People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 28, 11 July 1901, Page 10

People We Hear About

Papers by the Jesuit astronomers, Fathers Sidgreaves and Cortie, were read at the recent meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society. Of the English Royal Family within 200 years, William TIL, Anne the four Georges, a Duchess of Kent, the Prince Consort, and Princess Alice each died on a Saturday. The coronation of King Edward will take place at the end of June, 1902. Westminster Abbey will be entirely closed to the public for four months prior to the event, and all services will be suspended in order to prepare the interior for the ceremony. Edward is the favorite name of English Kings. Reckoning the three before the Conqueror, there have been 10 of them. Henrys come next with eight, and the Williams and Georges divide the honors with four each. There have been since the Conqueror three Richard*, two James's, and two Charles's. Only one King has been named John, and only one Stephen. An Edinburgh publisher, Sir Thomas Clark, Bart., a member of the firm of T. and T. Clark, who died in December last, aged 77, has left personal estate of the value of £210,566. This has recalled the fact that many other publishers and printers of late have realised large estates, the following among the number : — Thomas Nelson, Edinburgh. £630,867 ; George P. Potter (of Cassels), £520,561 ; Alexander Macmillan, 179,011 ; Robert Clark, Edinburgh, £163,164 ; John Van Voorst, £157,431 ; Adam Black, Edinburgh, £147,261 ; George Lock (Ward and Lock), £119,040 ; George Routledge, £94,774 ; John Murray, £71,000. It is evidennly more profitable to be a publisher than an author. It is remarkable what a number of Quaker families in England have worked up immense businesses and acquired great wealth. Both Messrs. Cadbury and Fry, of chocolate fame, belong to the Society of Friends ; so, too, do Messrs. Huntly and Palmer, the biscuit-makers, and Messrs. Sutton, the equally famous seedgrowers, while the family of Messrs. Pease and Co., of Darlington, are also Quakers. Messrs. Horniman, the well-known tea merchants, furnish another example. Besides giving his attention to business, Mr. Horniman has found time to indulge his hobby of collecting curios. These are so numerous that they fill quite a considerable museum, which he has most generously given, together with a library and 15 acres of freehold land, to the public. It is situated at Forest Hill, a southern suburb of London, and well repays a visit. Those of the inner circle of Court life affirm that since his accession the King has chauged very considerably in Bpeech and in demeanor. A certain aloofness is noticeable in his manner and a decided dignity in his conversation. Instead of addressing his men friends by their Christian names or surnames as heretofore, he now speaks to and of them as ' Lord This ' or ' Mr. That.' The pleasant smile and kindly word continue, but Borne of the cheery familiarity of old days has disappeared, never to return. Stories are leaking out that illustrate this kingly transformation. And it is predicted that the alteration in tone and bearing will become more evident as Court mourning disappears, and the King and Queen once again taks their place in London society. There was staying in Belfast recently (says the Irish Weekly') the Rev. P J. O'Brien, the Newfoundland Catholic priest, whose discovery in the art of shipbuilding promises to revolutionise the construction of sea-going vessels. He has just paid a visit to the principal European shipbuilding yards, where he has met with much success The Italian Government are going to make experiments on a small pcale of Father O'Brien's invention, with a view to applying it to their large ships. The invention is briefly this : that the advantages of a concave bottom to all kinds of vessels, as compared with the present system of convex or round bottoms, are immense, and likely to result in ocean travelling being twice as comfortable and as safe and speedy as hitherto. Up to now the convex keel has been looked upon as perfect. From the days of the ark it has remained the same, though sails, maßts, steering-gear, etc., of the primeval barque have undergone transformation. America, always to the fore, has taken the project up with enthusiasm.