People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 20, 20 May 1909, Page 28

People We Hear About

Mr. Max Pemberton, the well-known novelist, who is a Catholic, has j.ust been made a Justice of the Peace in the County of Suffolk. Lady Robinson, who took a leading, and active part in promoting the success of Lady Edmund Talbot's sale of valuable objects at Buckingham Gate, London, the other day, for the benefit of poor children, is a comparatively recent convert to the Catholic Church, and is the wife of Sir Clifton Robinson, the able and indefatigable organiser and director of the great tramway enterprises which have become so widely developed in London and Dublin, and in other parts of the kingdom. Both Sir Clifton and Lady Robinson are liberaj donors to many Catholic charities. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, whose name has been very much before the public of late in connection with the demand for strengthening the British navy, is a Waterford man. He is now in his 64th year. The following story is told of how he managed to get his own way in a controversy with General Buller: During the last Nile campaign, while on board a river steamer descending some dangerous water in one of the higher cataracts, General Buller entered into a discussion with Lord Charles respecting the proper channel that ought to be navigated. Bash most obstinately defended his own course, but eventually that whicl/ Sir Redvers so strenuously recommended was used, with the result that the steamer got through without accident. ' You see, I was right,' exclaimed Sir Redvers triumphantly, ' mine was the proper channel.' ' That, whs mine, too,' coolly replied Lord Charles. ' I only recommended the other because I know you would go against whatever I said.' Just sixty years ago there died in Rome that linguistic wonder-worker of modern times, Giuseppe Cardinal Mezzofanti. Born of humble origin in 1774, he was ordained priest at the age of twenty-four, having been a few days previously appointed Professor of Arabic in the university of his native city of Bologna, for by this time he was already master of ten languages. From the little income of £25 — derived from his professorship supplemented by the proceeds of private instruction, Mezzofanti supported two helpless parents. Among his pupils was Byron, to whom, when he was in Bologna in 1817, he gave some lessons 'n modern Greek. The_ poet, writing of his stay in that city, says : ' I don't remember a man among them whom I ever wished to see twice, except Mezzofanti, who is a monster of languages, who ought to have existed at the time of the Tower of Babel and acted as universal interpreter.' Nine years later, the Crown Prince of Prussia, passing -through Bologna on his way to Rome, reports of the linguist : 'He is truly a miracle. He spoke German with me like a German, with my Privy Cotmcillor he spoke the purest French, with Bunsen perfect English, and with General Groben fluent Swedish.' Another time it was the Grand Duke Michael of Russia who was surprised to find himself exchanging voluble Polish with the polyglot priest. Sir Robert Hart, who retired from the position of Inspector-General of Chinese Customs last year, has been asked to return to China. Sir Robert, who had been connected with public affairs in China -for upwards of fortyfive years, knows that country better "than any other European. It will be remembered that some time ago in the course of an address at a non-Catholic meeting in Belfast, he -paid a very high tribute to the zeal, self-denial, and success of the Catholic missionaries in the Chinese Empire. Sir Robert built up the huge fabric of the Customs on a basis of integrity and efficiency. One of the most prominent characteristics of Sir Robert Hart is his extreme punctuality. -'He has always lived by the clock, for he says that was the only way in which he could get through, his work. To his guests he would say : ' Your early tea will be brought to you when you ring. Please ring once only, holding the button pressed while you count three. Then, will it be convenient to you to tiffin at 12 sharp? If not, I will tiffin myself at 12, and order for you at any time you like. I ride from 3to 5; there is always a mount for you if you wish it. Dinner at 7.30 sharp, and I must ask you to always excuse me at 11.' Needless to say, everything in his office went like clockwork. At JO a.m. a line was drawn across the books, *nd late-coming clerks had to sign their names below, while at 4 p.m. the books were again opened and every clerk had to sign again. No chance of slipping away before the proper time. ' Fcr 30 years, it is interesting to notice, Sir Robert drank his tea sitting in the same big dining-room chair, which was always covered with a rug so that no one else should use it.