Personalities.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 401, 14 January 1904, Page 2

Personalities.

LORD YOUNG THE OLDEST JUDGE, j YoungV, who in the oldest Wfl£r occupahfc of the judicial Bench agiJt "»the United Kingdom, is prond Dumfries conferred upon him. He waß the author of thelScotch Education Act, end he is one of the very few men now living who enjoyed the hospitality of Bturna'a widow—'he ''had got cups of tea from ; her, and bread-and jam from her, »nd many kind words from her '-—and he was aa well acquainted as a boy could be* with Dfi Maxwell, who. attended. Bonis till hieYdeatfc Young first {saw Carlyle in his father's house. ''Take my word for it/ bis father (told when introv ! dueing his' bob, *ttiis Mr Carlyle will become a great man in this country.' He was impressed by Carlyle*a head, and not long ago he said in company that itvwas like a great block of stone hewn out of ,:a quarry, evoking the remark from a witty young lady— * Well, you know, his father was a stonemason. It shows me, says Lord Young, how unfortunate figurative language may ■ be.','

MB. 'WILLIE' BEDMOND. The gifted Irishman, Mr. Wm. Bedmond, who has figured prominently in the discussion on the Irish Land Bill, is the' chartered interrupter' of the Commons. He throws his repartees ofl with a coolness equalled by nobody in Parliament. Mr Ssdmond himself has not escaped' joker, however, Wh«B Qaeeh Victoiia was in r Dublin, he was one 'of tha Nationalist band who i«- : veigbed againsfc-aay official reception tto the • limine %aeen,' One night soajp unknown persoas, justifiably suspecfe&'ib: be Trinity College students; vißit?d Mt E dmond's front door, and decorated ,; 'it with an enormous Union Jack, executed in the most enduring of oil paints. Next day all Dublin wore a broad smile,, crowds visited the member for Ea*t Clarets bonse. and if nobody was arrested it was because the Dublin police can appreciate a joke fully as much as the ratepayers who support them.

THE DUKE OP EUTLAND. The most ißtereatrag survival of older and historical political days is the Duke of Batland, who is now eighty-five years of age. Few men have ever been'so blessed with all the outward and inward gifts of perennial youth,, Even to thie day he has a splendid head of. beautiful silver hair, a figure as slight and as agile as though he were a young Guardsman of nineteen, and a brisk step. It is hard to realise that be was one of the young men whom Disraeli gathered round him in the day when he also was no better than a straggling youngster, weighed down with debt, with disappointed ambition, and by all the violent prejudice that then pursued the mam of Jewish race. To those who have studied the times, it is known that there was a moment in Load Beaconsfield's career when the present Duke of Butland—Lord John ,• of that day—was the man who rendered service which cannot be rewarded.

CANADA'S LEADEES, Lord Minto, the Govesnor-Gansral of Oanada, is one of the most prominent figures in the Bervice of the State. An enthusiastic sportsman, he esjoys the unrivalled, hunting, fishing, and shooting in the Dominion. He learnt many of the delights of Canadian sport ia 1885 when Chief of Staff in the campaign of the Canadian North-West Babellion. The present Governor-General has * most distinguished list of ancestors in the office. Prominent among these is the third baronet, Sir Gilbert Elliot, who was a statesman, a philosopher, and a poet, and who had no easy task in his State work in the days of George 111. Lady Minto is a sister of Lord Grey, of South, African fame, and thus there is a bond of sympathy between the two great Colonies. She has made the social side of the Governor. General's position a great success, and in the present relatione of the Mother Country and the self-governing Colonies this side is one of the most important. Sir Wilfrid Laurier is perhaps the most powerful man in Canada to-day. He is charming, courtly, dignified, full of animation, a delightful French variant upon the monotonously British characteristics of our kin beyond the seas. Speaking Esglish with the faintest of accents, he manages to make even this add charm to his conversation, so that those,who talk with him prefer his English to their own. To him Canada owes the declaration that she is a nation and) capable of deciding her affairs for herself." And Sir Wilfrid Laurier has done much to make this even truer than it was six years ago when he proclaimed the fact to the world. His impressive presence, his eloquent tongue, and his charm of manner have enabled him to win and to hold the place he now occupies.

LORD MEATS. It has been said of lord Heath that he would like to pull London down to make an open space. His Lordship is now searching for ways and means : to raise our national physique and vigour to their former standard, and he and his Countess are one ha all kinds of philanthropy. Lady Meath was mainly instrumental in starting a home for workhouse girls in Dublin, and she founded also a ward in the English hospital at Jerusalem, where Ehe.had been nursed through a severe illness. Besides the Earl's well-known work in connection with the Metropolitan Public Gardeos Association (which he founded in 1882), he started the now popular Lads' Drilling Association, and has presided over many bodies devoted to benevolent aires. His latest effort to lighten the lives of the youngsters is his peaceful agitation for tlie observance of an annual ' Empire Day' in the schools of our Colonies,

PREMIER BAEON OF IRELAND. Lord Kingsale, Premier Baron .of Ireland, is forty-eight. With Lord Foreßter he shares the privilege of wearing his hat in the Sovereign's presence. In the reign of William 111. the Lord Kingaale of the day appeared before the King with his hat on in virtue of the ancient.prerogative of his house. On the taciturn Monarch expressing surprise', the Baron thus stood up for his rights •« ' Sire, 'iny name iB.,JDe Courcy, I am Lord of Kiagsale in your Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland, -and the .reason of my remaining covered in your presence is to assert the ancient privilege of my family grafted to Sir Jobs ,ae Courcy, Earl of tester, and his heirs, by King John.' The King acknowledged the privilege* and gave his hand to Lord' Kingaale, who kissed it; obdurately, remaining covered, however. The present Peer is a good sportsman, a capital shot, and an all-round ' handy man,* having a great turn tor mechanics in particular. Ha married his cousin, also a Da Couroy, and has an only son. who this year attains his majority. ' *3jAHs

When is a man sot a man P—When ha turns into a lane. What month of the year is tltfh grandest P~ August,

Uncle (on visit): * Come along, Effie: you're not afraid of me, are you P' Effia: 'Oh, dear, nojvnpt a bit, I patted an elephant yesterday at the Zoo P Visitor: So you can count up,to eight, Johnny P: Don't; you know what cornea after eight?' - •-• ■■

Johnny: 'Yes, sir; nursie to pat me to bedJM-<■'' ■«<•: 5 __ ■

Schoolmistress (just beginning (a nice improving lesson upon minerals to the juniore): ' Now, what are the principal things we get out o? the earth P i Toothful Angler aged four (confidently) : f 'Worms.' ••-,*.

•My wife and I always settle our differs sens by arbitration.' fi •Who is the,arbitrator.?.'. - .....,., •My wife.' '". ,v ''"' ■■" "

< Yon know, George/ she was explaining to him,, '1 was brought up,, without any dare.' ' , ; '"' '/) :'?.; 1 • v

'Marry me,my darling, said George, ' and you shall have nothing but care.*' ',

Minister (to one of his members, al venerable old gardener): ,' You have reached a great age, John,' { John: ,v J>eodihft'el,4Bir, for ginJEleeve 'till the eleventh o' next month I'll be an botageranium.' :).; -' .«:''! .f'C;

Mrs Hansom: 'I can't imagine how puch a horribly homely man asi Mr Piiggins ever pot a wife.' ' ' Mr Hansom: 'He used to work at Silk and Co.'s, and possibly he forget .himself and sat down on the bargain counter.* ;,,■

Philosopher: ' People* talk-about the wise provisions,:<of nature, and yet no sooner does man become a brain worker than he loses his teeth.' </, ' ' r r His' Wife: 'Goodness met 'Nature knows that when paople begiiiito use their brains they will have sense enough to go to the dentist's.' '•■• *" x - ■■ ■ -■■

Pedlar j ~» I have a niOßfc valuably book tosell, madam j it"tells bha. how to do anything.' - . •■'' ■ • Lady (■ftsoaßtioaJly): , TVDoßS4titell one how to get rid of a pestering pedlar ' Padhw(pwmpay) s M ',Oh! yes ? bay BomethinglKimU»«/ u u , >