. She was evidently not in a mood to receive visitors in general, or else to see these visitors in particular, and ns she reached the bouse she walked straight oast the cate. The callers were informed that the Duchess was out, and when the carriage bad gone the King’s daughter turned round again and went home. * • « • •

Mr Theodore Napier's paper, '‘The Fiery Cross,’' has in its second number a portrait of tha ‘‘Hereditary Heir to the Throne.'' This is not the Duke of York, ns some simple people might suppose, L'ut H.B.H. Princess Louis of Bavaria, otherwise known as Mary of Modena. This pleasant - looking lady "would now be reigning as Queen Mary 111. of Scotland and IV. of England and Ireland," but for one trifling impediment—the Act of Settlement! However, it is no doubt a great comfort to Theodore to reflect that she is heiress "de jure hereditaria,", and he assures his readers that “hereditary right will withstand the rocks." * * * » •

Miss Baden-Powell, whose engagement to Sir William Berry, is the clever sister of the popular "8.-P.," and the future Lady Berry is likely to settle down in the South Africa of new conditions. The Hon. Sir William Bisset Berry was born at Aberdeen, and educated at its University. In 1864 he settled at Queenstown. Cape of Good Hope, practised medicine there, and was. in time, chosen as its representative in the House of Assembly, the Speaker of which he has been for the last three years. * » * • »

A marriage has been arranged between Miss Josephine Holman, daughter of the late Judge Holman, of Ipdianapolis, and Signor Marconi, the cl. ctrician. The wedding day is set for autumn. M. Marconi became acquainted with Miss Holman on board the St. Louis' while eh route from Liverpool to New York in November, 1899. She was greatly interested in wireless telegraphy, and was a congenial companion for the scientist. Miss Holman, who is a tall, slender blonde, is a graduate at Bryn Mawr College. * - * « .» *

General Sir George White, who has recently received the 6.C.M.G. for his services' in South Africa, has already received the K.C.V.O. since his return from South Africa. Altogether he is now a Knight of no fewer than five different Orders—namely, the Bath, the Star of India, St. Michael and St. George, the Indian Empire, and the Boyal Victorian Order. * * *■ > * *

Much interest, naturally attaches to the Question concerning the future titles of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. Seeing that the matter involved is one that is wholly within the personal discretion of the Sovereign, the British Government is under no obligation to divulge the decision, if any. which has been arrived at on the subject, and jt is moro than unlikely that any definite answer will be forthcoming at present. But in the absence of all apparent reason for a departure from the traditional custom, it is verv generally anticipated that the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will be created Prince and Princess of Wales either within a few davs of their return from their colonial tour—or, to be more precise, on the King’s birthday. , - • ■» * « #

The Marquis of Ormonde Will probably be the next Commodore of the Boyal Squadron, as the King, it is said, is about to resign the office. Although Lord Ormonde is bordering upon sixty years of age, he is one of the keenest and most enthusiastic of yachtmen. He is no dilettante Beaman, but as practical a man aboard ship as he is enthusiastic. . For many year’s he- has been Vice - Admiral of Leinster. He- is a collateral descendant of the famous Cavalier leader, the Duke of Ormonde, some of whose titles the Marquis bears. The Marquisato was not conferred upon' the Butler family until 1825, but the House had long been a distinguished one and closely associated with Eoyalty. Indeed the family name comes from the office conferred upon .Tames, eldest son of the Earl of Garrick, by James 11. That monarch granted to the’ first of the Butlers certain estates and the dignity of Hereditary Chief Butler of Ireland. The office of course is nothing more than a' name now. Lord Ormonde . married in jB/6, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Duke of Westminster, and his daughters are famous for their beauty. • * • • •

General Sir lau Stanflish Monteith Hamilton. C. 8.. D. 5.0., is eipht-and-forty, he has shown his worth, and he has earned high praise from Lord Huberts; who lately wrote that he had "long had occasion to recognise the exceptional military qualifications of this Officer” .who had so well commanded "large Mixed Forces of all arms.” Apart frdm this high nraise, he has been repeatedly mentioned for his services in Natal and in the siege of Ladysmith since he was made General on the Staff of the Natal Field Force. Ypt he was horn in 'Corfu; whence he came to Cheam and Wellington before he joined the army in 1873, He was twice "despatched 7 ’ and medalled in the Afghan war within seven years; and he served in that Boer war which was ao disastrously ended at Majnba By Mr Gladstone. . Then he won more mentions and medals on the Nile, in Burroah, and at CMtral; after which he was improved into Commandant at Hythe. That was just before our latest little war broke out; and his name is since freshened in the memory of the general. Ha can ehoot, he can lead, and he can write. . . .

He is. indeed, ouite a fine fellow, who has been worthily knighted; and having inst been made Military Secretary at the War Office, it remains for him to prove that a horn leader of men can do as well in a difficult indoor office.

What were Lord Beaconsfield’s last words ? At the supreme moment neither Lord Eowton nor Dr Kidd seem to hare been by the bedside. The late Pir Richard Quain. the patient’s regular physician, alone stood there. As one Disraeli legend runs, lord Beaconsfield died with the nnestion: ‘‘ls there anything in the 'Gazette?' That is a pointless libel. As darkness and silence wrapped the statesman round, he simply murmured in Quaia’s ear: "I am overwhelmed