PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 61

PERSONAL NOTES.

Sir Maurice Hankey, the British Stcre tary of tho Conference, started his career in the Marines.

—To Mr E. T. Raymond, the author of "Uncensored Celebrities," we are indebted for the information that Mr Horatio Bottomlsy, at his homo in Pall Mall, lives in company with a stuffed racehorse. Major-general Sir F. H. Sykes, K.C.8., CM G, tho head of the Air Force, goes backwards and forwards from Paris to England frequently by air. During a recent trip ho was caught in a snowstorm, but his pilot got him through all right. At his last venture his machine crashed to the ground and the pilot was killed. King Alfonso of Spain was first bitten by the love of horse-racing a year or so befor<\ the war. Since then he has thrown himself into tho game with his customary enthusiasm. Ho has given racing a great boom, in Spain, and his horses, which are managed by the Belgian, de Neuter, are run under the name of tho Duke of Toledo. San Sebastian is likely to be one of tho most popular courses in Europe. . —Of the warriors at Westminster, Commander Dean, V.C, who seconded the Address, is perhaps tho most interesting. A slato merchant, he became a sailor by adoption, joined the R.N.V.R, and because of his daring and enterprise was given tho most difficult jobs to do in the North Sen. As skipper of a motor launch he took part in the attack on Zeebrugge, and there won the V.C. by his display of skill and gallantry. The true story of the accident which nearly ended the careers of Marshal Foch and General Joffre is told by a contemporary. In 1915 Foch was driving with Joffre along the road to Furnes, when their ear collided with a heavy motor-lorry going at full speed. It was a very bad smash, and all eye-witnesses thought the inmates of tho car must certainly be killed. Luckily, however, Joffre escaped with a few scratches, and a bad shaking, while Foch was rather badly knocked about and crushed, and spent several weeks in hospital. I —A niekrame for every day of the year, so the' Yahkees say, has been bestowed upon ex-President 'raft. Big Bill, Little Willy, General Utility Bill, Father Taft, Our Bill, end Little Sunshine are a few of them. His well-known girth, of course, has furnished matter for many jokes. "Billy Taft is the politest of men," a senator once said "I have known him rise in a. street car and offer bis seat to three ladies." 'lt is said that a man is too old at 60—an old fogey," said Lord Curzon, Leader of the House of Lords. "I have reached that unfortunate age. But when I see men like Olemenoeau (78), Mr Balfour, Marshal Foch, and Mr Lloyd George—who has only four years to go before he becomes useless—the best old fogies leading the Peace Conference, I am consoled." Lord Curzon's opinion of politicians is not without point. Ho describes him as a naan who has tried to be a statesman and failed, his entry into Parliament beins "the first blot on ids escutcheon."

The London Stock Exchange loses one of its foremost figures 'by the death of Mr Koch do Georeynd, senior partner of the firm of Messrs Ran'mure, Gordon, and Co. JH.e was regarded as a great authority on financial matters generally, and was thought to be one of the wealthiest members of the House. His striking likeness to King Edward often caused much confusion, unci sometimes led to humorous incidents. The resemblance extended even to the voice. Often when he was driving in the park or to the city people turned round and said, "There goes the King." —By his unexpected offer to serve the Commons for another two years as Speaker, instead of retiring when peace is proclaimed, Mr Lowther is supposed to have designs on "records." Even so exalted a personage as the Speaker may be sufficiently human to indulge this weakness. But the ambition is out of reach, for Mr Speaker Onslow, who presided from 1727 to 1761—34 years—stands in unassailable eminence. Mr Lowther's tenure, first as Chairman and then as Speaker, ha.s lasted since 1895, and if he follows the mace until 1921 he will have _ filled a post requiring the highest qualities of tact and decision for 26 years. —-Whon" Sir Robert Home, the British Minister of Labour, received the miners' deputation recently he was able to bring to the subjects discussed an intimate knowledge of the conditions tinder which the miners work and live. He was born in a Scottish mining village, midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and his early years were spent there. The village school was his first step on the educational' ladder, which led eventually to the University. When at the Scottish Bar Sir Robert's close acquaintance with the mining industry led him to specialise in mining- cases. One of the demands presented to him recently was for a six-rTbur day; Sir Robert confesses that he has had two days' holiday in the last 12 months

When the rumoured book of reminiscences by M Olemenceau makes its appearance, we shall have a volume chock full of adventure, for the French Premier's life has been thickly strewn with incidents. He has been author, playwright, doctor, artist, and journalist by turn. He has struggled and duelled, and ho possesses a model dairy farm of which ho is exceedingly proud. Once an historian —who also owned a dairy farm—visited him. In the hope of interesting his host, the historian devoted most of his conversation to poultry, and it was not until he was leaving that he offered Olemenceau a rich-bound copy of his just completed history- "Thank you," said Clomenceau, a." ho accepted the volume, "but I'd really rather have had one of your famous chickens." —lt is claimed that there is, or Was until recently, a man living in India who is practically a native, and yet a peer of the realm by inheritance. In a small village not fax from Fyzabad, where 1 some British troops were engaged in peace manoeuvres, a seemingly pure native came to the general, and in the course of conversation in Hindustani, the only language he knew, stated that he was Earl Gardner, and produced papers in support. .From these it appeared that many generations ago a younaer son of the then earl got into some trouble, and enlisfed in the Royal Artillery. After serving his time he married an Indian woman and settled _in India. Each generation in turn married Indinn women, so that all trace of European descent disai?peared. Meanwhile all other direct heirs to the title had died out, so that the little Indian village headman claimed that the title was his.