Personalities.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 369, 4 June 1903, Page 7

Personalities.

A STOET ,OF AECHIBALD FORBES

•fPRHE 'Pall Mall Magazine' re-tells bKWJj the story of Archibald Forbes and ?2Kb» the Sehipka Pass in the Rubsoe*i *y Turkish War of 1877 IGeneral ■ wtfMO bad crossed the Balkaae and entered Eoumelia in July. The Turks drove >him back in A ugußt, when he re.treated to the Schipka passes, and there Kadetzky came to his aid. Suleiman Pasha flung his whole army against them, and from 20th till 27 August the attack continued. During all this week Europe was without news. The fate of the Russian army and of the whole war hung doubtful. Forbes was at Tirneva, some forty miles away. Tired of waiting for despatches that ought to have reached him and did; not, he set out for the Schipka Pass to see for himself what was going on. The Russian outposts told him that nobody had got through or could get through, Bince the pass was completely enveloped by Sulieman's troops, and advised him to turn back. But. that, was 'not what Forbes had come for. He went on, slipped through the Turkish lines at night, and made his way to the Russian headquarters. He found Gourkb hard' pressed, but folding his own. He stayed on in the trenches till he had satisfied himself—and Forbes had a soldier's eye for a battle or a siege—that the strength of the Turkish attack had spent itself; then set his race once more northward.

/'The rumour. of his going had spread ; and near Tirnova, where the Czar bad his headquarters, Forbes was stopped. ' They tell me,' said the Czar, 'that you have been to Schipka, and bring news of Gourko.'

* Yes, your' Majesty.' ' Bat I have sent within the last four days seven j aides-de-camp, not one of "whom has got through—and the Czar proceeded to put questions which showed him sceptical about this present performance. Forbes soon convinced him. He drew a plan of the pass and of Gourko's defences; described exactly the distribution of his forces, gave a minute account of the Turkish assaults, and of the whole military situation as he had left it with; the assurance that, in his judgment, the pass could be forced. The Czar detained him . some hours under examination, thanked him, complimented him on his daring and skill, and let him go. Crossing the Danube at Rnstchuk, he rrde on to Bucharest, the first point from which'a long telegram to London could be surely despatched nearly a hundred miles distant from Tirnova, He arrived at eight "o'clock in the evening. He had been three days and nights either in the saddle or in the Shoipka trenches under fire; without sleep, often without food. 'I was dead tired/ said Forbes, from whose lips, I heard this'story, 'not a word of my despatch was written, and I had news for which I knew the world was waiting—news on which the fate of an empire and the fortunes of half Europe depended. And it was as much as I could do to keep my eyes cp n, or sit up in the chair into which I had dropped.' 'What did you do P' : 'I told the waiter,' answered Forbes,

•■to-bring me'a pint of dry champagne, unopened. I took the cork out, put the neck of the bottle into my mouth, drank it with all the fizz, sat up, and wrote the four columns you read next morning in the * Daily News.'

DISTINGUISHED FAILURES. It is not always the most successful student who makes the greatest name for himself in after years. Some time ago, after the prizes bad been conferred on the successful students at the Paris Conservatoire, | a writer published these aneccfotea of distinguished failures. Berliaz, for instance, was actually dismissed from the Conservatoire as a bad pupil, Yet Berliez has been the greatest master of the scieuce of music that Fiance has ever produced. i M; Saint Saens wes another disgraced Ipupll.? lncuired the displeasure of the Direefcor-in-Chief, Auber, and was struck oft the list of candidates for the Prix de Rome. M Saint-Saens took an amusing revenge Sme time afterwards there was an open competition for the best setticg of a musical work on the subject of 'Prometheus Bound.' Auber was judge. M. Saint-Siens, sent in his score under an assumed name, and was easily awarded fiest prize. Auber 'nearly went mad with rage when he discovered the truth, but it was tod late to do anything, -"?'Still*/third failure, and in this case, may be,'it was to be expected, was tbe famous Baron Hanssman. In 1825 he .was a student of. the violoncello at the Conservatoire, but was told, to devote himself to I something for which he had greater aptitude;' Young Hanssman did, and entering the public service, soon after began improving •; Paris : by widening .streets,.laying out boulevards and parks, building sewers, barracks, etc.; in fact, he made Paris the fine city it now is, and for his iseiv ces waa made a baron and a s^atolr.*

■ Vmk SAINT OF BAVAS.IA. s - Princess Ludwig of Bavaria, !?ho is commonly known as the 'Saint of Bavaria,, recently sent the King of Spain a poem which had been composed for him. ■ It was in praise of Queen Marie Christina, and is said to have been inspired by the King himself, as it-well may have been, for he is a most devoted son. Certainly Her MejeHy is worthy of Alfonso's filial devotion, for she has given up the beßt years of her life to training him that he might be worthy of the high office te .which he was born. \

TIT FOR TAT. It is reported of the Crown Prince of Germany that, whilst visiting Alsace not long ago, he waa out driving, and waa met biy two ladies, who, after presenting h ; m with some flowers, tried to snapshot him. The Prince, seeing this, produced his own Kodak, and took the ladies' portraits; then, removing his hat with a smile and a laugh, 'Now, if you please, it is my turn,' thereby rendering his fair pursuers grateful for ever by allowing them to photograph their Crown Prince under such favourable conditions. His Imperial Highness is a great favourito with all who know him. His manners are easy and frank, and, so one hears, more like his English than his German relatives.

POSTCARDS AND ROYALTY

IHs an extraordinary thing how bitten Society is becoming with the postcard mania. Nearly all the younger generation of Eoyalty have started collecting picture postcards, King. Edward fostering this hobby by despatching foreign ones to his grandchildren when he travels on the Continent.; ' -■',-;,■ .;-..:* ; The Prince of Wales has not yet been attacked by this craze, but perhaps that is because his 'energies ; ' "are f absorbed in making additions to his stamp collection, which is one of the finest« the world.---•