People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 25, 23 June 1904, Page 10

People We Hear About

c r ™ lleni T H'arland, the author of ' The Cardinal's Snuff Box, •My Friend Prospero,' and « The Lady Paramount,' is a convert to the Catholic faith. He is a past master in clothing serious philosophical thought m light, airy, poetic language. Miss Marie Narelle's engagement at the St.i Louis exhibition covers a period of seven months The New South Wales soprano, it is stated, will receive a fee of oO guineas a week. She intends to rerurn to England via New Zealand and Australia, making a concert tour through the Commonwealth. The death, jast announced, of that eminent New i ork Irish- American. Mr. Patrick Farrelly, President of tine well-known American News Company, removes from leading commercial circles a man who has been often described as the Wm. H. Smith of New York. The great news agency of which he was the founder, is by iar the largest in the States. Mr. Farrelly, whose Interest in Irish National and Catiholic matters in New York was unceasing, began life in an humble capacity. Arriving in New York at an early age, from his native county, Louth, as a penniless Irish youth, he terminated his career as one of America's successful merchant princes On Saturday last, June 18, the Most Rev Dr Murphy, Archbishop of Hobart, entered on his ninetieth year, his Grace having been born at Belmont, County Cork, o,n the 'day of the Rattle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815 lie received his education at Maynooth College, where he was ordained priest in 1838—66 years ago. He soon after left for the Indian mission, and after laboring there for some years was consecrated CoadjutorBishop of Madras in 1846, and two years later Dr. Muiphy was appointed Bishop of Hyderabad. During the Mutiny in 1857 Bishop Murphy displayed great prudence, and secured from the Nizam several stands of arnife for the boys of the college, who were drilled in expectation of a rising in the State In consequence of failing health, Dr Murphy was transferred to Hobart in 1865, of whioh See he became Archbishop in 1888. Mr. T. W Russell has corrected a widely-prevailing mistake winch caused him to be regarded as a native Ulsterman As a matter of fact, Mr. Russell is a native of Fifeshire In youth he went to Donaghmorc, Tyrone, where he filled for a time a position in Brown's Soap Works Becoming associated with the Temperance propaganda, he by-and-bye started a temperance hotel in Dublin, which he still owns After entering the House of Commons on the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, Mr. Russell became one of the most tireless and effective anti-Home Rule orators As a reward for his sen ilcs he was included in the Salisbury Ministry, and continued to hold the office until the General Election of 1900, when Lord Salisbury omitted to retnew 1 his appointment because of Mr Russell's speech at CTogher in which ho declared unreservedly in favor of compulsory sale Since then Mr, Russell has been drifting further anid further apart trom the Tories, and mpre and more back to his earlier principles ot Liberalism It is quite on the cards that he may be the next Chief Secretary for Ireland *n a Liberal Ministry My friend arid colleague in the House of Commons, Mr J Ji O'Kelly, one of the members for Roscommon (writes the London correspondent of the ' Advocate '), went to Cuba 'as special correspondent of the ' New York Herald.' where his escape from death was almost miraculous He was captured with a rebel force, confined to a horrible dungeon, and actually led out to be shot His eyes had been bandaged as a preliminary to his execution when the fortunate arrival of the American consul on the scene led to explanations and his release. It was an exceedingly narrow shave. Since he fought for the French against the Germans 34 years ago, and at the same time sent most graphic war letters to the London ' Daily News ' Mr O'Kelly has had a most romantic and stirrfng career. When Mr. W. T Siead was editor of the ' Pall Mall Gazette,' he brought out a) wittily-written ' Parliamentary Campaign,' containing clever character sketches and biographical notices of all the members of the House of Commons, with the London address of each. After describing Mr O'Kelly's adventurous career, Mr Stead gave his address thus : — ' Wherever there is any fighting going on ' Mr. O'Kelly has seen and taken part in fighting in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America— every continent except Australia. No doubt if he had been old enough at the time, he would have been fighting with Peter Lalor at the Eureka Stockade in Ballarat. lie is not only one of the best and the bravest, but also one of the most modest and unassuming members of the Irish Parliamentary Party.