PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 46

PERSONAL NOTES.

— King Oscar of Sweden and Norway Is to-day the only monarch who occasionally dons his crown. His Majesty wears it every time he faces the Parliament of either of his two kingdoms.

— ■ A daughter of Mark Twain is studying music in Vienna. Miss Clemens was originally intended to be a pianist, but it is said she has developed a remarkably promising voice.

— Lord Malcolm of Poltalloch, who stands over 6ft sin "in bis socks," is the tallest member of either of our Houses of Parliament, although a few years ago Mr John O'Connor, with his 6ft 6ic, claimed the 1 record for the Lower House. Lord Malcolm, who has only enjoyed his title since 1896, is lord of 85,000 acres. - ■

— The lady who is known to all readers of fiction as Miss Braddoh made her debut as an' actress 40 years sgo, at the Brighton Theatre Royal, as the youthful fairy Pineapple in Planches extravaganza "The Prince 1 of Happy Land." Miss Braddon's stage career lasted but a few months, but" during this time she played 58 parts, the last being Indttstria in " Little Bed Biding Hood."

— Although the attack •on the Portland title will doubtless have little effect upon the nerves of anyone ,at Welb6ck, the present duke' undoubtedly had more than ordinary good fortune' in succeeding, not merely because tbe late duke was a distant cousin; but because an elder brother of the present duke's father was twice, married and had seven children. Of these % children • the four first died young, and the last three were all girl?,, of whom the eldest is Lady GJsmiß.

—Mr Edison tells a story of how -he started to make a fortune years ago. He saved his money^ industriously for three years, then he put it all into an' invention — a wonderful thing. It was to nae at the polls, and so perfectly did -it record the votes that it waß an absolute impossibility to contrive any- cheating. Edison took his completed invention ■ to a well-known politician. The latter looked it over carefulFy;.tben be said : "Young man, take that machine and break it all to pieces. When want anything of that kind we'll let yon koow." ' ' — Sir Michael Hiekf-Ueacb'-has sat in the House of Commons for more than a generation, has sereral times held Cabinet offices with distinction, and is perhaps' the only Tory Irish Secretary who has been popular with the" Home Bul« 'party. Daring- late years his failure, of sight has handicapped the Chancellor of the Exchequer severely, and has been the cause of much misunderstanding. Although naturally a genial and unaffected man. his friends have often been annoyed by the marked manner in which he would ignore them— a r slight which was, as is now generally recognised, entirely due to Ms bad eyesight. . r- „■> v - '; — Mr. 'Neumann, tbe South millionaire, has rented , Invercauld,- Mr Far^ quharson's place, near Braemar, -in Scotland. Invercauld is'one of the flcest Dlaces in the

: Highlands, bnilfe on the banks of the Dee 1 , and ,is famed for its deer forests, gronsfe moors,, salmon fishing, and for the beautiful fir and pine forests of Balloohbine. The house is in the old baronial style, with a historic dining hall. The Jacobites met at Invercauld in 1715, and thecce the " fiery cross " was sent forth through Scotland. In 1745" the Farquharson of the day contrived to save both his head and his lands by a refusal to join the insurrection. ■

—M. Hanotaux is unquestionably the ablest Foreign Minister France has had in our time. He began life as a student of CardinaMSichelieu, .whose long-forgottea " Maxims ""Se had the good fortune to discover bidden away id the Bibliotheqwe Nationaie. M Hanotanx spent some time in the Ministry of War in various capacities. When he was made bead of tbe department the Chamber felt that it had at last a Minister who knew the whole range of foreign affairs, and could tell the exact position of every French possession without looking.at the map. This gave M Hanotattx an unusual measure of public confidence, which has gone on growing ever since. -He has certainly managed the foreign affairs of France with conspicuous snecess. M. Hanotanx is no Emile Ollivier, and would never make war -with " a light heart." On tbe. contrary, he is aD extremely dispassionate, clearbeaded, and prudent man. • -j -

7- Wife (re-vidtiDg the scene of ( her betrotbal): "I_ remember, Algernon, so well when you proposed, to me how painfully embarrassed yon were." Algernon : " Yea, d9ar ; and I remember so well how kind and enconraging yon were, and how easj you made it for me, after all." — A little girl from town was stayiDg with some country cousins who live on a farm. At breakfast fcbe following rooming she saw on the table a dish of honey, asd regarded this as an opportunity to show her country cousins that she knew something of country life after all. Looking at the disb of honey she said carelessly : " Ab, I see you keen a bee I "