People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 7 November 1912, Page 41

People We Hear About

A cable message states that Miss Amy Castles mad© a successful debut in grand opera in Vienna, playing the leading role in ‘ Madam Butterfly.’ Mr. C. E. Jerningham, who, under the now, de 'plume of ‘ Marmaduke,' wrote, for Truth for twentytwo years, has become part-proprietor and editor of Vanity Fair. The pastor of the Catholic Church of St. Stanislaus, in the Russian . capital, is an Irishman, Right Rev. Monsignor Count O’Rourke, a linear descendant of the Royal House of Ireland. Great satisfaction is felt at the decoration bestowed on Cardinal Van Rossum by the Emperor of Austria. He has been the recipient of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stephen, while Mgr. Sinabaldi has received the Grand Cross of the Order of Francis Joseph. The Dowager Lady Rossmore, who died recently in England, was the second wife of the third Baron Rossmore, who died in 1860. She afterwards married Colonel Stacpoole, a County Clareman, who died in 1894. The deceased lady, who was the mother of the present Lord Rossmore, became a Catholic many years ago. She was a woman of great benevolence and kind-, ness to the poor. The Very Rev. D. J. O’Sullivan, of Society of African Missions, who recently had to leave Australia, through ill-health, arrived 50...0 time ago at the Mother House of the society at Lyons, r ranee. After resting for a while he was ordered by the Superior-Genera! of the society, Bishop Pellet, to-proceed to one of the well-known health resorts of France and take a further rest there. Father O’Sullivan contemplates a visit to America when his superiors think it wise for him to undertake work again.

Apropos of the fact that the Emperor of Austria recently celebrated his eighty-second birthday, attention has been directed to the number of eminent men who, in spite of great age, continue to take an active interest in the world's affairs. Among a number mentioned by the London Evening News is the Earl of Courtown, who is 89, and the fifth oldest of the House of Lords. Lord Courtown, who resides at Courtown, County Wexford, is quoted as attributing his own length of life to inherited constitution, to regular habits of life, and to thorough rest of mind and body on Sunday. 'I have no suggestions to make,' he says, ' as. to a motto, and trust to the good sense of my children and grandchildren to make rules for themselves.' Judging by his own descendants, his lordship says he does not perceive any decay in the present generation of young men. His heir, Lord Stopford, is -59. Sir Thomas Esmonde, M.P., who has received a fresh evidence of the Holy Father's esteem, was born at Pau in 1862, and is the eldest son of the 10th Baronet by Louisa, daughter and co-heir of. Henry Grattan, of Tinnehinch, County Wicklow,. and .' grand-daughter of the Right Hon. Henry Grattan. He was educated at Oscott, and succeeded his father in 1876. He held a commission in Waterford Artillery Militia for five years ; High Sheriff of County Waterford for 1887; J.P. for. Wexford; Director of the . National Bank; sits since 1900 as a Nationalist for North Wexford, having previously represented South Dublin County (1885-92) and West Kerry (1892-1900). Sir Thomas, who has now had nearly the longest unbroken Parliamentary career of any man of his years in the House of Commons, presented Leo XIII., on behalf of the Irish Parliamentary Party, with an address of congratulation on his silver jubilee in 1902. He married in 1891 Alice, daughter of Patrick Donovan, of Frogmore, Tralee.