PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 49

PERSONAL NOTES.

% • The Prince of Wales receives on an average between 500 and GOO letters a day. Over 200 of these are ÜBually begging letter?. • , • Mr A. O. Swinburne, as befits the poot of the sea, is a powerful swimmer. He de- \ lights in sea-bathing, and favours tho Isle of Wight and the Channel lelauds, where be can enjoy it to the full. • . • Lady Sophia Cecil, aunt of the Marquis of Exeter, who la now 94, is the last survivor of the famous ball at Brussels on the night before Waterloo. She ia the daughter of the Dachess of Richmond, who gave the ball, and danced that night with the Duke of Brunswick, who was killed next day at Qoatre Bras, :. • M.de Giere, late Minister for War for Bt&sia was not given to amassing wealth, as so many of his country's statesmon are. As he left behind at bis death no provision for them, the Czar has granted to his widow and to fcer children a very large sum of money to form a pension. •.■ It is curious to note that it is the bachelors in the House of Commons who Interest themselves most persistently in the woman's suffrage questions. Sir Henry James ia a confirmed bachelor of 67, and Mr Woodall, an equally confirmed bachelor — not quite so old— is on the other side. Mr Balfour is a bachelor of 47 ; and Mr Haldane, the philosophic Radical who wants to give the vote to all women, and make them eligible for all offices, is also a bachelor, elightly past 40. -.• General Martinez de Campos is the mainstay of the throne of little King Alfonso. He is, perhaps, tho mott powerful man in Spain, since the army is entirely at his beck and call. This Spanish "king-maker" has remained poor, and has persistently refused the titles of nobility which Queen Isabella, King Amadeus, the late King Alfonso, and the present Queen-Rjgent have pressed upon bitn. Qae&n Christina, however, has conferred dukedoms en bis two sons. He ifl short, slight In build, and rather tho reverse of good-lookirg. He regards politics as the curse of Spain. • . ' Miss Edna Lyall is one of the most shy and unassuming of women. She does not seem to realise in the very least that ghe Ib a celebrity, and always avoids, if poatible, all mention of her work. She is a very slow worker, takes a long time to think out her plots, and composes with the aid of a typewriter. Her life is simple in the extreme ; she works quietly and steadily until 12 o'olock, when she takes an early walk for an hour, sometimes accompanied by one of her little nephews and nieces, pays a few calls in the afternoon, and in the "children's hour" gives herself entirely up to them and their amuse meuts. •.•Mr Carl Hemchel, the celebrated mu&iciat), passed through many vicissitudes before reaching the prominent position he now occupies. Reduced to the lowest financial ebb, he was on the point of accepting a minor condnctorship In a Cologne orchestra, when a friend, recognising a fortune in his voice, pressed upon him a small loan sufficient to tide over his immediate difficulties. She months later he appeared as a soloist in the "Messiah," produced at Brussels, and from that time he rose steadily to his present position in the front rank of vocalists. *. ■ The newly-elected Preiident of Peru, Pierola the rebel, is reported to be a man of fine proportions, tall, erect, and very handsome, Asghjte lock on the top of his forebead forms a singular contrast to his slightly tinged grey hair. He is gracious, courteous, and dignified in beaiiog, and bis intellectual attainments are such that at one time he filled the chair in Lima Seminary as Professor of Philosophy. His wife is the daughter of the Mexican Emperor Iturbide, who was the leader of the second revolution in 1821, which proclaimed Mexico independent from Spain. There will be a revolt against Pierola in due course. • . • The Yankee lecture-managers are still after the author of " Trilby " to read from bis famous book. Bat Mr dv Maurier is not to be tempted even by the latest munificent offer, which guaranteed him £6U00" for 25 readings in the principal American cities. He did not make much money from • • Trilby " as a serial, albeit he received the ■nug sum of £1000 for it. But now he receives a royalty on each copy of tho book sold, and has since January 1, and these royalties mean a large -sum. He has also bad £160 weekly as his share of the profits Of "Trilby "as a play, • . • Of Sir George Lewis, the famous English lawyer, it has been said that he knows enough to hang half a dozen of the biggest men in the city. No man, however, will >6?er diecover the secrets of which he is ffißtfter, tor Sir George, tor many years, has

| ceased to keep an official diary, and when he i dies the confidences of London Bociety will die with him. The confidential nature of his calling made Sir George Lewis determine some 20 years ago naver to chronicle the rovelfttionß made to his private ear, although all lawyers are expected to keep a record of this kind. He has been told from the bench, however, th»t under his peculiar circumstances no jndge would ever blame him for hia discretion. Never was a novel written or a play produced containing such incidents and situations ao are now and for ever locked in the bosom of the confidential friend of society's sinners. • . * Some interesting anecdotes are told in an article on the "Romance of our Nevra Supply " in the July Strand Magazine concerning the reporting of Mr Gladstone's speeches. About 12 years ago Mr Gladstone was going from London to Edinburgh, accompanied by a "P. A. Special, 1 ' who travelled in the same carriage. When the train reached Preston several looal magnates presented an address with the object of eliciting a short speech from the great statesman on " Protection and Freetrade." The moment Mr Gladstone commenced to reply, however, the train started. Nothing daunted, the right hon. gentleman turned to the astonished reporter sitting near him, and proceeded to made an important statement. The journalist put one- third of a column of matter on the wire when he reached Edinbnrgh, much to the amazement of the Preston correspondents of the big dailies, who declared that no such speech had been made.