PERSONAL NOTES,

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 58

PERSONAL NOTES,

• . • Lord Salisbury is said to be the only Prime Minister since the time of Elizabeth who has worn a beard.

• . • M. Daudet, the famous French author, is extremely fond of books of travel, and although he has travelled very little himself is never tired of hearing about strange lands and peoples. • . ■ In a genealogical way the funniest thing on record is that Menelik, the King of Abyssinia, insists on bis dsscent ma straight line from Solomon and the Queen of Sneb».

There is, however, a noble family in France^ the Counts of No 6, who show oh their family blazon the aYk'and that most adv«nturous voyager Noah, and they claim that veteran .seaman as their remote ancestor.

.■ . Mr John Morley early made up his mind that he was not a good speaker, and this affected bis speaking: Curiously enough, it was the platform that flrat taught Mr Morley something of what was in "him. At the very moment when his speeches in, the H )ÜBe of Commons were ineffective he used to address vaßt gatherings throughout ths country and hold them spellbound for upwards of an hour at a time. Practice, increase of self-confidence, and Bucce«s have since produced their efEest in the House of Commons.

* . * Lord Justice Chitty is one of the moat interesting and popular figures on the English bench. Born nearly 70 years ago, he distinguished himself at Eton and Oxford as much as an atblate as a scholar. In three successive years he " stroked " the dark-blue boat, and twice brought it first past the post. The foundation of his fame as a lawyer was his monumental treatise on " Contracts," which is equally the admiration of the profession and the terror of students. Sir Joseph is alone amongst the Euglish judges in wearing a wig out of as .well as in' court. 1

i *.* Tne Sultan hat no right to <go abroad, for the Mohammedan ' law lays down that "the Commander of/the Faithful*may only leave his kingdom at the head of his armie>, ■sword in'hand, to make fresh ooc quests. .This strict law has nevertheless been transgressed, ■for Abdul Hemid'a predecessor went to' the Paris. Exhibition in 1867. Butin order that he might carry out his wish to see Paris without disobeying the Koran the French | Government, co said the Turkish preaa, w«re kind enough to present the Sultan with France. In this way appearances were saved, and when the " Shadow ot Gad on Earth," as he is styled, returned to bis empire i after "visiting the exhibition, be gajlantly r«- | stored France to the Emperor Napoleon.

' . ' The Duke of Portland is exceedingly popular with his tenantry. In the course of his morning rides and walks be often stops to chat with the farmers, questioning them about their crops, and sometimes offering*very good counsel. Many an afternoon has be spent in showing parties of his tenants round tbe gardens and farm building?, explaining improvements and new machinery. It is recorded That one small landholder, in response to the Dnke's kindly invitation, to " come upt some day "• to see some prize beast or other* arrived inopportunely in tbe midst of a garden party, and that his grace not only greeted the man cordially, but insisted on his having tea and strawberries.

* . ■ Piinoe Obristi«n enjoys the enviable reputation of being the mo«t simple and affable member of the British royal circle. He "is an e^p'cial favourite with the children, and during his daily -rambles through the park or of Windsor, he rarely passes » group of little ones without a kindly greeting or a pat on the head. H«s takes a •ympathetic interest in. their progress at school, and for those who hav«^doue well he prdduceß a coin or. a packet of swett* from' his well-fUkd pockets, and senda them away happy.' Tbe sad shooting accident by which he lost the sight of one .eye some 'time back was the cause of widespread grief among the Prince'ii little friends, and .their joy at seeing him among them again was unbounded. • • . • The Orown Prince of Germany is a promising performer on the violin, and not long ago it was suggested that he should take part in a fashionable concert which waa being organised for a military oharity. Is is said tlmt he was eager to help by playing, bat a^ked an authority on musical subjecte if he really played well enough to perform in public. The authority was truthful, and replied that though the Price? played exceedingly .well for an amateur of hie age, and possessed undoubted talent, the audience would probably not care as much for his performance as for that oE a professional, but that it would greatly appreciate the performance in public of tbe heir to the throne. " Tben I won't play," was the wise anawer. " I don't want to make people listen patiently to my playing jaet because I'm the Grown Princ""

■ . • More 6han 30 years ago Pope Lso XIII when Bishop of Perugia, caught the fever of the place. The effects of it have reinainjfl to the present day in the form of a convulsive trembling in the right, band. Ev«r since his iUaesß tbe Pope's handwriting ha* been illegible to ail except his secretaries, who are perforce familiarised with it. When he appends, Lib pjgnature he gra«pa his wrist; with bis lef o hand to keep it steady. The Perugia fever of loDg. ago 'was brought' on partly by hard work. Consignor Peed, as he then was, loved Perugia, which he made a model bishopric. ••• LoDgfellow had remarkably white hands. An old lady who met him at a tea party asked afterwards why be had worn white gloves all the evening. The great poet was most charming to bis ohildren when they were little, and hie study seems to have been their favourite play-room. In a drawer in one of bis bookcases was a collection of little story pictures drawn by himself, German picture books as well, also small cakes of chocolate " for cases of extreme need." One corner of the Btudy was given up for marbles, aa the pattern of , the carpet seemed arranged on purpose fo.r the game. • . • The present heir to the throne of Japan has had a long and thorough training in the navy. Although his father ia unol* of the Emperor, 'Prince Arisugawa Takotsito wag for the first 16 years of bin life not regarded as a member of the Imperial family. In 1878, however, hia status was recognised by the Emperor, and now, by the death of his cousin, he finds himielf at the age of 35 heir-apparent to tbe throne. Like Prince Ghorge of Greece, he ia a born fighter, and served with distinction in the Satsnma rebellion and in the recent war with China. Nine years ago he spent some time ia Europe studying naval armaments, and the knowledge thus acq aired has had much fco do witj* raising the Japanese navy to it# present fttatf of efficiency.

— Pearls which are perfectly ronhded are tho most valuable, next come the pear-shaped, and lastly theogg-shaped.

Nimmo and Blaje, will pend Seedling Single Dahlias and Verbenas post free for orders of 6s r-aingly, 2fl per dozen.