People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 33, 18 August 1904, Page 10

People We Hear About

Cardinal Gibbons, of Baltimore, celebrated his 70th bnthday on July 26. He was born m Baltimore of Insh parents, but was taken to Ireland to be educated He was ordained 'priest 43 years ago, consecrated Bishop in 1868, appointed Archbishop of Baltimore in l<ebruary, 1878, and was made Cardinal in the same year.

1 Pms X ' writes Mr. Booth Taikmgton in 'Harper's Magazine,' 'is of good height, strongly made, even stout, and has a fine grace of carriage ; Ins dignity is as great as his position, but utterly without haughtiness or pomposity or pride of office. He has none of the " magnetism " of the popular preacher, actor, or orator ; nevertheless, he is remarkably magnetic ; it is the magnetism of unmistakable goodness and good-will to all the world.' "

The death is reported of Mr. Justice O'Connor Morris, a county court judge in the Connaught circuit. The deceased gained a good deal of notoriety during recent years in consequence of his political harangues from the Bench and also for his denunciation of the Irish Land Purchase Act which he condemned in very, strong terms'. His opinions were not taken much notice ot in Ireland but were eagerly seized upon by the Tory press of England, and occasionally cabled for our edificdUun to these colonies.

Mr. John Mitchell, President of the United Mine Workers of the United States, who was on a visit to Dublin towards the end of June, though a young man, has figured largely in the Labor history of America. Born in Illinois in 1860, his connection with organised labor dates from his sixteenth year. Commencing life as a working coal miner in 1882, by an arduous course of night study he succeeded, in spite of rugged obstacles, in acquiring a good education. After serving in several secretarial positions in labor organisations in the States, he was eleoted President of the Mine Workers in 1899. The great strike of anthracite coal minors was successfully conducted by President Mitchell in 1900. He is the associate-editor of ' Boyce's Weekly,' Chicago.

Dr. Edward Elgar on June 21 received the degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Durham. In the list of birthday honors the name of Dr. Elgar appears among those on whom his Majesty has conferred a knighthood. Sir Edward's new honor has met with unanimous approval, and is recognised as one of the \ery few bestowed for personal merit as distinguished fiom political service. The London 'Morning Leader' describes him as ' our greatest modern musician,' and like sympathetic references have appeared in otheff leading journals. The author of ' King Olaf,' ' The Dream oE Geroniius,' 'The Apostles,' etc., lives at Malvern, and the present incident has recalled an episode of his schooldays savoring somewhat of prophecy It is said that the following dialogue took place with a former tutor Master . ' What is your name ? ' Boy : ' Edward Elgar ' Master : ' Add the •' Sir." ' Boy : 'Sir Edward Elgar.' The new knight has received the warm congratulations of many of his co-religionists.

It is somewhat remarkable (says the ' Catholic Times ') that though all the obituary notices of Mr. Clement Scott mentioned that his father "\\ as a'Protestant minister, scarcely any state that the deceased journalist was a convert to the Catholic Church. Like t>hc late I\l. Blowitz and the late Mr. George Augustus Sala (born Catholics), Mr. Clement Scott was supreme in his own journalistic department — theatrical criticism — that is whilst in the heyday of his strength. In 1873 began his association wrth the London ' Daily Telegraph" wihieh won for him celebrity as an able and discerning critic of the drama. lie might, says the ' Newcastle Daily Chronicle,' have been called t(he English Sarcey, for at one period his word was almost law on the subject of plays and players. Mr. Scott had been for siome time l'n declining health, but still managed to produce contributions for the weekly paper " ' Free Lance,' founded by him. He was a clever adapter of French pieces, a vigorous writer of lyrics and stirring poems, and a picturesque essayist.

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