PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 32

PERSONAL NOTES.

The Boston Herald thinks that the Rev. E. P. Roe and Mark Twain are the only American authors who each make £4000 a year by their pens.

Zola, the French novelist, has a large head, a high forehead, a nose slightly retrousse, a fine chin, strong mouth, and sad, dreamy, black eyes half concealed by glasses. His shoulders are almost on a level with his ears.

Caroline Herschel, the discover of eight comets, and the accomplished partner of her brother's astronomical labours, never could remember the multiplication table, and always had to carry a copy of it about with her.

So completely has the Ameer of Afghanistan recovered his health, and so assured is he of the security of his dominions, that he is believed to be meditating a journey to Europe to see his "ally," the Empress of India.

Isaac Pitman, the " father of shorthand writing," is now 76 years old. He is almost an ascetic, using no wine, beer, spirits, tobacco, nor animal food of any kind. In religion he is an earnest Swedenborgian. He is an early riser and a hard worker.

Prince yon Bismarck, remarks the Court Journal, received 101 plovers' eggs on the recent occasion of his birthday. Plovers' eggs are a favourite delicacy of the Chancellor, and every year on his birthday a large number is sent to him from the country.

Byron is, of modern poets, the best known in the whole world, not by reason of his poetry alone, but also by reason of his adventures. So with prime donne, those being the most known who have not only sung admirably, but have also played a dramatic part in life. — Sutherland Edwards.

Mr Harry Pryer, C.M.Z.S., the Yokohama naturalist, died at the age of 37, on February 17, in Japan. When Mr Pryer went to Japan in 1870 he was alreadj r known as an active Fellow of the Entomological Society of London. In the intervals of a busy mercantile career he interested himself in Japanese natural history, and soon became a recognised authority on the subject.

" I found six or seven sermons of Spurgeon in the hotel (at Jaffa) and read them. I like him ; he is very earnest. He says, • I believe that not a worm is picked up by a bird without direct intervention of God, yet I believe entirely in man's free will, but I cannot and do not pretend to be able to reconcile the two.' "

Mrs Cleveland has been studying French under the tutelage of a Frenchwoman who lives near the Executive Mansion, and has made such good progress that she can now, it is stated, read and write quite fluently in the " court " language, and thus prove chaiming in an additional tongue.

Miss Cornelia Sorabji, the young lady who recently graduated as Bachelor of Arts at the Bombay University with marked distinction, has been appointed a Fellow of the Ahmedabad Arts College, and has entered upon her duties as a college tutor. The Bombay newspapers notice as remarkable the fact that at a time when municipal school committees will not even entrust the education of even little girls to women, a young lady is thus set to teach young men. Lamb's style caught an antique flavour from long familiarity with Elizabethan literature, while in substance it is his own and inimitable. Great mannerists like Carlyle and Macaulay have their feeble imitators by the score ; but Lamb puts his life into his words, and both as a man and as an author he died childless. — Athenasum.

Dr Anna Kingsford, who recently died in London, believed, as did many of her friends, that she was the re-embodied spirit of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for nine days three centuries or more ago. She visited the Tower of London one day in the body of Dr Kingsford, and became acquainted with herself, as it were. Dr Kingsford was a very brilliant woman, and learned history and languages with wonderful ease.