People We Hiear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5, 1 February 1906, Page 10

People We Hiear About

Mr. John Burns has the distinction of being the first. Labor leader elevated from the position of a private--member to Cabinet rank. President Roosevelt will, it is understood, pay a. series of European visits, including one to the King iaLondon, on the conclusion of his term of office. Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, Bart., who has beenappointed a member of the Irish Privy Council, preceded Dr. Windle as President of the Queen's College,. Cork. He is a forcible writer. Sir Rowland is a Catholic. There is no more curious office under the Constitution than that of Irish Secretary, to which Mr. James. Bryce has been appointed. Though styled ' Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant.' the Irish Secretary, as often as not, exercises his great powers entirely on his own responsibility. He is almost invariably a Cabinet Minister, while the Lord Lieutenant is almost invariably without a seat in the Cabinet. The Lord. Lieutenant, however, acting Ministerially, appoints as. Irish Viceroy by his warrant the Chief Secretary, and accordingly the appointment of dhief Secretary is generally the last of all the Cabinet offices to be announced. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford is fond of telling, the following story connected with his stay at a country inn near Oxford some years ago. His Lordship arrived overnight quite alone, and told his host who he was. In giving a young waiter instructions how to act towards such a distinguished visitor, the hotel proprietor said :— ' Look here, we have got a lord here —a real live lord. We never had one here before, and I don't suppose we ever will again. When you takehis lordship's shaving water up in the morning knock three times, and if a voice says, " Who |is it?' mdndj you say, " It's the boy, my lord.' " The unfortunate youth was so much fluttered, however, next morning that, shivering outside the door with his hot water, when Lord Charles cried, ' Who is it ?' he blurted out: — ' It's the lord, me boy.' The great American millionaires are evidently determined that their sons shall not degenerate into idlersand prodigals of the type too often seen in Europe. Mr. Pierpont Morgan, jun., the son of the great .trust magnate, entered his father's office in a minor position, and, having served an apprenticeship to thework of the banking-house, was made a junior partner in the London office. The youngest son of Mr. JamesJ. Hill, the railway millionaire, was till recently earning about 24s a week as a clerk in a railway office. The son of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, reputed tobe the richest man in the world, has worked not only as a clerk, but as a labourer. Many other instances might be given of the sons of millionaires b«ing placed by their ifathers in humble occupations, that they might rise through their own merits to higher positions, and thus be well equipped for taking over the vast responsibilities entailed by immense wealth. The Very Rev. Canon Sheehan, the popular Irishauthor, was born in Mallow, County Cork, on St. Patrick's Day, 1852, so that he is now 54 years of age. In, his early years he had as schoolmate at the national school, of his native place, Mr. William O'Brien,. M.P. Just 40 years ago he commenced his classical course at St. Colman's College, Fermoy. Later on he went to Maynooth, but during his career, at this col— lege, from 1869 to 1874, he was in very delicate health. All his family died of consumption, except a younger brother, who stands high in the Civil Service under the Local Government Board of, Ireland, and who shares in Canon Sheehan's literary tastes. His health not improving, he was compelled to remain at home from 1872 to 187i8. Canon Sheehan received theOrder of the priesthood at the earliest canonical age. His first curacy was in England, under the Bishop of Plymouth. He was attached to the Cathedral staff for three months, after which he was two years in Exeter^ It was in 1895 that Canon Sheehan was appointed parish priest of Doneraile. His first book published was. ' Geoffrey Austin ;' then followed ' The Triumph of Failure,' which is the author's favorite of all his works. Amongst his other works are 'My New Curate,' ' Under the Cedars and the Stars,' a volume of literary and philosophical reflections ; a drama of life entitled ' Lost Angel of a Ruined Paradise,' written specially for the benefit of the Children's Hospital. Dublin ; ' Marie Corona ' ; ' Luke Delmege,' which iswidely known, and now his latest, ' Glenanaar.'