People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 24 November 1904, Page 10

People We Hear About

M". James Bernard Fagan, the author of the new play, ' rlher Ihe Prayer of the Sword,' is an Irishman, and it is interesting to note, in view of the introduction of Catholic characters into the play, that he belongs to the ancient faith. Mr. Fagan is the son of Dr. Jbagan, a graduate of the Dublin Catholic University, and an eminent practitioner in Belfast, who was selected by the Government as Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools in Ireland, in succession to Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, Bart., seven years ago. On Thursday, November 3, Sir John Logan Campbell, of Auckland, completed his 87th year. He is the grandson of the late Sir James Campbell, of Aberuchill and Kilbride, and was bom in 1817. He v/as educated at Edinburgh University, where he took his medical degrees. lie came to New Zealand over 50 years a^p, and. settled on an island in the Waitemata harbor ; tliis was betore the Government had decided on a site for Auckland. Sir John soon removed to the capital and smarted in business, and has ever since been identilied with the interest's of the city and province. Mr. Alex. Roche, R.S.A., the well known Catholic artist of Edinburgh, has this year had the honor of being elected one oi the two aitists from Europe to be upon the jury oi the yearly International Exhibition, held at the Carnegie Institute of Fine Arts, Pittsburg, U.S.A. According to the constitution of this Exhibit/lon, each invited artist' has the privilege of voting for ten jurors (two of wliom must be from Europe) for the yearly International Exhibition. This places in the hands of the painters the power to create a jury. .Jurors award mc'dals and honors, and hang the exhibits. They may exhibit works, but not compete for medals or honors. . General Kuropatkin, ' the man of the hour ' in-the Far East, has had a life of fighting and hai>breadth escapes. He rose from the foot of the ladder, and is almost the only example of such a feat having been performed in the country of the Czar. Mis' father was a tailor, but somehow the son managed to gain a coramipsicn as o sub-lieutenant when the Russo-Turkish war began. He become a special favorite of the great General Skobelert, who had the greatest admiration for his pluck ard abilities. ' Kuropatkin is the only man who is capable oi performing so dangerous a task,' said Sl-'obeleft on one oerasirn. Skobeleff made him a captain, and appointed him his Chief of Staff. Ths announcement that Sir Pcrcival and Lady Radchfte are about to celebrate their golden vfdduig is a reminder of the happy survival of a lady who,' more than any other, may claim close association with the Tichborne case. Lady Radcliflc— nee Katherine Doughty — was the cousin of Roge- Charles Tichborne, around whose disappearance in the ill-fated ' Bella ' the whole s>lory wttuch was laid bare in the course of the protracted lawsant was wovp.ii. Ro^er Tichborne, son of Sir, James, vno succeeded on his brother's death is tenth baronet, was a young oflicer in the Guards, and proposed marriage to lus cousin. V\hen she declined the ofler he left the countr5 r , first proceeding to South America, and then booking a passage to Jamaica on the ' Bella,' of which noihing was afterwards heard. Just before he finally quitted England the disappointed officer handed a sealed packet to Miss Doughty, and a simitar one to Miss uosford, an old friend of the family. The contents of these were merely an intimation that) if ever he should succeed jn inducing his cousin to ihange her mind and marry him he would effect a chapel as a thank-offering on the family estates at Tichlborne. Miss Doughty was married in 18i54, in the spring of which year Roger Tichborne is supposed to have been lost at sea, to Sir Percival Radcliffe, of Ruddme; Park, Yorkshire. Lady Radclifte is the sole mrviving child of the ninth baronet, who, while apparently far removed from the succession, had assumed the surname of Doughty on inheriting estates in Lincolnshire, and became the first of the Doiighty-Tichbornes.