IN THE PAPERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10778, 29 May 1911, Page 2

IN THE PAPERS.

The most exhaustive work ever written on London slang is due to the industry of a German, Herr Baumann, whose "Londonismen" has run into several editions since its original pub- ; lication in 1886, each edition being as far as possible brought up to date. As , an aid to the pronunciation of the many strange words in his work, Herr Bail--maun has devised a system of notation.': This, it is claimed, will enable pains-., taking German students to hold their own in a slanging contest with the most fluent native. Herr Baumann is" nq■thing if not thorough. Several pages are devoted to the word "on." From these we learn, among other the vast difference between the phrases, "I had a little bit on" and: "I was a little bio on," which, to? the, untutored foreigner appear pretty' much the same thing. ' :; Sir Luke Fildesy who has been commanded to paint the State .portrait of 'the King, is not new to the delicate and difficult class of work. He painted a similar picture for King Edward, and had already been favored by a sitting of. King George at the time of his wedding. ; His'most remarkable work in portraiture is the unfinished and, as far as the public are concerned, unseen portrait of Cecil Rhodes. This work was commissioned by Lord Norfchcliffe, the arrangement being somewhat unwillingly acquiesced in by the subject, who hated being made a fuss about. In this temper he approached the ordeal, and made himself distinctly disagreeable to.the distinguished" R.A. He would not sit exactly in accordance with the pointer's point of view, and grumbled incessantly. Sir Lukes Fildes' temper reached the point of exhaustion, and one day when Mr Rhodes was leaving the studio it was politely but firmly intimated to him that he was ifct expected to return. In spite, of representations from Lord Northcliffe and half promises of milder manners from the South African autocrat Sir Luke maintained his position, and the pio'ture', as far as it had proceeded, remains in his private possession The handwriting of literary men is supposed to have improved during recent years, but there are still a few with a fondness for hieroglyphics. At a meeting of (the Methodist Conference in Melbourne the other day the Rev. Dr Fitchett, author of "Deeds'that Won the Empire," and other popular works, - handed up a resolution. The president looked at ft, turned it upside down and roundabout, and at length gave it up in despair. The clerk was equally unable to decipher it. "I must ask Brother Fitchett," said the president, "to be good enough to rewrite his resolution and try to make it readable. At present it resembles a doctor's prescription." There is one person—or rather personage—who will play a very important part in the forDhcoming Coronation, and he is the driver of the State coach. A King's coachman is usually aware of the dignity that surrounds his office. Certainly the coachman to her late Majesty Queen Vidtoria had no mean misgivings on that score. At the 1887 Jubilee this functionary was asked if he was driving any of the Royal guests who were at that time quartered in Buckingham Palace. "No, sir," was the crushing reply, "I am the Queen's coachman; I don't drive the riff-raff."