Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 50

PERSONAL NOTES.

— Lord Charles Bercsford has been a sailor sincp he was 1$ years old. — France has got a negro deputy in M. Lemtimus. The only other negro who has sat at the Palais Bourbon is M. Mazuhme, who represented the Guadeloupe in 1848. — M Zola has a violent horror ol the number seven, and this superstitious fear is such th.it he will not begm any undertaking on the se.venth of the month, however important i(> inav be. It is significant that it was on February 7 that M. Zola was first brought up tor trial. , . — Mr Richard Harding Davis, the author of that remarkably clever book " Soldiers of Fortune," and who is " doing " the w.ir for the New York press, is starthngly go-ahead, ev-'.ii tor an American. He has already, it is stated, begun the [reparation of a book entitled "The War of '98 from fcirst to Last." c . — Sir Charles Steward Scott, who succeeds Sir Nicholas O'Conor «.as British Ambassador at St Petersburg, has had a long and honourable career m the Diplomatic Service. ludeed, he was spoken of as Sir Robert M oner's succesor there four years ago. Sir Charles is an Irishman of 60, and is regarded in diplomatic circles as a strong man. — It is a strange circumstance that the name of the American writer, Bret Harte, woo has done so much for English readers, mi 1 is so dramatic in Ins style, vis never spin on one of the play hdls of the old country until Friday, June 10. when a charming piece, entitled " Sue," written by himself and Mr Edgar Pemberton, was produced at the London° Garrick Theatre.

— It is not .surprising that Dr Nansen should be again willing to brave the perils of the Far North when it is remembered that lie lias cleared £38,000 from his book alone. Add to tins the sums accruing from his lectures, and one has a fairly comfortable total even

for these days of multi-millionaires. " Farthest North " was translated into no less than seven different languages.

— Menolek, the Emperor of Abyssinia', is about 6ft ill stature and is stoutly built. His face is heavy in cast, but is redeemed from plainness by an extremely pleasant expression and a pah 1 of intelligent eyes. The Emperor generally wears a large black Quaker hat over a white" silk handkerchief tied round his head, and a black silk, goldembroidered cloak over a profusion of white linen.

— Pezon, the famous lion-tamer, who died not long ago in Paris, was annoyed once afc a suggestion that trainers should bo prohibited from entering the cages of the animals 1 , in consequence of the number of accidents that had occurred. He threatened to drive forr lions in his carriage through the streets of Paris to the office of the Prefect of Police to protest against this being carried out, and challenged any policeman to lay hands on the bridles of his steeds. The authorities gave in, and he gained his point.

— The Marquess of Granby furnishes tho rare example of t\ie eldest son of a peer sitting with his father in the House of Lords. Unlike his father, the Duke of Rutland, still known to fame as Lord Jolin Manners, who was for nearly 50 years a prominent figure in the House of Commons, Lord Granby onlysat for seven years until he was translated to tho higher House as Baron Manners, of Haddon. The Marquess is the most enthusiastic of noble anglers, and has travelled thousands of miles with his rod. .

— Commodore Schley,'the commander of the American " Flying bquadron," is a jovial, open-hearted man, iiee and easy in manner, and fond of the humorous side of things. Lice Admiral Sampson, he has seen a good d-i il of active service. He has plenty of dash and courage; in fact, it is said that his extreme readiness to fight on the least occasion somewhat retarded his promotion in the past. One of his most notable expoits was his rescue of General (then Lieutenant) Greely in tho Arctic regions. His only daughter, Virginia, was married in 189J to Mr Ralph bluarl Wortley, a nephew oJ the Ear] of Wharnchft'e.

— Like Lords Wolseley and Robcits, Major-general Sir Horatio Herbert Kitchener, ! tlu, Sudai of the Egyptian forces, is an Insb.- ; man, having been born in Kerry 47 yews ago. 1 Ho is o soldier by inheritance, by training, and by instinct. Finding his commission in tli3 Royal Engineers too peaceful, he fougbh in the two great European wars of recent times — against the Piussians with General Chanzy's army of the Loire, and agains>l tho Czar's soldiers in the Balkans, under Baker Pasha. "Bui most of his sen-ice has been in the East, -where he first went in charge of a parly of surveyors in Palestine — ' Senor Sagasta, the Spanish statesman, j is remarkably deficient in the graces of ora- ' torv. a fact the more, noteworthy in a country whose very peasant? are impressively eloquent. He has, however, a remarkable i gift of sarcasm, which, combined with his bnj perturb ibis manner, no doubt explains his in-r fluence over a people so hot-blooded and impulsive as the Spanish. His relations with the Queen Regent are almost paternal in character, and the wrinkled, kindly-looking ol 1 Minister stands very high in the esteem of both Queen Christina and her son, the ' young king. Senor Sagasta is a Grand Master oi the Spanish Order of Freemasons. Sir n. 11. Kitchener, the Egyptian Sirdar, is a tall, dark-skinned man, who in disgiuso would pass easily for a native. Of his knowledge of Mahometan languages and tribes many stories are told At one of his army's j camps on the Nile two Arab datesellers ' were on a certain occasion arrested as suspected spies and confined in the guard t&ilt. Shortly afterwards a third Arab prisoner ! was hastily bundled into the tent. An ! animated "jabbering ensued between the ! thiee, and in a few minutes, much to the j astonishment of the sentry, the latest arrival drew aside the doorway and stepped ouc, remarking : " All right sentry I m going to the general." It was Kitchener. Again only .i tew minutes passed when an orderly, hurried up, and a spade was handed to eauh ! of the two Arabs, who were marched outside the lines, made to dig their graves, and were shot. They were spies, and Kitchener had detected them — One of the distinguishing featuies ot the late James Payn was that lie was never heard to say an ill-natured word of anyone. He had his likes and his dislikes, and ho was quick to condemn any baseness of conduct, nor was he slow to express hi.« disapproval of certain of the literary tendencies of the age But personal animosity never inspired ln« judgments upon his fellow-creatures, and he wa<- always better pleased to praise than u> blame. When he discovered a new writer and found that he had real merit he was eager to proclaim his discovery to the world. N° miserable jealousy ever stood in Ihe way of his recognition of merit on the part of another writer. English letters have lo*t in him a very distinguished figure, but the literary M-orld of to-day has lost something more one who was universally liked and universally esteemed, who was worthy of the attention and respect which he inspired among all who came in contact with him. — Wemyss Reid. , . — To read Egyptian-French accounts of Lo-d Cromer you "would picture him a stitfbr^wed. hard-mouthed, C3'incal, taciturn martinet. To look at the real mon you would say that he gave half of Ins time to sleep, ami the other half to laughing. Lolling in Ins carriage through the streets of Cairo, or lighting a fresh cigarette in his office, dressed in°a loose-fitting grey tweed and striped shut, with ruddy face, short white hair, and short while moustache, with gold-rimmed eyeglasses half hiding eyes half closed, mellow of voice, and fluent of speech — is this the perfidious Baring, you ask yourself, wlion) Frenchmen detest and strive to imitate? This the terrible Lord Cromer whom kliedives obey and tremble? His demeanour is genial and courteous. Hi's talk is easy, open, shrewd, and humorous ITis subordinates admire, respect, even love him. He is the mildest* mannered man that ever sacked Prime Minister. Only, somehow, you still fejt the steel stiffening of the velvet. He is genial, but he would be a bold man who would take a liberty with him ; he talks, only not for publication ; he is loved, yet he must always be obeyed. Velvet as long as" he can, steel as soon, as he must— that is Lord Cromer.—. S. W. Steevena.

The world was ltd— the garden win a wild, Jknd nisn, the Hermit, iighcd, till ravin smiled. — Caupbkm.,

Bmnieltue will be pleased to receive letter* from corrcapoudeow oa any matter of inwrcst to them. »ntl to reply through the medium of this page, the norn de plume ouly of the OwiespoQdeots to be published. Letters to be undressed *' Emiuenna," care of the Editor.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Jessie. -(1) I should not advise you to try either of the remedies you mention. Far better diet yourself, avoiding all fat and starchy foods, such as potatoes, pastry, fat meat, sweets, etc. If you are determined to try violent means you should only do so under medical advice. (2) Squeeze out the blackheads, and you will ultimately ' mately get lid of them. You might also sponge your face occasionally withlemoujuice. Quinine,' in one-grain doses a day, is said io be efficacious in reducing corpulence. A Young Mother.— Yes, paper patterns of children's clothing are obtainable at Miss doughs, George street. Country Cgcsix.— To every pound of carrot pulp allow Jib sugar, the grated riod of a lemon aad the strained juice of two, six chopped bitter almonds, and two tablespoon tuls of brandy. To make the pup, boil youug cariols till tender, then rub through a bieve. Boil the pulp and the sugar briskly for five minutes. Whi n cold add ihe lemon juice, rind, almouds, and brandy, mixing thoroughly, and then putting in pots. Keep in a dry place. 3'EA.— I have read the MSS , and think there is much good in them, though they do not reach publication stauda d. Prune down vigorously, bewaro of icdundant adjectives, and be sure that whut you have to tell will interest outsideis who know nothing of you, or of all that evoked the fctcry. Ihere must be something good in the story, or something better still iv the telling of it, to ensure success, 'ihe colonial field i.f literature is veiy limited, and the aspirants legion Your woik is quite good euough to warrant your veiaevering. 'lake good j])Oile!,s, and riificiie yoiavself severely. You asked me to speak gu t« frankly ; I hope 1 h:«va dona lightly in taking jouat your word, 'lbauk you very much fur your pkav*ut letter vn.h ita .kindly appreciation of my efforts. I hope to have the rules of "'lhe Hresida <Jlub" ready diiectly. So many correspondents rwve liked the idea that I think we shall be justified in tijiugit, at any rate. Io is luid, dear, to teep up iulelltctudi levels in ihs cc.im ry ; but I always think there are such delightful compensations in a country life— it is so ea^y to be good in the country. I hope you will be an energetic member ot the Fireside Club, and thus 1 shall often htar of you again. JeaisETTE.— I am sorry I have no personal knowledge of Christchutch regiatiy offices. You cannot, however, do wrong; in simply addressing j-L'iir letter " Proprietor Registry Office, Chrisit church," for the postal authoriti-a will thon hand it to tbe chief office. A C»>u tay Cousw.-lfwe or six Rirln weie receive.l as pupil teachers iv the Jj'iee Kindergartens this year, I believ-*, and as the course of inftructjou nrccs-siiy befor* obtaining a cert)ficate Ksts quite two years, I i»uppoi>e it will be borne time before there aie nvy vacancies. I bulie\e applicants thould be at least 16 years of age, and have passed al> the State school stand ard.", though n atriculation is i.os ucc.SHarj'. t^psce "will not admit of v y detcribiiiK the syfct-m which is taught in the kiudei^arlens. It is knviWn as Froeljcl's system, and con^ists of education arr<*pgtd with buch simplicity and interest of mus'c, ex';icise, and intelligent pastime that it is as attractive to the li tile ones a< play itaelr, while the wholu influence of the byatera is one ot pili<suce, love, and gentkutbs^ If ever you are iv tov/n tiyto^et jour friends to take yi.u to bew the Yaralla branch, held in Albany street tchool gymnasium. • VloiißT.— Thank you very much for your little note-and your kindly wishes'. I always like to Und your writiug among my budget.