PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 69

PERSONAL NOTES.

—M. Stambouloff, the Bulgarian ex-Pre-mier, vras in his younger days apprenticed to a cobbler. ,On becoming Prime Minister b^e appointed his former master, the cobbler^ Prefect of Police at Sofia, as a mark of respect ior his just and unerring severity and his re: markable talent for flogging.

■ — Lord Grimthorpe, in le^igning the office of Chancellor and Vicar-general of York, to which he v, as appointed in 1877, has brought to a close an active connection with the law of exceptional length. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 184-1, and 13 years later received the honour of "silk." At the age of 84- he enjoys the distinction of being the senior Q.C. Before he was made a peer in 1865 he possessed the leading practice at the parliamentary bar.

— Probably no man of war is more naturally a man of peace and home-loving than Lord Roberts. Indeed, great and popular as he is in the world and in war, he is ftill greater and more lovable in his home, where he is simply worshipped by his wife and daughters. One of his chief delights is to ride or cycle with his t^y girls, whom he challenges to race with an the pimple enthusiasm of a bo} r . Tie taught them both to ride, and in turn they taught him the fickle art of cycling.

• — The H on. James Duiibinuir, the new Premier of British Columbia, is probably the only man on record who has attained a premiership without having made a single speech in Parliament. Essentially a business man, he has not only beei\ a silent member himself, but has shown unni.'iakably by face and manner his impatience and astonishment at the waste of valuable time by others. He is believed to be the wealthiest man in British Columbra.

— The Earl of Perth and Melforfc, who recently entered on his ninety-fourth year, is in many re3i:>ects a unique personality. The Earl, -who cannot be designated Father of the House of Lords (for, though a Peer of Sootland and of France, he has no English title, and therefore no seat in our hereditary chamber), is unquestionably the doyen by reason of his years of the nobility of these island?. Sixtjr years ago he succeeded his uncle, and, as far back as 1824, he was a Captain in the _93rd Highlanders. Tn the early years of the "volunteer movement, the Earl of Perth took a personal interest in the work of organisation, and from 1853 till 1859 was major in the Victoria Middlesex Rifles. — Many jokes have been made at the ex-

pense of the German Emperor's fondness i'o» letter-writing, but by his intimates -it is recognised as a veritable saiety-valve. It forms an outlet for his superfluous energy, and ha likes to be able to jot down an idea whenever it occurs to" him. In every room in tha Royal Palace peas, ink, and paper may be! found, and even 'the bedchamber has its fully-, appointed writing table. The Royal yacht is thoroughly equipped, and even a short train journey is not undertaken without a t slocked writing case. The Emperor prefers* a broad-nibbed pen. and usually writes on large quarto sheets of thick paper.

— At the recent banquet of the BritislTEmpire League, Mr Maxim was one of the lasb to leave the table, and a small knot of distinguished guests waited for him at the door — ■ the Prince of Waled, the Duke of York, the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Salisbury, the Duke of Devonshire, and others — by all of whom, the gieat inventor was warmly greeted, The Prince of Wales shook hands with him, the Duke of York expressed his intention of having "another look" at the Maxim works, wlnlsb Lord Salisbury, addressing the Prince ol "Wales, said : "I was just telling Mr Maxim that he had prevented more men-from dying of old age than any other man 'that ever lived!"

— Lord Ripon's entry into trade — he has established a butter-making business with much success both at Leeds and Ripon— is an interesting addition to the list>of commercial peers. I'he name of Lord Rayleig*h, a brothev-in-law of the Leader of the House, may auy day be seen 'on the front of a milkbhop opposite the British Museum; whilst another peer who is, or was, also in the milky way is Viscount Hampden. The late Lord Winohilsea carried on a large agricultural store in Long Acre, in which he took deep interest. Lord Windsor has also gone intothe "trade." The Marquis of Londonderry of course, is in the coal line. * Lord Grimthorpe's pet hobby is clock-making', and Lady TankerviLle and the Hon. Ronald Leigh, are both practically interested in laundries.

— The man who inaugurated Ijie syatem of responsible government in Natal seven years ago, since which time ho has been Governor of tho State and of Zululand, is Sir "Walter Bely Hutchinson, who on August 22 celebrated his jubilee birthday. Like so many other Irishmen," ho has been destined to carry the pacific mission, of Great Britain over a large portion, of the habitable globe, for he has served in many parts of the world, having accompanied Sir Hercules Robinson,. Governor of New South Wales, on a, special mission to the Fiji Islands in 1874 ; while later on he was Lieutenant-O-overnor of Malta and Governor of the Windward Islands.

— The chief of the Queen's equerries is known as the Ciown Equerry, an office which, with the Secretaryship to the Master of the Eorse. is filled by Major-general Sir Henry* Peter Ewart, X.0.8., X.C.V.0., who was 62 on August 20. When he was 20 he joined the 2nd Life Guards, and when he was 20. years older he commanded the regiment, while during the Egyptian campaign in 1882 he.wa,a in command of the Household Cavalry, when he won his C.8., and three years later he commanded th,e .Cavalry Brigade in the Soudan campaign, for which he got his K.C.B.' He mu«t not be confounded with General Sir John Alexander Ewai'fr, who is much hia senior, for his father was a clergyman, while Sir John's was a well-known member of the army. • — If a rice of once-famous runners who arc now more than 60 and upwards could ever be organised, tho ■ Right Hon. Sir Arth'y; Hayter, whose sixty-fifth birthday occurred on August 19. y>ould probably be a hot fa vcurite. In his young days he won great

, jucce*ses both at Eton and at Oxford in short ijaces, and bore off the palm as a sprinter at ).00yds in a public match at Lord's. He ivas no le^s celebrated at the University, for he took an open classical scholarship at Oxlord and won honours in classics in Brasenose College. In latter life he distinguished liimself in two opposed professions, for he was adjutant in the Grenadier Guards and also served three terms in the House of Commons, during one of which he acted as Financial Secretary at the War Office. — Possibly the longest moustaches in the army are those worn by Major-general Sir (Frederick Carrington, who was 56 on August 23 Everybody in the world has heard of Darlington's Horse, the troop which he founded in 1877 when he was in Griqualand, and maintained, it is said, in a high state of discipline by a method peculiarly his own. [f ft man were brought before him on a charge of having been disorderly, he was simply »sked to corroborate if he had done what was alleged. If he answered in the affirmative Sir Frederick proceeded "to pummel him with his own hands until he thought the prisoner had been sufficiently punished, when he let him go. As Sir Frederick happens to be a splendidly set-up man, the punishment was probably as effective as he intended it to be.

— Sir Chichen Lofengluh, Chinese Ambassador in London, is one of the most distinguished Oriental diplomats ever accredited to the Home country. His Excellency learned "Enqlihli in China when a young man. liis wide culture and profound, knowledge of our

literature are rem.aika.ble. He is a devoted student of Shakespeare. It is his intention , to found a library in his native city, and to ! present to it an entire edition in Chinese of I Shakespeare's works. Many years ago he j translated "Blackstone" into* Chinese for thebenefit of Chinese law-students, and he has j within the last few months translated into Chinese eight volumes dealing with the One 4 Hundred Gieatest Men in all departments of 'life. Sir Ohichen has visited some of the principal centres of industrial manufacture in this country since he became Minister. His experiences are to be recorded in a book in Chinese, which, along with ' the eight volumes already referred to, .will be sent to the Emperor of China, who is a highly intelligent man, posseted of an insatiable thirst for knowledge. His Excellency, who is 51 years of age, purposes, it is understood, to write | a "Life of Cromwell." — There is not a more popular man in the HoubO of Commons than Mr James Lowther. His popularity is proved by the fact that everybody speaks of him as "Jimmy." Mr j Lowther is the most downright mpn in the House. He is a Tory. The less legisj lation the better, in his opinion ; and he neii ther fears the electors nor respects the Government. He comes and goes in defiance of whips, and he flouts his friends, the Ministers, in a manner which causes them , no offence, while it amuses the House. When ' necessary, he poses as> the champion of the j rights of prn ate members. Certainly he doe.-, not sympathise with fads ; but, on the other hand, lie refuses to assist the Gpyoni-

ment to court the electors with legislation. From his corner, just separated from the Treasury bench by the narrow gangway, he throws at the Ministers a wholesome dose of hard, practical psnse. He administers the dose in a grim, dogged fashion, though without malice. liven the busybody with a wallet of fads dee? not find it in his heart lo hate so blunt, so fearless, and so good-natured a man.