PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 87

PERSONAL NOTES.

King Peter of Servia, following the example sot by Dionysius of Syracuse, has joined the ranks of barbers. He does not actually shave and shampoo his subjects, but, nevertheless, makes more out of the trade than Dionysius, for he runs one of the biggest hairdressers' shops in Belgrade, and takes a keen personal interest in its management. Peter also runs a chemist's shop,~and acts as agent for a big French firm of motor-car builders. Lord Tweedmouth, whose British polo team suffered defeat from a local team in California the, other day. is reckoned among the finest players in the army. He is a splendid horseman, and acquitted himself with great credit in South Africa, where he served with a composite cavalry force. In 1901 he accompanied Earl Carrington on a special mission to announce King EVward's Acci ssion, and was among the first Lords-in-Waiting to be appointed by King George. Lady Tweedmouth. formerly the/Hon. Muriel Brodrick, is the eldest daughter of Viscount Midleton. Lord and Lady Tweed mouth were married in 1901, eight years before th o former succeeded his father" as third baron. Their two children are both girls, and the heir-presumptive to the title is Lord Tweedmouth's uncle, the Hon. Coutts Marjoribanks. Tlie new Indian judge of the Calcutta High Court, Mr A. Chaudhuri, has been prominent in the public life of Bengal for many years, as a leading member of the Constitutional Reiform party, which has achieved such signal triumphs during what may be called the Morley-Hardingc-Crewe epoch. A very successful Calcutta barrister, Mr Chaudhuri belongs to the modernised Hindu community, and is the eldest of a family of brothers, all of whom have been educated it. England at one or other of th* universities. He has been a firm supporter of the Indian National Congress, and was one of the most influential of those who 6tood for moderate counsels during the Nationalist disturbances four or five years ago. Few would recognise in the Marquis of Maranham the Earl of Dundonald. The title is of Brazilian origin, and comes to the earl through his famous grandfather, the naval hero of so many exploits. After ho was dismissed the service for his supposed implication in a swindle —an indignity that was only redressed 18 years later, when he was reinstated in a higher rank—Lord Cochrane placed ins experience at the disposal of other countries including Chili, Brazil, and Greece, and for Ilia assistance to Brazil in that country's successful struggle for independence, the British commander was given a marquisate. which is now probably the only Brazilian title borne by a subje-ct of the King. - Ills many friends from all parts of the world will hoar with regret of the approaching [retirement of Sir Francis J.. Campbell from the principalship of the Norma! College for the Blind, with which he has been associatid for the last 40 years. Sir Francis is himself afflicted with loss of sight—though no one who has conversed with him would 'beam that her regards it as an affliction. Recently he celebrated his eightieth birthday, lie' was born blind, and received his education at the School for the Blind at Nashville, in liis native State of Tennessee. He afterward- wont to the University of Tennessee; and, receiving private musical teaching, completed his edueaton in this respect in Europe at Leipsig and Berlin. In 1371 he visited London, and took part in a meeting at the Mansion House called for the purpose of founding a similar institution for the blind in England. The result of tliis meeting was that. Sir Francis, with the sunport of such ardent philanthropists as the late Duke of Westminster and the late Dr T. R. Armitage, established the Royal College at Norwood. One of the chief secrets o£ Si» Fmacii Campbell's success is zh c fact that he is never tired of impressing upon his pupils how much they can do. He afforded the blind of the world n great object-lesson by making the ascent of Mont, Blanc. Although blind, lie has climbed other moun-

tains, which would appal evon sighted people, and he has also " seen " Niagara. The word "seen" may b> used adviazJly, fcpr Sir Francis Campbell Is always cmpaarlo ir declaring that tlie blind are able

to twtj with tbe eyps t tlio sigMed can render to tbe blind ttirii hi •] which environ Avm. Paderewski's Hon in, —On tho shores of

Lake Geneva, westward from the small town of Moirgee, and toward the village of Islochenaz, there is a deeply-wooded park, in the centre of which stands a Swiss i.'.insion, the Chalet de Riond Bosson. The park is open to the public, [out an inner gate leading to the chalet beans the warning legend in French, " Do not enter without ringing. Look out for the dogs." Hero Jives and labours Ignace Jan Paderewski, "cheered by the affectionate companionship of his second wife, who was the Baroness Holene von Rosen, and happy in the possession of his merited but almost fabulous earnings." "The Kaiser as He Is." This is the title of an article in the March Strand, "written by one who is in intimate personal contact with the German Emperor, and it has been specially approved by his Imperial Majesty." The writer agrees to some extent with the late Lord Salisbury that the Emperor is a " misjudged' man. "Thoso who know him least, we are told, -refer to him as ' the fire-brand ot Europe,' but nothing could be wider ot the mark. As a matter of fact he is, and) always has been, a great asset toward assuring the peace of the world. I'or England and the English people, we are assured, he bas a very great liking, ami an affection for the memory of the late Queen Victoria that almost amounts to veneration. There is very considerable friendship between the Kaiser and King George, and the two rulers exchange letters at frequent intervals. The Kaiser, the writer of the artioie goes on to say, makes it a rule to correspond with many of his fellow-monarchs. "He has a passion for letter-writing, and disdains the artificial aid of the typewriter for correspondence of this importance." Moreover, it 'is said that he takes the greatest pains with his correspondence, and will often pass an hour or two writing and rewriting one of these letters. His Imperial Majesty is an early riser; indeed, it has been said of him'that he never sleeps. The amount of work that he gets through in the day is positively surprising. "Though he has a large staff of very highly-trained private secretaries, it takes them all their time to keep pace with him, and very often they are no sooner engaged upon one subject than they are called upon to' take over another." —ln his " Reminiscences " in the March Strand, Sun-Yat-Sen gives a graphic account of the efforts that were made to capture -him by the former Chinese Government. He estimates that the rewards upon hi<= head at one time amounted to no less than 700,000 taels (£100,000)! He has raised much money for political purposes, especially in America, and in this connection ho says:—"All over the world, and particularly in America, the legend has grown up that Chinamen are selfish and mercenary. There never was a greater libel on n, people. Many have given me their whole fortune. One Philadelphia laundryman called at mv hotel after a meeting, and, thrusting a linen bag upon me, went awav without a word. It contained his entire savings for 20 years."