People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 11 August 1910, Page 1278

People We Hear About

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Bryan were the guests of Nationalist members of the House of Commons on June 15. Amongst those called to the Irish Bar recently was Mr, William _ Archer Redmond, 8.A., of the Royal University. Mr. Redmond is the only son of Mr. John E. Redmond. M.P., the Irish leader. * M r - J - D. Phelan, ex-Mayor of San Francisco, visited the House of Commons on June 20 and had a seat in the Distinguished Strangers’ Gallery, where he was accompanied by Mr. P, O’Brien, M.P. Archbishop Dontenwill, Superior-General of the Oblates, is the first English-speaking Superior-General ever elected by the Order. He is in the prime of life, of rare attainments, and engaging manners.

The King of Portugal has signified his acceptance of an oak sapling offered to him by Mr. Henry Lumsden, of Worcester. It was grown from an acorn found in a pheasant shot by King Manoel’s father when on a visit to the Duke of Orleans at Wood Norton in 1904.

The Dowager Queen Amelia of Portugal is one of the most charming as well as one of the most tragic figures in Europe to-day. She was the daughter of the Comte de Paris of France, and her marriage to King Carlos of Portugal was a very happy one. Ijut their throne was always tottering, and the good sense and charity of Queen Amelia were credited with doing much to hold the sympathy of the people. She studied medicine, and obtained a degree, practising incognito in the poor quarters of Lisbon. She is finely courageous, and once saved ope of her boatmen from drowning. But the supreme test of her courage came on February 1, 1907, when in the streets of Lisbon her Royal husband and the Crown Prince, her son, were assassinated in her presence. She sheltered in her arms her second son, the present King Miguel, and prevented his death. Queen Amelia is still heavily burdened with affairs of State because of the youth of the present monarch. She is one of the most beautiful and intellectual royal women in the world.

Referring to the death of Miss Van Wart, a well-known American hostess in London, which sad event took place on April 3 at Bordighera, a writer in the London Queen says: Much has been written on Miss Van Wart’s jewels, but I should like to say a word on the more serious side of her character. Not many, years ago she joined the Catholic Church, and paid great heed to all its religious observances. And she was a warm-hearted woman, who spent time and money in hospital work and on the poor in the East End of London; also and this is far rarer—she did kindly deeds to - women and girls in her own rank of life, her friends and acquaintances. She had views of her own on certain subjects. For instance, she disliked motors, and had a deep dread of cards and card-playing. She would never have a card in her house, and her friends were obliged to cease from their bridge and poker. We may not all agree with her, but one respects a woman who has the courage of her opinions. Miss Van Wart was" tall and good-looking, and had rather a dignified manner.

The writer of £ Facts and Fancies ’ writes in the Irish Independent : General Sir William Butler very . nearly missed his great career. At the age of 34 he was only a lieutenant. Those were the days of purchased advancement. After a dozen years’ service the sheer process of existence had made him what was then technically called ‘ first for purchase.’ But he lacked the £llOO necessary to buy the next step upwards, not to speak of the extra £4OO that would be needed for ‘ over regulation items.’ So wealthy juniors passed above him. His own words describe the prospect. ‘What course lay open? Serve on. Let the dull routine of barrack life grow duller; go from Canada to the Cape, from the Cape to Mauritius, from Mauritius to Madras, from Madras goodness knows where, and trust to delirium tremens, yellow fever, or cholera morbus for promotion. Or on the other hand, cut the service, become in the lapse of time governor of a penitentiary, secretary to a London club, or adjutant of militia.’ Rapid promotion was achieved by one of his friends, who within seven years had risen from ensign to lieutenant-colonel, and has since gone still higher, winning power and influence in the ascent. This was Wolseley. The becalmed lieutenant, hearing that his former companion, who held a high post irt Canada, was undertaking an expedition against the Indians, sent a cablegram that turned his luck ‘ Please remember me.’ Wolseley remembered him, included him in the expedition, and later on gave him charge of a special mission, with the result that after 14 years in : the army Butler reached his captaincy and was awarded the C.B. His friend, remembering him further, took him afterwards on the Ashanti Expedition, and found occasion to mention him copiously in the despatches. The long-neglected officer had scope at last. He availed of it to the end with unbroken distinction.