People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1906, Page 28

People We Hear About

Princess Elizabeth of Belgium, wife of Prince Albert, heir-apparent to bhe throne, is probably the most accomplished and versatile of Continental Princesses. She is the daughter of Duke Charles Theodore of Bavaria,, the famous oculist. President Roosevelt has written as follows to Mrs. Davitt : 'It was my good fortune to number among my friends your late husband, Mr. MTchael Davitt. I valued him, and berr that you will accept my most sincere sympathy in your great boreavement.' A deputation, representing the British colonies in Madrid, Barcelona, and other Spanish cities was on June 9 received by Queen Victoria, and presented hewith a handsome jewel in the form of a true lovers' knot in diamonds and pearls, which the Queen accepted. In ' John Bull,' a new w-eekly journal, edited by Mr Horatio Bottomley, M.P., occurs the following :— It we were asl-ed t»> say who were the best Parliamentarians in the House of Commons we should unhesitatingly say the Irish Party. The way in which they get the last ounce out of the rules of procedure is an educational treat for a new member.' The old ivy-mantled cottage at Ecclestcn HiH, near St. Helens (says th» 4 Catholic Times '), where Mr Seddon first saw light, is still in existence. Curious stones have been found in the little garden by which it was fronted, wilh carvings and inscriptions, as well as a fine old cross, and it is generally supposed to have been an old burial ground connected with a Catholic mission of the sixteenth century. Its known history dates from the middle of last century, when Mr Thomas Seddon, the father of the statesman, opened a sm a ll Milage school there. Fitzgerald Murphy, a playwright, poet, and actor who died tecently fn New York, was born in Cahirciveen, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1868. The rudiments of his education he received at the monastery of the Christian Brothers. In 18S1 he went to America landing at Castle Garden when 12 years old with but half a sovereign between him and destitution The following year he had the good fortune to meet the Irish poet and ratriot, .'ohn PSovle O'Reilly, in Boston, and this generous fellow-countryman g a ve him a position on the Boston 'Pilot.' While connected with the Pilot young Murphy wrote a numb/r of poems soon graduating into regular journalistic employment. To the John Boyie O'Pr-niv Memorial in Boston there is presently to be added a monument to another great Irish Bostonirn. General Patr ck A Collins who died a short time afro while he was Mayor of Boston for the third time. The monument will be erected on Boston Common or in one of the city's fine parks. Five sculptors have already prepared designs three of which ha c already been' submitted to the Memorial Committee. General Collins was well known in Dublin in the days of the Land League, and until "the old Lan-d League Offices were sold his portrait hung over the mantelpiece in the hnll of that building. Although he achieved a fine position in Congress and was Kjven hush office, he mv er lowered the flag of Irish Nationality Irishmen all over the world will be proud, indeed, to know that his American and Irish townsmen are about to erect a monument tt> his memMr Labouchere, writing in ' Truth,' has a notable appreciation of Michael DaVitt. 'Ireland,' he says has given birih to many high-minded and aevoted patriots, but to none more worthy of unqualified respect from friends and opponents than Michael Davitt He had not the natural gifts of O'Connell or Parnell' and he has not made for himself any -lace in history' But his abilities were of no mean order, for he was master vof ajl the knowledge needful for his work, and much besides, as well a s of all the requirements of an effective speaker and writer. That he had achieved this after he had lost his right, arm is 'a st-ikme proof of his resolution and strength of character. But the most notahle points about him were his unswerving dfivotmn to the interests of his country as he understood them, his absolute sincerity and purity of motive, and true nobi'ity of disposition, which raised him above all the haser elements and influences ot party strife, and made Kirn a strenuous fighter though he was one of the gentlest a nd most amiable* men, and most honorable and unvin-tlictive of political opponents.' r