Miscellaneous News.

Southland Times, Issue 19185, 24 October 1903, Page 7 (Supplement)

Miscellaneous News.

The reception given by the Viennese to King Edward (says the Standard correspondent) was simply magnificent. The cneering began the moment the two monarchs appeared on the Althanplatz, and it lasted uninterruptedly to the Hofburg. Handkerchiefs and hats were waved, not only from balconies and windows, but also in the crowd : and asmy carriage passed by I heard an old lady say loudly, " Ein fescher kerl, dieser Hussaren Konig "— " A smart fellow this 1 Hussar King." This was, indeed, the opinion of the masses, who love the Hussars, and were charmed by the King's smiling face and the gracious way in which he acknowledged the greeting of the crowda. An official withi whom I af- ; terwards spoke was the more astonished at the reception, since the antiSemitic and pan-German papers, aa well as the Social Democratic organ, had tried to dissuade their readers from taking part in it. The King was obviously highly pleased.

At the funeral of the Marquis of Salisbury, who was buried in the private grounds of the Ceres at Hatfield, the only flowers placed on tho coffin were crosses from the King and Queen. The cross from his Majesty was composed of lilies of the valley, stephanotts, orchids, gardenia, and other flowers, and bore the inscription—" As a mark of deepest regard, greatest respect, and sincere friendshipl .from his Majesty the King." The Queen's token " was of similar flowers, with the addition of odontoglossum and Alexandra orchids, and on a card was the following :— " To the memory of Lord Salisbury, universally loved and mourned us one of England's best aad greatest statesmen, ivom AltNtttira-*

" Wo think at first that home is heaven We learn at last that heaven is home" The procession passed through tho Queens-garden—t he favourite haunt of Elizabeth — along a stately avenue of limes, whose arched boughs mado an arcade of vivid green. It next went by the mulberry trees that wero planted by James I.

There is a possibility of Mr Arthur Jhamberlain entering the House ot Joimnons. He is a pronounced freetrader. In Birmingham (says M.A. P.) Ihe is regarded by many people as being quite as clever as his famous brother, and in politics he stands quite by himself, borrowing none of his glory and prestige from family associations. Mr Arthur Chamberlain is the head of Kynoeh's Limited and five other large trading concerns, and spends his day driving between them with clockwork precisiaai in an unpretentious hansjom. He is gonerally clothed in a blue serge suit of no cut at all, and vory much bagged at the knees. Though younger than the ex-Colonial Secretary, he looks much older, and disguises the strong family likeness with a great grizzled moustache.

For 14 years Clark ' Russell, the novelist of the sea, has been cripplod with rheumatism, and has not set foot to ground, but he is reported by M.AP. to be always cheery and ready for a joke. Mr Clark Russell has a double in Bath — an Irish gentleman Although the double is 6ft. 2in., and Wr Russell ha 6 never known what it is to feel tall, the likeness is so extraordinary, when they nre in their respective Bath chairs, that on one occasion charming Mrs Russell kissed her hand to the amazed, but no doubt highly gratified, double.

One of the stories told by Sir William Dcs Voeiix, cx-Covornor of Fiji, relates to a grog-drinking ceremony which took place in the home of Cakobau, the Fijian, when Prince Albert Victor nnd Prince George (new Prince of Wales) toured the world as midshipmen in the Bacchante in 1881. At a native reception at N'usova grog had to be drunk by the visitors a.s a matter of course. This grog — a fine nnd wholesome drink, by the way (says M.A. P.)— tastes like soapsuds to the beginner. Prince Albeit Victor preserved his decorous gravity, although obviously with some trouble. When it came to Prince George's turn, he was equally decorous at the moment, but when the bowl-bearer got past him he made a boyish grimace of disgust, which nearly caused a serious explosion of laughter in his immediate neighbourhood. It was a serious thing to laugh when grog was being drunk under the king's eye' in Fiji, and Prince George's neighbours on the Royal mat had a narrow escape.

Miss Goelet, the young American heiress who has become engaged to the Duke of Roxburgh, is spoken of as the wealthiest young woman in her own right in New York, and possibly in the whole United States. She is estimated to be worth about §40,000,000, with more in prospect. She urst met the Duke in Europe. The young Duke was born in. July. 1876, and succeeded to tho title and the extensive estates on the death of his father, the seventh Duke, in 1892. His engagement woe formally announced by his mother the Duchess of Roxburgh to the provest of Dunbar.

The Rev. William Mottrani, a relative of Marian Evans (George Eliot), in a series of papers that nave beon running for some time in the Leisure Hour, telling what he terms tho story of the Beiles of real life, hints in the September number that Adam Bedo u-as married to Dinah Morris at the .suggestion of Henry Lewes. He read the sheets as they came from the writer's hand. As thd novol was approaching its concluding chapters, his criticism was that during the earlier portion Adam stood in the foreground, But had" now receded into the background of the picture, while Dinah Morris had come to the fore. Jn order to restore Adam to prominence as the Author's proper hero, he must need 9be wedded to the gentle Dinah, who had become the undoubted heroine. Accordingly this was done.

'As a reward for good conduct the prisoners vate the . State Prison. Charlestcwn, U.S., aro allowed to play baseball every Saturday. They run two teams, the Reaolutes and the Hustlers. Warden Budges, the governor of the prison, avers that this relaxation has had most satisfactory results, and says the games have caused imp-fovement in. discipline.

The largest carpet in the world is 40ft. in' breadth, a nd contains 58,840,000 stitches. It took the time of 28 men for 14 months. It is now at Windsor Castle.

It is said that the custom of the Pope changing his name on his appointment to the Papal chair was begun by Pope Sergius IV. (1009---1012), whose real name was Boca di Porco, or Pig's Snout.

The term " gallery gods " was originally given to the spectators in the topmost gallery in Drury-lane Theatre, where tho ceiling immediately above them was pajnted to represent the n\<y.

A locomotive engine has expression '(remarks the Saturday Review), and this more than anything elae gives ;it personality. Look at an engine, and you ca|n see at once that one looks noble, simply noble in its strength, another gigantic in force, but not noble, an expression of mere Itu'Ute strength- Some engines bavy

a lofty, almost supercilious expressian. others almost foolish. Some have an air of smug stoutness. Then there are engines thatf distinctly look angry, and others comparatively gentle. Most of them of any aize have a more or less commanding expression.

0. J. Cawtc, a compositor bom in 1832, tells in the Foresters*' Miscellany how ho remembers setting type for Thackeray's " Virginians." He has a clear recollection of cc«inposing the fust/ two chapters of Dickens' " Tjttle Dorrit " from the original couy. " Well I remember (ho writes) tho thick, spluttering blue ink, quill-penned ingnuscript. After getting over the first itew lines the copy; would not have been called bad ' — that is, from a compositor's point of view. It was often a matter of surprise whence Dickon's obtained the names of the characters in his works and where ' Phiz ' captured the models for his drawings. To us then engaged upon the works of the master in his lifetime, it was an understood thing that the prototype of the immortal Pickwick could be no other than the junior member of the firm that published Dickens's works — Frederick Mullett TOvans. There was the drawing, whether the original sketch was by ' Phiz ' or Seymour mattered not, and there was the model in the person of Mr Evans. complete, barring the small clothes, which he never attempted."

Among the recent registration of companies at Somerset-house, London, is thut of the following : — " Bacon Society, registered 20th August, with ."iOO members, each liable for LI in the event of windingup. Objects— To encourage the study of the works and character of Francis Bacon and the study of evidence in favour of his authorship of Shakes pea n-'s plu\s. etc. The word ' limited ' is omitted from" the title by license of the Board of Trade. The management is vested in a council "

Many stories are told of the Marquis of Salisbury's absent-mindedness. None is quite so amusing as that in which the Bishop of Lond-on and the King are said to have played their parts Lord Salisbury asked who that young-looking cleric " wa"--. referring to the Bishop of London. His Majesty repeated this to the Bishop, so the story runs, and added to save tne Bishop's embarrassment.

" But you need not mind that. I just showctf him the latest portrait of myself, and after looking at it some moments in silence, he said, ' Poor old Bullet*. ' "

Loid Kitchener has beon making himself a great reputjution in Simla as a host, it-ports M.A.I*. Kveryriiic

is enraptured with the taste- and completeness with which K. of K. carries out his hospitality. Ho has quite transformed Snowdou, the oflicial resilience of commandera-in-thief in India. His table-linen is woven in special design, with coronets and

" X's " in the corners. His table is magnificent with gold plate, presented to him by an admiring public, and comprises, amongst other items, a set of poarl-handlcd knives, with his monogram, given him by a Boer general. From the ceilings of the rooms lKvng Dervish and other flags, and the weapons of all countries mingle with flowers in the scheme of decoration. All Simla is agreed that the furniture is arranged with a taste worthy of a woman's hand, and all Simla joins in lamenting that a woman's presence is the one thing still required to complete the warrior's peaceful abode.

li you ask an author he will toll you that the selection of a title gives him the utmost concern (reports the Daily Mail). Publishers also are easily impressed by titles, and have in sonic cases proved more successful inventors thaw authors their selves. Stevenson wanted to stylo his fatuous talc of adventure " The Sea Cook," undeniably a fascinating title,: but his editor sternly decided on " Treasure Island." Mr W. P. James points out that Dickens usually wrote up to a title Ho chose his name with the utmost, care, and when that fact was accomplished seemed content. Tn his memoranda were found 19 til les for novels unused.

The Daily Mail recalls the memory of a hit made by Mr Glads'.one at the expense of Mr Chamber-. -.in during a debate on small holdings in the 'House of Commons, Air Gladstone arriving unexpectedly. It wan a beautiful sight. Leaning forward, und looking down, to where Mr Chamberlain sat on the Opposition ?)i»rith, he flashed out. " My right honourable friend always displays an infinite ingenuity in finding circuitous reasons for shrinking from his former principles." A roar of delight vent up from the Liberal benches, and everybody craned to look at the victim, who, with his arms folded, sat a picture of affability and enjoyment.

In " Stories of My College Pays." the Rev. J. G. Groenhough, tells a story :— •" One of jmy fellowstudents was a little Welshman, kind and generous, but impetuous, vehement, and liable to fiiery exj-lofcions ot' temper. I think it was on this Account that we called him Peter, though his real name was Philip Jones. And we were all the. more delighted to give him this name because he hated it, and indulged in an outburst of fury overy time it was applied to him. One Sunday afternoon 1 was proachiug; in the Baptist Church which th-* students attended. Jones was present. I happened to be discoursing on Peter's denial of our Lovcli I bud enlarged w}tb impressive

emphasis on the protestations and oaths of fidelity which the disciple gave, and then, passing to the scene of his temptation and fall. I asked in a loud voice, " And where is Peter now ?" It was an unfortunate question, though asked in all innocence. For, to my horror. I saw two stud ents turn half round, and, with uplifted fingers, point to Jones. Tlie little Welshman, forgetting the place and everything else in his excitement, sprang up in a rage, advanced towards tho culprits, and shook his fist wuth tremendous demonstration in their faces. The. congregation was alarmed, and evidently thought that a lunatic had got loose."