People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 26 January 1911, Page 163

People We Hear About

It is expected that the Coronation will be attended officially by live Heirs-Apparent to Thrones — German Crown Prince, the Duke of Sparta, and the Crown Princes of Denmark, Sweden, and Roumania. The King of Italy is to be represented by his cousin, the Duke of Aosta. Thursday, December 29, was the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Mr. W. E. Gladstone, who was born on December 29, 1809. In memory of the dead statesman his statue in the Strand, London, was decorated with wreaths and other floral emblems.

The royal family of Sweden has always been noted for its simplicity. All the princes of the Imperial houses of Hapsburg and Hohenzollern had to learn a trade. 1 In fact, history relates that some of these royal apprentices became skilful mechanics. But royal washerwomen are decidedly a novelty. The two daughters of the Duke of Westgotland receive at the present time a careful and practical education in the minutest branches of housekeeping; and it must be an interesting sight to see Princess Margaret and Princess Martha, neither yet in her teens, busily engaged at the washtub in the interests of their dolls. The following telegram, signed by Messrs. J. E. Redmond, John Dillon, T. P. O’Connor, and other members of the Irish Party, was despatched to Mr. Justin McCarthy, at Folkestone, on the occasion of his eightieth birthday : We wish you every good thing on your birthday, and sincerely trust that you may still be spared for many years to those who love and esteem you, and their name is legion.’ Acknowledging receipt of the message, Mr. McCarthy sent a latter to Mr. John Redmond, saying ‘I send my most heartfelt thanks to you and all ray friends" who join with you in your most welcome and inspiriting message to me on my eightieth birthday.’

The übiquity of Irish families is proverbial. The statement that the American Minister to Denmark is an Irishman is one of a great many indications of the fact. Mr. Maurice Egan was born in Philadelphia in 1852 his mother having been born in that city in 1819. His father went thither from Tipperary in 1825, at the age of sixteen, in care of an uncle —an uncle of this uncle had arrived at Ipswich, Mass., in 1765. Mr. Egan has one son, Gerald, whose relatives, including Pennsylvania Dutch families, are cosmopolitan. For instance, the Baron Logos von Egan, of Fiume, and Mr. Thomas Egan, of Frankfort-am-Main, are cousins, and in Normandy there are any number of relatives of Irish blood. Mrs. Egan, the mother of the present Minister, remembered Lafayettethat Marquis to whom Americans will always be gratefulhaving seen him in Philadelphia, as a child, in 1828.

Of the twenty new K.C.’s, Mr. Timothy M. Healy is undoubtedly the most striking personality (says the London Daily Sketch). A satirist of the most scathing description, ‘ Tiger Tim ’ is at heart the tenderest and most amiable of men. For the past eighteen years he has been a familiar figure in the House of Commons, where he is regarded as the most bitter-spoken, most ready-witted man on the Irish benches. Constantly in eruption, his interventions in debate are always piquant if not helpful. His sardonic temperament has made him a phrase-maker. Thus ho described one Bill as the offspring of a headache at the Irish Office He declared that the making of the late Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman Chief Secretary was an attempt to govern Ireland with Scotch jokes. One of Mr. Healy’s most exquisite imaginings, however, was during a recent divorce case, when he said that ‘ the spectacle of his learned friend’s client crying in the witness-box was the greatest miracle that had ever happened since Moses drew water from the rock.’ The late Sir Clifton Robinson, the ‘ Tramway King,’ who died suddenly in New York a few months ago, was managing director and engineer of the London United Tramways and other , companies. Sir Clifton, who was a Catholic, commenced his career as a conductor at the age of twelve, and before his death had the distinction of having constructed and organised more tramways in various parts of the world than any other man. He had a keen sense of humor, and consequently had a good budget of stories to tell. One of the most amusing was that of two countrymen on a visit to Edinburgh some years ago, who noticed tramcars for the first time. They, wished to proceed in a certain direction, but as there seemed so many cars going the same way they were in doubt as to which to take. All dubiousness, however, soon vanished, for Geordie, noticing a car bearing a cocoa advertisement in huge letters, turned to his friend and said, ‘ Here, Jimmie, we’ll tak’ this ane; it’s “Best and goes farthest.”’ Sir Clifton once confessed that his hobby was work, and he certainly was one of the most strenuous of men. He never believed in the old proverb, ‘A rolling stone gathers ‘no moss.’ ‘I have rolled all over the world,’ he confessed a short time ago, ‘ and still hope to roll and to gather moss.’ The following were the rules for success which he once laid down: Have faith in yourself. Back yourself as other men back horses. Get to know all you can. Cultivate a sense of humor. Work hard, be thorough, live plainly. Never stand still.