People We Hear About.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 41, 11 October 1900, Page 6

People We Hear About.

Piccoloinini, the composer of ' Ora pro nobis,' 'Eternal rest, 1 etc., is now in a retreat for the mentally afflicted near London. Canada's oldest priest, Father M'Donald, of Prince Edward Island, has passed away, aged B.">. Lord Roberts, in reply to a correspondent, states that he is a member of thu Church cf England. A bust of Sir John Thompson, the late Catholic Prime Minister of Canada, has been unveiled at Halifax. Writing from Paris recently the Rev. Father Phelan says that Conntess Ca«tellane, the former Misn Anna Gould, is a devout Catholic, with all the charm and sweetness of the genuine French aristocratic devotee. Count Boni Castellane is a man of fine character who stands very high in Catholic circles. The ' Camelia,' a widely spread flower, loved for its beauty and fragrance, received its name from George Joseph Cornel, a Jesuit brother, who wrote about the plants and fish and birds of the Philippine Islands. This we have learned from a very interesting letter upon the ' Catholic Religion in the Philippine Islands ' in the September Mewrnyer, recently issued. It is announced that the Canadian Government has appointed the Hon. Edward Blake, M.P., to represent Canada on the AngloRussian Commission, to which has been referred the question of the compensation to be paid to the Canadian sealers illegally seized by the Russian warships in 1802 In Canada no personality is more highly esteemed than that of thiß eloquent and gifted Irishman. Services rendered during the American Civil War scoured Patrick Henry Jones, a county Westmeath man, his Generalship in the army of the United States. His death the other day in Staten Island drew forth interesting reminiscences of the fine old soldier and sterling Irishman from the New York papers. During President Grant's stay at the White House, General Jones was Postmaster of New York. Referring to the inaugural address of Sir Thomas Esmonde a 1 the Young Men's Society Conference in Chester, the writer of 'City and County Notes' in the Chester Chronicle says he is 'one of the most deliberate public speakers I have heard — and I more than on^e heard John Bright, who was reputed to be one of the slowest, as he undoubtedly was one of the most effective, public speakers. Sir Thomas has a pleasant platform style, and impresses one as a man who appeals to the head rather than the heart. He is a man of whom any conatituency would be proud as its representative.' The King of recently decorated Brother Amadeus with the cross of the Older of Charles 111. This noble religious has founded 2S charitable institutions throughout Europe and Canada. A working-men's hotel he founded at Charleroi, Belgium, is considered a model of its kind. A few years ago King Leopold of Belgium, in acknowledgment of his services, oon'erred on him the title ot Officer of the Order of Leopold, and the King of Portugal, in recognition of his good work in the cause of education, made him a Chevalier of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Villa Vicio-ia. M»dame de Navarro (Mary Anderson) is once again heard of, and, of coime, doing good. An ' M.A P.' reader in Broadway — that quaint little Worcestershire village in the Malvern Hills which so many aitis's. and other clever people have chasen for their horne — sends Mr. T. P. O'Connor the following about her best-known fellowvillager, Maiame de Navarro "She has just returned from Karlsbad where she and her husband have been staying for the past six wetks. After all her past glories on the stage, one cannot help remarking the quit t, una'-suming country life she now leads. Devoted to her hu-bmd and her home, she spends a good deal in doii g good to the villagers, by whom she is beloved. No charitable work is complete m these parts without Mary Anderson, as she is still familiarly called. To-ilay I chanced to see her name on a bill in connection with a grand bazaar which she is to open on Tuesday, August 7th, to raise funds for the completion of the Catholio Church here. Wuh hers I see also the name of the pretty and amiable Lady Agnes Noel, Lord Gainsborough's daughter. I have often heard the question go the rounds, " Will Mary Anderson ever again appear on the stage /" I can answer, No — ahe has given to the stage a long farewell. But she retains a keen interest in everything theatrical. For instance, she is to appear in a charity concert in the Town Hall of L'vesham on tho loth of this month.' Eccentricities ot nomenclature in the reporting of the Requiem at the Italian Church for the late King of Italy were (says the Daily Chronicle) numerous, but the first prize in this department will be unanimously awarded to the Daily Telegraph writer, who conferred en the presiding prelate, Bishop Patterson, the amazing and absolutely original title of • His Graudeur.' In 1850 the ' Gorham Judgment ' drove Bishop Patterson, along with Manning, the Wilberforoes, and a number of others, cut of the Anglican Church. As a Catholic prief-t he labored in London until 1870, when he was appointed President of St. Edmund's College, Ware. Ten years later hia lifelong ttiend, Cardinal Manning, secured his appointment as Auxiliary-Bishop, and presented him with the rectory of St. Mary's, Cadogan street, Chelsea, where he has resided ever since. Since the death of Cardinal Manning, Bishop Patterson, who will be 79 in November, has rarely officiated outside Chelsea. The last time hia n .me appeared in the papers was in connection with a bus accident. The conductor was so seven ly injured that he had to be removed to the hospital, whereupon Bishop Patterson, who was one of the pasbengers. acted as his deputy for the rest o£ the journey, collected the pennies, and punched the tickets to the general satisfaction. He published a book of travels in the East, and is joint author of a ' Life of Pope Pius IX.'