Personalities

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 411, 31 March 1904, Page 7

Personalities

DBEAMS THA.T CAME TBUE. IfiPEHE faculty of arousing tears is ?M7lg rather rare among our actors and actretaea, but in certain pieces Mrs Kendal aid poor TSJflliam Terries could unman the most mundane and matter of fact audience. Teniae's moßt signal triumph is this respect was achieved a few weeks before his tragic death, when his superb impersonation of 'William' in Douglas Jarrold's Blaok-eyed Susan nightly melted the entire house to tears. It was not that he was a superlative actor, for he had many defects, but somehow, he stepped into this particular part as if he had been made for it Cue started life in the navy), and his handsome, manly face, bis cheery voice, and genial, sailor-like simplicity, carried all before them, Those who c*me to scoff remained to cry, and I remember seeing a 'smart' young lady who had boasted to me that nothing on the stage ever could or would move her to tears, leave the theatre a veritable Niobe! Apropos of Terriss's death, a friend of mine, a lady, saw the whole saene enacted a day or two before the murder, though she had never seen f erriss either on or off the stage. All the surroundings were exactly those of the tragedy; the passage, the flaring light, the man advancing in the cloak, and the second man suddenly stepping forward and stabbing him. She told her family of the dream when she came down to breakfast, so deeply had it impressed her, and a morning or two afterwards, on taking up the paper, she read the account o£ Terriss's murder. The only parallel that I know to this dream was that of the Cornish gentleman who saw in a similar way, with the minutest details, the assasination of Spencer Perceval a day or two before it occurred, though he had never set eyes on Mr Perceval, nor any portrait of him, but merely ksew him by repute as the Prime Minister of the day. —• Blackwood's Magazine.'

ELIGIBLE DUKES. The recent rumour of the marriage of a well known Duke with the young and handsome American girl has Bet English society talking of other eligible dukes and men of title. The Dake of Raxburghe is spoken of as probably the most desirable husband in Great Britain, not cnly for his 70.000 acres of Soottish estates, but for the fact that he is a great favourite with royalty. The Qaeen has always showß him the greatest friendship, and at bar wish he is a frequent guest on board the royal yacht. From a social point of view, as well s»s from a monetary one, perhaps the yonng Lord Howard de Waiden comes next as ' a good match.' Lord Howard de Waiden is enormously rich, and shows all the talent for soldiery and diplomacy of the fourth baron.

Although Lord Dalmeny, the son of Lord Rasebery, *s only twenty-one, his name has already been coupled with a pretty young debutante of this year. He is fond of dancing and the ordinary enjoyments that London life offers, and he is very popular among his friends. It is interesting to note that Scottish peers show the least inclination to matrimony. There are more bachelors among them at a later age than among men of English and Irish titles, although the latter are generally poorer. The Marquis of Bute is now the wealthiest unmarried young man in the kingdom. He avoids society, and prefers the solitude ot his great palaces in Scotland and the quiet tranquility of Palestine to all the best of English or Continental life.

The Duke of Leinster, who is premier duke, marquis and earl of Ireland, is still a minor, being only sixteen, and another infant Irish peer is Lord Caledon.

A TYNDALL STORT.

Some great men have a weakuess for what one might call stage effects, and sometimes it is obvious that the effects have entailed careful preparation before hand, in order to bring them off. But I know of very few instances where great men have been caught at their preparations. However, at one of the meetings of the British Association, I heard a story told in this, connection about the late Professor Tyndall, which, is well worth repeating. The scene of the story is laid in the lecture-room of the Royal Society on the morning ef the day for one of the Professor's lectures. On the morning in question a certain Mr. 8., who was engaged upon some chemical analysis, wanted to see Professor Tyndall about it; and knowing that, as he was lecturing that evening, he would probably find the professor engaged in arranging his experiments for .the evening, he went to the lecture-room to look for him. Professor Tyndall was not. preparing experiments when Mr. B. came in. He was engaged in vaulting on one hand backwards and forwards over the iron railing from behind ■ whloh the lecturer delivers his lecture. Mr B. was ratine surprised, but supposed j that Professor TyiidaU, being very hard worked, was glad io lake ar little-ssersise whenever, and in whatever way he could. Mr. B. happened to attend the lecture that evening. In the course of the lecture Professor Tyndall was reading from a note-book, which he rested on tne iron railings in front of him, when, apparently by accident, he let the book drop. Without a moment's hesitation the Professor placed one hand on the railing, lightly vaulted over, picked up the book, and then lightly vaulted back again. The audience greeted the performance with loud applause. Then Mr. B. understood that in the morning Professor Tyndall had been preparing to sustain the popular reputation as an athlete which he had acquired from his Alpine exploits, and was not merely snatching what exercise he could get during a rare few minutes' leisure.—B. Pain.