PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1919, Page 30

PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

Having been brought from Spain on-, beard a Spanish warship, the body of the Comi»§s® de: Paris, co-ys&red. with the French flag, was interred at Weybridge, r England, recently, : inj the vanlt which Gontains the-body of her husband, th*late Oomte de Paris. French flags embellished-the church-jnvwhich' Requiem Mass wascelebrated;; prior to the burial rite in the mausoleum. ■ The principal mourners included ex-King Manuel (grandson) and Q»een Augusta- Victoria, the Due d'Grleans, Due de -.Montpensiery Due de Guise, and the Due do Vendome. Prince Albert, accompanied by Major Greig, represented King • George and Queen Mary; Queen-Alexandra and Princess Beatrice were also represented, as were the Danish, Spanish, and Italian Ministers. -

f .' The happiest man in London, says the 7 London Tablet, is surely a great tenor, a sudden tenor, successful > beyond the dreams of . aspirants, acclaimed on the first - night of a memorable ; London ; opera season with a King and with Queens- "giving him their hands." Neither Great Britain nor Ireland produces tenors often, whereas in Tuscany "man" and "tenor" are almost convertible terms, and Mr. Burke was born of Irish parents at r Leigh, where he was- educated at St. Joseph's School. He is a fine musician as well as the owner of a wonderful voice, and to the Jesuit Fathers, as a pupil in their school at Leigh, he owes an early knowledge of the heavenly art. They were, he tells a Daily Chronicle interviewer, "extremely fine musicians. I can never be grateful enough for what they taught : me.' He confesses the nervousness of his first great night at Covent Garden. The audience perceived this, but when did nervousness, or any other sign of modesty, do otherwise than add to the sympathies of an English audience The Manchester Guardian welcomes him as "certainly one of the finest tenor singers ever born in this island," who, with experience, will "rank with the other two or three best singers of our time. . . . Rarely has a first appearance been equally successful."

The death occurred at Lewisham (Sydney) Private Hospital oh Friday morning, July 11, of Lady Parkes, widow of the late Sir Henry Parkes, at the age of 4f> years (says the Catholic Pr-ess). She had been ailing for some -time, and had been under the care of the Little Company of Mary for two months. Lieut. Cobden Parkes, . one of her step-sons, who has been on active service, is now returning on the transport Themistocles. Two other step-sons are Messrs. Sidney and Henry Paries. Lady Parkes' youngest step-daughter is the wife of Mr. E. J. Evans, of the court reporting staff. Lady Parkes was married to Sir Henry about 244 years ago, and had latterly resided at Randwick. A Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father J. O'Gorman (Adm., St. Mary's Cathedral) on Saturday morning, July 12. The- funeral left Cathedral for Rook wood Cemetery,' and was largely attended.. Mr. G. F. Burnt*, F.R.H.S., represented the Historical Society, but there was a notable absence of Sir Henry Parkes' old political associates, and the Holman Government was not represented at the Mass or at the funeral. Such is fame. . Lady Parkes devoted her life to the care and education of Sir Henry's second family, and they looked to her as a mother, and as such were-tenderly devoted to her. They are all in good positions, and with the exception of the youngest, Cobden, who is a bachelor, were all married in the Catholic Church. The late Lady Parkes was a big-hearted woman, with great natural ability.

; ;: When the death of Father G. A. Robinson was recently announced the deepest regret; was felt throughout Australia (says the C.&tfypliC; Press). Father Robin-son-had been for many years parish priest of Camberwell, i near Melbourne ; but he was known everywhere, and his popularity and t influence were. without bounds. On the morning of the day of his demise Father Robinson, who had not been well for a few -days, was ; seized with an attack .. of cerebral hemorrhage,. and deathmen-.

sued shortly before midnight. The Melbourne Age pays a tribute to his memory. "By the death of George Augustus Robinson,'' it says, "there is removed one of the most popular personalities in the Catholic priesthood' in : this country. ,• 'Father Robinson' -was known from one end of this continent to the other, and ; his faro* as- a churchman, musician, wit, organiser, and friend to 'all sorts -and conditions of men' spread during his life to America and Europe. A man of. wide read ing and knowledge; a friend of the arts, and a keen student. of humaninature, he moved for years; in this community as -av privileged personality. Men who had no love i for his Church liked him as a man, and smiled with pleasure when they met him in many walks of life. Musicians and artists'treated him as of 'the elect,' and his wonderful management of the early stages of Miss Amy Castle's career secured for him a special place in Australian musical history. In the eastern suburbs he was .every man's friend ; and none remain to think an unkind thought of . him." Father Robinson's crowning work is the Church of Our Lady of Victories, oamherwell, on which he spent over £30,000. It was opened last October, in the presence of 100,000 people, a gem of architecture, and one of the most beautiful churches in the world. It is on a commanding site in Camberwell, and a massive gilded statue of Our Lady of Victories on the dome is a conspicuous object for many miles around. With one exception, the Hierarchy of Australia were present at the dedication ceremony, and the Pope, through Cardinal Gasparri, sent his Apostolic Blessing. Father Robinson's appeal to the people of Australia for subscriptions to the church was readily responded to, and he was able to open it free of debt. It will stand as an enduring monument of his devotion to the Blessed Virgin.