People Talked About

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XX, 15 November 1902, Page 1218

People Talked About

The Kensits. On this page we give pictures of the famous Kensits, father and son. the must militant members of the antiritualist party in England. Mr, Kensit, sen., suffered much for the sake of his convictions, and really met his death through his fearlessness in de nouncing and combatting the tendency to Ritualism displayed in many Home churches. It will be remember-

ed that he was wounded at Birkenhead after one of his meetings. Hiassailant, a labourer, who was one of a hostile throng, stabbed Mr Kensit in the eye with a chisel. The wound was not a very dangerous one till blood-poisoning setting in the injury proved fatal. A cable last week annmineed that the labourer had been committed for trial on a charge of murder. Mr Kensit’s son was himself

in prison on account of his protestations when his father was dying, and was released in order to visit the latThe King’s Height. \ correspondent inquires the exact height of the King. We believe it to be as nearly as possible sft Tin. In the stockinged feet. 'This would make the height, inclusive of the low military heels which His Ma jests prefers, say. sft B|in, a height which does not compart 1 favourably with that of some of his stalwart relatives. For this reason it is a tradition with the Royal photographers that when they arc taking a sun-piet lire of the King in a portrait group they should take care to place His Majesty, when possible, on an eminence, such as the step at the entrance of a palace.

An American Romance. The recent tragical death while autoniobiling in France of Mr. and Mrs. Charles T„ Fair was only a gloomy chapter in a genuine and variegated American romance. It contains all the elements that in the hands of a Balzac might have been wrought into an imperishable tale. When Janies Graham Fair, born mar Belfast. Ireland, in 1831. arrived in the United States at the age of eleven years he had unknowingly taken the first step that led to an

opulence and prominence that doubtless surpassed the wildest dreams of his later youth. The Fair immigrants se tied in Illinois, and the boy, after attending the public schools, received a business education in Chicago. It was not until 1867, however, that the decisive turn in his roadway to success took place. In that year Mr. Fair formed a partnership with three other men, whose careers, like his own, were destined to be unusual. James (1. Fair, John \V. Mackay. Janies C. Flood and William S. O’Brien made a magical combination. and every member of the quartette became a multi-millionaire. The partners secured mines that be-

came famous for their yields, and Mr. Eair himself eventually amassed an estate valued at .£ 10,000,000. He interested himself largely in railroads and manufactories o- the Pacific Coast, and at length was elected to the United States Semite by the Legislature of Nevada, holding his office from 1881 to 1887. His rise in the world eventually served to lift his two beautiful and estimable daughters to a high social plane and desirable alliances, one of them marrying Mr. Herman Oelrichs, and the other Mr. William K. Vanderbilt, junr., both being now in the full swim ot fashionable society. In his later years the Senator pursued an erratic course, which brought about scandal and a divorce. His two sons imitated their father’s wildness, and the elder of them, James, died a drunkard ten years ago. The Senator's death in 1894 was followed by prolonged litigation over his estate. A variety of wills was produced, and numerous women claimed to be his widows. Ultimately one will was decided to be the legal one, but it was contested and broken by his second son, Charles L. Fair. The latter had wasted his years in fast living. This had turned his father against him, and the paternal ire was further fanned by the son's determination to wed Miss Caroline Smith, of Plainfield, N.J. an actress known on the stage as Lillian Nelson. She was of lowly origin, and it was on her account that the Senator discriminated against Charles in the will which was set aside. Young Fair, despite his sire's displeasure, carried out his resolve, and made the actress his wife. For him she appears to have been a most suitable mate, although his relatives and society refused to recognise her. Hetinfluence on her husband was beneficial. She persuaded him to give up his habit of excessive drinking and otherwise to reform his ways. The young couple in time went to Europe, where they- occupied themselves after the usual manner of people of wealth and fashion. Mr. Fair took a gieat fancy to automobiling, and bought a number of powerful and rapid machines. His latest purchase was a forty-five horsepower vehicle, which had a going capacity of seventyfour miles an hour. It was while hurrying in this machine from Trouville to Paris that death overtook him and his spouse. Thus for these two ended life’s romance, but each had left an estate, and each had made a will bequeathing to the other the major part of it. A nice legal question arose as to which one had died first, as the heirs of the one who survived the other by even a breath would be entitled to the property of both. 0 0-0-00 A Diplomatic Hat. According to the “Temps,” M. de Montebello’s -dismissal from St. Petersburg and the wearing of a lady’s hat have some connection. At the breakfast parties given at Compiegne to the -Czar and Czarina during their recent visit to France Mme. de Montebello wore her hat. whereas Mme. Loubet anil the other great Republican dames appeared at 'table without hats. Mine, de Montebello was quite within her rights in wearing a hat at this function, but the incident resulted in cold glances bei"g .brown at the Ambassadress by tue other ladies. Their glances did not end at the breakfast table, and. according to 'rumour, the incident was so distorted that it was the indirect cause of M. de Montebello’s dismissal from his post at St. Petersburg.