Personalities.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 405, 11 February 1904, Page 7

Personalities.

MILLIONAIRES' DAUGHrEBS. fgipFTEEN daughters of millionaires' 5I&IE were fcile P r(mlnenfc feature of the jKsw production of a comic opera, ' The Flying Dutchman.' prosented in Philadelphia on A ',h May, before an audience of Philadelphia and New York society perple. Admittaiace /ras only by invitation. Moßt oE the wealthy young women were in the chorus, and, that harmony might prevail, the author gave each a chance to be a soloist to the extent of two lines. OSCAR 11. The appointment of a Regency to the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway means the retirement into private life of one of the most talented and charming Monarchs in Europe. Oaoar 11., who aas born on January 21st, 1839, is a man of striking personality, tall, upright, and distinguished, both in manner &ai appear- ' ance. His mental gifts have been.very; marked, and he is the author of several well-written volumes. He is also extremely musical, and in his youth possessed a voice that might, had not hiß career lain in other directions, have placed him among the celebrated singers of the century. ORGAN GRINDING EARL. 'Earl' Poulett, better known as Viscount Hinton, has again appeared in the London streets with his organ. 'Earl' Poule tis not now 'compelled' to grind the organ for a living' He is a member,of the staff of 'Pearson's Weekly,' and is just now working on behalf of the Fresh Air Fund. A large notice in front of the drgsn announced that all funds taken were to be given to that charity. The story of 'Earl' Poulott's claim to > the title is a strange one. In July, 1849, the sixth Earl, then Lieutenant William Henry Poulett, mar-, ried at the registry offiae at Portsea Miss, Elizabeth Lavinia Newman, daughter of a pilot of Landport. Six months later the present claimant was born, and was registered at Portsea under the name of William Tumour Thomas Poulett, but the lieutenant, who succeeded his cousin in 1861 to the earldom, denied that the boy washißson. Mrs Poulett died in 1871, i and the Earl was twice married afterwards the third marriage resulting in the birth of William John Lydston Poulett. This son, now nineteen years of age, holds the family estate at Hinton, St. George, in Somersetshire, the Lord Chief Justice deciding in his favour a year ago, when the organ grinder <slaimint sought to gain possession. The claim which is made to the title, and which is likely to coma before the House of Lords in the' njar future, is, of course, entirely separate and distinct from the dispute about the estates.

ENGLAND'S FiEST ACIESS3. In the theatrical performances of olden times woman's parts were invariably taken by men or boys, just as nowadays the principal boy in the pantomime is almost invariably a girl. Unless we believe the tale that Anne, wife of James I, took a female part in a play produced at the Court Theatre before the King, we can fiad no record of a woman appearing on the stage of England until 1660. The character represented by this intrepid woman was Dasderaona, bnt her own name' has not baen preserved, and it is believed that she was a foreigner. The first English actrees was a Mrs dolman, who appeared as lanthe in Divaliant's ' Siege of Rhodes ' in 1666 Charles 11. is credited with having encouraged the appearance of womi n on the stajje, and it certainly seems very probable that he did so, A VERSATILE DUCHEB3. Taa Dtuheas of Sutherland keeps up the reputation that-the Duchesses of Sutherland have always had for being women of great beauty, intelligence, and high breeding. Her Grraco is vary younglooking, but is a noted hostess, and some time ago entertained the King and Queen at Danrobin, one of the duke's estates.