People Talked About

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XII, 19 March 1904, Page 2

People Talked About

The Late Herbert Sp acer in Private Life.

I'm- "Fortnightly" contains .tn interesting personal appreciation of Herbert Spencer from the pen of his old friend. Mr William Henry Hudson. Mr Hudson ilaitns t it it vas n< essary to become accustomed to the great ties to r< gnise that they were merely on the surface: Th it Spen -er was ilways easy to get on \;-h I io not -ay. He was often ir : gable. ami sometimes qui-k of temper

anti of tongue; his judgment uf men wa* occasionally severe: and he had so lit tie t ole ranee for the foibles, prejudice*. and petty absurdities of every-day life, that he now and then struck one as bard ami even censorious. He set up an extremely high standard of conduct, ami was outspoken in his condemnation of meanness, untruthfulness, and trickery, or sordid ambitions and weak subservien y to the dictates of the social code. But it must be remembered that, unlike many moralists who make ri_r »rous demands upon the integrity of

.•trier-. ne made demand- equally rigorous upon himselfHerbert Spencer like Huxley, suffered from dyspepsia. He was also a prey to insomnia. Mr Hudson writes: 1 remember his once telling me that from the period of his breakdown in middle life he had never known what it was to enjoy a full natural night's rest. Joining him for work in the morning during the time of my constant association with him. I would commonly ask him how he had slept, and the best answer be ever had to give me was: "I had a very good night for me- I slept four hours." The Spencerian earstoppers have become almost famous in the realms of gossip. Here is Mr Hudson's simple account of their origin and their aim: Year- ago Spencer found that the effort of following ordinary eonversa-

tion frequently became too much for him: but he liked to have people about him. to watch the play of expression on their face-, to feel that, though he could not himself share much in the merriment, he was. as it were, a part of the normal and healthy social world. For this reason he objected to withdrawal into solitude, and evolved a plan by which he might secure the partial isolation which he required. He had a circular spring made to go round the back of his head- and this carried pads which fitted firmly upon the ears, effectively deadening the noise about him and reducing trie surrounding chatter to a mere hum. I have often seen aim. stretched at length upon his couch, follow with apparent interest the go—ip over rhe afternoon teaeups up to a certain point, and then, reaching under his pillow, draw forth and

adjust this instrument, thus suddenly detaching himself from his environment. o o o o o Some Interesting Gossip About Mascagnii. Possessing the heart of a boy and the soul of a genius. Mascagni, the maestro. affords an interesting study. He has fully borne out the promises his talent made as a composer, when comparatively a few years ago he first iHittnded into world wide fame as the author of "Cavalleria Rusticana " At that time, even with the strains of the beautiful Intermezzo still in their ears, carping critics had the hardihood to predict an empty future for Mascagni. ■ He has already done it all." they cried: "he has written his masterpiece first.' Time has abundantly disproved the assertion. His fame as a thorough artist- a great musician and a teacher is growing year by year- -lust a little over 3t> years of age. brimful of fun. a thorough sportsman, an excellent billiard player, and possessing all the enthusiasm of a healthy young man. Mascagni is worshipped in Italy as the brightest -:ar in the musical heavens — the one whose brilliancy is growing greater vear by year, and whose effulgent glow shall shine on the art of melody for centuries. His genius it will be that shall retain his beloved Italy in her present proud place as a foremost land of musi inn- and artists whose work has made rhe lives of men more pleasant. Yet. with it all. Masmuch like other young men.

I spent nearly all of August with the composer and his wife, at their lovely cairni is a simple- unaffected young man. home in Pesaro. Italy i writes “Alma Dalma”). They have an immense apartment of 14 rooms on the top floor of T ‘ .. Rossini Conservatory- that > has been set aside especially for them—n > small honour in itself. Mrs Mascagni is a charming little lady of medium height, blonde, buoyant, impulsive and energetic, managing all of her husband's correspondence. The couple have three children—delightful little ones they are. too- The youngest, a girl. Amaliette. is not quite five: the others are boys—blond, curlyhaired little fellows, whose pretty manners win instant admiration. Al! are masters of Mascagni, however, and their will is law. The home of the Mascagnis is furnished in most artistic fashion. Th-dining-room is in antique German sty!,., and Mascagni’s study, a small and very quiet room, holds, like the other-, furniture made after patterns designed bv the maestro himself- The drawingro .ms are ri'-hly furnished, and everything is in the best of taste. There is a quiet elegance that clearly indi.-ite* the refinement of the family. One of the most important rooms in the suite, to Mascagni, is the billiard-room, for he is locally famous as a knight of the cue and frequently makes "run-" that might excite the admiration of a professional. Tn fact. Mascagni is versatile to an extraordinary degree.

A Cricketer Missionary. It is always interesting to listen to men who. in addition to an interesting personality, possess that added charm which alone is given by extended travel, collusion with a variety of peoples, and will- experience of the world. Such a man is Mr. Reginald A. Studd. 8.A.. Cam.. a member of the famous Studd family of English cricketers, who has during recent years been responsible for some of the most successful mission work ever accomplished in India. As a cricketer lie played in the Eton eleven. < ambridge eleven, and for Hampshire County: also against America: but soon followed in the footsteps of his elder brothers and joined the ranks of missionary worker-. He was asked to undertake a mi—inn among-t th soldiers in India, and t'> >k the field, armed with a letter of introduction from Lord Robert-.

which never failed to secure for him the earnest attention of the troops. His originality. brilliant eloquence and versatility and vocal solo- being al>o an accomplished musician make his meetings angularly attractive, and his deep spirituality ha- impre—vd all who heard him. Mr Studd is now in New Zealand, and will give addresses in the variou* centres.

Sarah Bernhardt’s Contempt for Money. Sarah Bernhardt is always desperatek in debt. Some few year- ago a great French playwright presented himself at *he acti v-s* residence. and wa- graciousl\ received, though the apartment was m gn-a! disorder, movers being engaged abciit To -ct up her household gods in *"inc distant land. Madame It. rn hardt .ip«d..gi/» d for the disturbance, ex plaining in ’he most mutter of-course a\ that the\ were sheriff's men >eiz > n - her go-nls a’ the behest of sonic im portunate cnnlitor. \ few minutes lat« r. i. r son Maurice having remarked that he was giving a dinner to a parts of friends that evening, she insisted on arranging the menu- finally telephoning to the restaurateur a c«>nini.nhl for a feast that was Lucullan in it< richne-s and ordered with a discrimination and comprehensive knowledge that Brillatxavarin would have envied. She ha d n< >t the m< >n< y at ha nd t■ > save her home from being dismantled to satisfy d. bts contracted long before, yet here she was ordering a feast that must have cost hundred- of francs Her <nn wi-hed t" give this entertainment. she willed that his desires should be gratified and the dinner was ordered, that is all. The restaurateur was quite willing to give her credit, for he knew awell as she that her art is a bank «>n which she can draw unlimited clmcks and be sure they w ill b> cashed -nnt on presentation, perhaps, but in the full ness of time. For Sarah Bernhardt mom \ does not exist, save as ;l tiresome detail of ex isfenep. well enough, doiibtlpss. f ( .r thns.sordid soul< who measure life by francs ! 1 ntimes. b”* beneath tin contem• >t of enlightened bungs. Be the coveted object what it will. a gorgeous palace or a <imnlflower, to her the question is m ’ "< an I afford it 9 ’* but "Do T want it 9 *’ If she does want it. it is hers, and the owner may wait for his money. Tf we were to analyze her attitude in this regard, we might find that she considers herself one to whom the freedom of the world is due. as in former times the freedom of a city wngiven to some conquering hero, who could thereafter take freely from shop nr warehouse without thought of cost or payment. Bv her art she has paid •'nd will par so long as she lives, for whatsoever thing 'ln need' or fancies.