PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 60

PERSONAL NOTES.

The founder of the London Thirteen Chub, Mr B. W. Bowers, printer, of Blackfriare road, London, died recently. A remarkable dinner, in defiance of superstition, was held by the club on January 13, 1894, at the Holborn Best aurant. It was held in Room 13, there were 13 tables, and 13 guests sat at each.- Salt was spilt, ladders were walked under, and lookingglasses were smashed. Champion boxer, referee, a skilful oarsman, footballer, yachtsman, and fencer, Mr B. J. Angle, who refereed the BeokettCarpentier match. Is a fine type of the British all-rou.nd athlete. In his younger days he was tremendously powerful, and in one fight was actually disqualified, after appearing a certain winner, for hitting too hard. Ma? Angle thereupon said he would never spar for a prize again, a tow he has always - kept.

The fact that Lord Leopold Mountbatten plays the flute in a Windsor orchestra reminds one that the late Duke - of Edinburgh was an enthusiastic violinist, and liked nothing better than a chair with his violin in a symphony orchestra. However, Lord Leopold—known before the war as Prince Leopold of Battenburg, and grandson of Queen Victoria—could be matched in the Royal Family even as a flautist by ■Frederick, Prince of Wales, that ill-fated Prince who tried to enjoy life, and left as his epitaph "Prince Fred —who was alive—and is dead." —M. Olemenceau, when he was in the Cabinet Boom at 10 Downing street, attending a meeting of tho Supreme Council, was in such pain that every now and then a gasp involuntarily shook his body. He was frequently asked whether anything had happened to him, but he refused to say anything more than "I feel a little bruised." There was some idea that he had seriously injured himself, but it came as news to most members of the Government that he had actually fractured a rib. And all the Week they talked about his wonderful fortitude under pain. Barrister and song writer, Mr F. E. Weatherley, who has written the words of 600 songs in 50 years, including "Thora," "Roses of Picardy,'' and "Nancy Lee," once told me an amusing story about "Nancy Lee." "At the time," he said, "when the song was all the rage, I _ was coming out of the Assize Court at Bristol, when I noticed two ruffianly-looking fellows watching me. 'Jim,' "whispered one of them to his pal, loud enough for*rrie to hear, 'dost see that little chap with the wig and gown on? That's the fellow as did' "Nancy Lee" J .' 'Did "Nancy Lee" be blowed for a tale!' replied the other man. 'He's the little chap as did me six months last year when I was up for cracking that crib !' " Lord Lascelles, the now part proprietor of "Swears" Club, London, inherited his immense fortune from the eccentric Lord Clanri cards. There is one story which may be new to many readers about this most peculiar Irish nobleman. The story relates to the period when Lord Clanricarde had rooms in the Albany. His lordship was not fond of spring cleaning. His opposite neighbour in the Albany complained to the secretary of the establishment that the state of Lord Clanricarde's windows' was a disgrace to the place. The secretary approached Lord Clanricarde with a request that he should have his windows cleaned. His lordship suspiciously inquired as to the origin of the complaint. On hearing that it was Mr X, his opposite neighbour, Lord Clanricarde laughed, "Ha! ha! If I clean mv windows X can see into my room." The secretary know it would oe useless to suggest that his Lordship should buy window curtains. A further decrease n the_ town houses of members of the peerage is announced. The disposal of House to Mr Bowden, an American, who intends to erect a mammoth hotel on the site, will_ compel Lord Lansdowne to part with . his town house at Berkley square, as the two houses adjoin at the rear. Lord" Lansdowne, who is a member of the "governing class" of England, is a staunch upholder of class distinctions, and would not consent to have his house overshadowed by a huge hotel, and his privacy exposed to the inquisitive ga.;e of hotel guests. It is announced that the Duchess of Marlborough has placed her Mayfair home, Sunderland House, in the hands of the auctioneers. Her father, Mr Cornelius "Vanderbilt, the American millionaire, presented her with the freehold of Sunderland House as a wedding gift 25 years ago. Outwardlv the house has as ■little architectural distinction as a„suburban town hall, but money was spent lavishly on its internal decorations. The walls of the ballroom are of green marble extensively decorated with gold. —ln these Bays when the scions of aristocratic houses display a tendency to find their matrimonial affinities _ among the choruses of revues and musical comedies, it is refreshing (says a London correspondent) to hear of an old-fashioned _ engagement uniting two aristocratic families. It is announced that the Marquis of Blandford, the eldest son of the Duke of Marlborough, is engaged to the Hon. Mary Cadogan, fourth daughter of the late Viscount Chelsea, whose widow married Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux. The prospective bridegroom is 22 years of age, and the prospective bride is 19. She is one of five sisters, of whom the eldest three are married. The eldest is married to Lord Hillingdon, the second to Lord Stanley (eldest son of the Earl of Derby), and the third to Captain Humphrey de Trafford (eldest son of Sir Humphrey de Trafford). The maternal triumphs of Lady Meux hare been added to by the announcement of the engagement of her fourth daughter to the heir of a duke. In the words of the social correspondent of the Daily Mail, "Lady Meux is marrying all her daughters exceedingly well." The Marquis of Blandford is one of the great prizes in the British matrimonial market. The others are the Marquis of Northampton, Lord Dalkeith, and Lord Lascelles. The greatest prize of all is the _ Prince of Wales. Rumours are again rife as to who- will have the honoiu- of becoming the Princess of Wales, and in spite of semiofficial denials of the report that the Prince will wed one of the Duke of Devonshire's daughters, certain events during the Prince's recent visit to Canada have strengthened popular belief in this report.