Personalities.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 412, 7 April 1904, Page 7

Personalities.

ffKRHE Date of Northumberland ia the |»7\B" only man in England who oonld QKt* leave his oWu door and tide 100 i, " miles in. a straight'line on his own land. The Duke has five magnificent houses. One 6t them, Albnry Pa*k, which is one of the most beautiful eßtateß in the Home counties,' is situated msu Guildford. It came into the family through the late Duchess of NortnumW land, who inherited it from her father, Mr Henry Drummond. It possesses an Irvmgite chmcb, almost a cathedral in B i ie * aQ bßanty, which was built entirely at Mr Drummond's expense. He also built a fine church for the parish. He it was, too. who entirely pulled down the village of Albury, whioh was originally within the paik, and rebuilt it farther to the north.

Miss Teresa del Beigo, the composer of Oh Dry Those Teare,' is still quite a girl, and has made her mark young, She is partly Spanish, and has dark eyes and hair. She sold her first aong for twelve guineas—a circumstance which she al ways regrets; but she makes good bargams now-a-days, and must make a handsome income by the royalties on her songs. Her success was instantaneous, but her gift of melody is something exceptional, Many celebrated contraltos have Bung the song referred to, and it has been most beautifully set for one of the great Hungarian bands.

An inmate of an Armenian convent has recently died after being there ninetyeight years without once going outside the convent walls. Her recorded age was 115 years.

Mr J. M Burr is has a great dislike to society, and has never taken kindly to the feting which falls to the share of a popular anthor. There is a legend to the effect that a hostess once invited him to her bouse without telling him that a certain Eoyal Princess was to be of the party, Her Eoyal Highness having expressed a wish to meet the author of ■ The Little > Minister. Knowing Mr Barrie's disposition, the hostess did not acquaint him with the fact that the Princess was to dine that evening until half an hour before the time she was expected. Bat Mr Barrie was even with the lady. He went to bed and sent down word that he was ill, though indisposed would probably have fitted the case to a T.

Mr Barrie's wife is as pretty as any heroine described in a novel. She is petite, with- wavy hair, a beautiful complexion, and bright blue eyes. She used to be called the ' pocket Mary Anderson' wbeH she waß a girl, on account of her likenesa to the celebrated actress. Miss Mary Anseil was on the stage when she fiiet met Mr Barrie, She called on him with reference to a part she was to play in ' Walker, London,' and the author fell in love with her at first sight. Miss Aneell was very charming on the stage, but she left it when she married, and has never returned to it.

Mr Percy Anderson is probably the only'person in London who can sit under his own fig-tree, A fig-tree grew in front of his house, and he has built his studio round it, and trained it up the wall. He says there need to be a row of fig-trees in front of the terrace in which he livee, in early Victorian days.oc ev»n before. Hi 3 houße is in York Terrace, Regent's Park, which is one of the old-world places which belong to the Crown.

HOW THE KING VISITS HIS FRIENDS.

Although King Edward dispenses with as much pomp a&d circumstance as is possible when he is honouring any of his subjects with a country-house visit, certain special arrangements have, of course, to be made for his reception on euch occasions. The successful carrying oat of these details, as may ba imagined, causes a good deal of anxiety on the part of the host and hostess concerned. For example, the servants have to be carefully trained in the niceties of Court etiquette, while the rooms set apart for the accommodation of the illustrious guest have to be refurnished throughout, It is important, too, that such rooms* should be in a position to ensure a certain amount of privacy for their distinguished occupants. On tbis account the suite in question is usually contained in a separate wing altogether, and is capable of being entered and left without passing through corridors used by ordinary members of the house-party. The house-party has'to be most carefully chosen, for on its composition depends in great measure the Buccess of the Boyal visit. With a view to ensuring that everyone's presence shall be thoroughly acceptable, a list of those it is proposed to invite is first submitted to His Majesty's private secretary- This official, Lord Knollya, goes through it very carefully, and then returns it with the intimation either that it may stand or that it must be altered in certain particulars. It very seldom happens thit any alteration is necessary, however, as the list is usually confined to those who are the King's personal friends. The careful host and hosteas always make a p)> lof I including among their guests on U.? occasions several who have a talent for amatenr theatricals, singing, or playing. Invitations are also extended to men who can give a good account of themselves both at the covert side and the ' bridge' table.