PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1973, 12 September 1889, Page 30

PERSONAL NOTES.

Mr D. K. Pearson, the Chicago tnillionaire,has adopted the sensible plan of disposing of his great fortune before his death. During the last few years he has given away nearly BQo,ooodol to educational institutions in the West. *

Of President Carnot's face a clever wordpainter writes :—" It is long, very sallow, and the beard and moustache are still almost perfectly black. It is one of those faces that seem to go all backward and slantwise. The forehead retreats, the chin goes foiward, the cheek bones are high." M. Carnot's eyes are kind and tender, but very anxious, and his face is lined with care.

Mr W. W. Phelps, the United States Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary to Germany, is. a native of New York, but the first of his. ancestors was a brother of the John Phelpswho was Oliver Cromwell's private secretary. John Phelps landed in America in. 1630, and settled near Sainsbury, Connecticut.

The late Mr Newall did much useful work in his time. He died at the advanced age of 77. Mr Newall took out a patent for making wire rope, and it was this invention that caused his name to be known throughout the world, as it made submarine telegraphy possible. He devoted much of his time to general scientific work, and had a 25 -inch refracting telescope, constructed by Cooke and Sons, which just before his death he presented as a gift to the University of Cambridge. The Duchess of Cleveland, who recently published " The Battle Abbey Roll," has justcompleted her seventieth year. Her Grace" is one of the few survivors of the 12 young laaies whom her Majesty, nearly half a century ago, selected as her bridesmaids, and who carried the royal train on the occasion of the Queen's marriage. Few ladies in any rank in life have had a career of such unbroken and splendid prosperity as the Duchess.

Ib may now be taken for granted that the name by which the eldest son of the Prince of Wales is to be known in future is Prince Edward, for his present to the Duke of Poitland bore an inscription testifying to the fact that it was given by " Prince Edward." It has been known for some time that the name by which he was known at home was Edward, but the Queen has obstinately persisted in having Mm described in the Court Circular as Prince Albert Victor, with the determination of perpetuating as long as possible the German appellation of the dear departed.

Nelson won the Battle of Copenhagen through disobedience. At this battle Nelson was fighting under the orders of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, who at one time considered the day to be lost, and hoisted en board his vessel, the London, the signal flag 39, meaning " Stop fightiag." An officer on board Nelson's vessel, the Elephant, reported this to his chief, who made no reply. On being told again that No. 39. was hoisted on the London, he turned to Captain Foley, saying, " You know I have only one eye, therefore I have a right to be blind sometimes," at the same time putting his glass to his blind eye. Turning again to the officer who had reported the signal, he said, " I really do not see any signal ; let mine for ' close fighting ' stand. The result of tins was that the other commanders were encouraged tc continue the fight, which eventually ended in a victory to the British arms.