PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 66

PERSONAL NOTES.

Ten years ago a number of young medical students at London University College caused a stir by an attack on. the "Brown Dog of Battersea," a memorial erected by the International Anti-vivisection Society, being an inscription that the dog had been "done to death" at the college laboratories. One of the men charged at the Police Court was William Howard Lister. He now holds the rank of captain in the army, and has won, not only the Military Cross, but two bars—a distinction which, I believe, is shared by only two other officers. Captain Lister's Military Cross was won in attempting to save an officer at the battle of the Aisne, so long ago as September, 1914 —an attempt that nearly cost Captain Lister an arm. A short, sturdy figure, with white hair and a bronzed face, General Goethals will probably <jo down to posterity as one of the worlcl's greatest builders. When a young engineer it fell to his lot to build a large portion of America's eastern seacoast defences. A few years later "Teddy" Roosevelt gave him charge of the construction of the Panama Canal. The magnitude of this task will, be appreciated when it is realised that General Goethals had to assume control of nearly 50,000 employees of different nationalities recruited from all parts of the world and speaking divers languages. —M. Nikola Pashitch, Serbian Premier,' has directed the fortunes of his country for more than 40 years. For denouncing King Milan's secret treaty with Austria he was sentenced to death, but escaped and fled the country; and again, on Milan's abdication, he was tried and imprisoned for alleged complicity in a plot on the King's life, but the evidence was so feeble that he was quickly released. He returned to office when Alexander was assassinated, and his work since then has been marked by sympathy with Russia and opposition to Austria. He is the most unassuming of men—a patriarch in appearance, with long, silvery beard, and much charm of manner. —and he lives in the simplest way in a comfortable flat over a shop in the principal street of Belgrade, a couple of hundred yards from the palace. Lord Leverhulme (Sir W. H. Lever) has been advocating a six-hour day in the mill and workshop. There is no doubt that industrial fatigue lessens the output; but a reduction of the working day to six hours will be received with astonishment by many. Still, it is not unlikely that some of the great firms will make the experiment of a shorter working day. Lord Leverhulme suggests two shifts a day, the first beginning at 7 in the morning (with half an hour for breakfast), then continuing work till 1.30. The second shift would come on at 1.30, work continuing with a tea interval till 8. One of the earliest workers in railway enterprise in England and in France has passed away in the person of Mr Henry Dove, who died at the age of 93 at his home in Maida Vale. Born at threat Baddow, near Chelmsford, on February 24, 1825, Mr Dove began his working_ We as office boy to Robert Stephenson in 1837, and was in Stephenson's employment while the London and Birmingham railway was being constructed. In 1843 ho was sent to France to assist in running the locomotives on the Paris and Rouen line. Most of his active life was spent m Kouen, and it was his great delight to recount his many exciting experiences during the crucial days" of the Revolution and of the FrancoPrussian war. , . , t t^u^ The death occurred in June ot tne Earl of Haddington, who since the demise of the Earl of Wemyss was regarded as the GOM of the Scottish peerage. In addition to being soldier and courtier, he was a typical country gentleman and a landlord beloved of his tenantry. In 1886, when the rinderpest ruined many farmers by killing off their whole cattle, about a score of his Cheshire tenants waited on his Lordship, and asked to be relieved of their holdings, their means of paying the rent being gone. His response was characteristic "No no," he said, "it will not beat us both; stay on. and I will see what can be done." He went to. St. Boswjlls sale next day. and, assisted by the advice of one of his Scottish tenants, bought sheep sufficient to restock the farms, and made the tenants a present of them. The money he provided by reducing his establishment and personal expenses, and selling some of his hunters and greyhounds, which he dearly loved. . -. , .. A societv sensation was caused by the appearance of the following advertisement in The Times.. London:-' L Albert Edward Harry Mayer Archibald Primrose, commonlv called Dalmeny, of the Orange Blctchlev. in the County of Buckinghamshire, hereby give notice that I will not be responsible for any debts contracted bv my wife- Dorothy Alice Margaret Aiifftista Primrose, commonly called Lady Dalmeny.—Dated this 21st day of June 1917-Dalmeny. (Witness) Charles Russell, solicitor, 37 Norfolk street Strand, London, W.C." Lord Dalmeny w the son of Lord Ro«oberv. Born on January 8,188 Z, lie ranked as a captain in the Grenadier Guards when the war broke out. He went on active service, was wounded, mentioned ir, despatches, and gained the Military Cross On April 15. 1909 he married the Youngest daughter of the late Lord Henry Geonro Grosvenor. and they have two cMG ; o °X-;n£-Ar.Vbalcl Ronald, born in 1910. and the Hon. Helen Dorothy, born in 1913.