Personalities

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 426, 9 June 1904, Page 7

Personalities

LORD RATHMORE, •SF&ipS lordship, who has been oeleqfjflfp brating hia sixty-fifth birthday, IBeSK " the third son of the third Baron Plnnket. His own barony was conferred upon him eight years ago in recognition of long and valuable service to hia native Ireland, which he served in tbe capacity of Law Adviser to the Governor and Solictor-General, as well as acting as Professor of Law at King's College, Dublin. He sat in the House of Commons as member for Dublin University for a quarter of a century, and his removal to the Upper House was greatly regretted bj his old confreres. Among many interesting experiences which Lord Bathmore recalls is a dinner party at which he sat next to 'Ouida.' Fer some reason or other, conversation did not exactly flourish. 'l'm afraid I am unfortunate in my choice of topics,' he said at last. 'ls there anything we could talk about that would interest you P* 'There is one thing that would interest me very much,' replied the novelist; «tell me about the duchesses, I have written about them all my life, and never met one yet.' MR. SWINBURNE. The distinguished poet is a slight and dapper figure, and is passionately fond of walking as a morning constitutional. In wide-awake and cutaway coat, without stick, umbrella, or gloves, he used to breast Wimbledon Common hill almost daily. His step is quick and jerky, and he picks his way daintily, though ever and anon he breaks at headlong speed, plunging, maybe into the maze of gorss, and leaving all beaten paths behind. One of the great passions of Mr Swinburne's life is the eea. He never cares to be very long away from the sound of the waves, and he is devoted to the joys of swimming. The Channel Islands and the South Coast know him well, but the major portion of his time is spent at Wimbledon, where he and his lifelong friend, Theodore Watts-Danton, live together. Mr Swinburne has many eccentricities, not the least of which is his habit of rewarding a hansom cabby with a shilling whatever the distance. Often rash Jehus have sworn at the poet, to be met by a torrent of fiery wrath which has sent them flying in terror, ADMIRAL BEDFORD. The son of a Vice-Admual, the breezy Admiral Sii Frederick George Dennam Bedford, G.C.8., is five-and-sixty "years old. At fourteen he entered the Royal Navy and,in the Russian War he served in the Black Sea, and won the first of his many medals at' the bombardment of Sabastopol. He commanded the Serap'a. when King Edward visited India in 1875 6 and was specially promoted; he captained the Shah: when she fought her famous > fight with.the Huaacar; he went up the Nile, organised an armed flotilla, and earned the thanks of the Admiralty therefor; he became a Naval Lord of the Admiralty, and he has been Commander-in-Chief on mora than one station. He is now a popular Governor of Western Australia, and both there and at home is known as k good sailor and a good fellow. He has been Captain of the Royal Naval College; and he is known the world over as the author of 'The Sailor's Pocket Book.' i , . :.;: . . DR.- PENTECOST. A notable preacher is Dr. Pentecost. His name originated as a sobriquet, having been given to a young Bohemian who when travelling through France was converted by the Huguenots. Dr. Peßtecost has also Jewish blood through his maternal grandmother, a cultured Jewess, whom Mr George Flower had married. Through these Flowers he is related, not only to one of thes group of men who gathered round Priestly at Birmingham, but also to Mrs Sarah Flower Adams, who wrote, ' Nearer, my God, to Thee,' and to Sir William Flower, head of the South Kensington Museum. Bom sixty years ago, in Illinois, the lad; through the failure of his father, had a rough life as a labourer on the high road.-, wood chopper is the forests, and hotel servant. At nineteen ho became deputy-cleik of the United States Supreme Court at Kansas, studied law, then entered a theological training college, enlisted for the Civil War, resumed his profession of the law, and at length became a Baptist minister. His journeys between the two countries have been like the shuttle of a weaver's loom—joining England and America close together. EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH. The Emperor Franoiß Joseph, to whom Lord Methuen, on behalf of King Edward, has presented the insignia of a British field-marshal, possesses all the fine courage of his race, though he will be known to history more aa a statesman than as a soldier Sovereign like, for example, William' I. of Prussia, The latter always went forth to fight at the head of his troops, both at Koniggratz and Sedan, -but though his fellow Scvereign at Vienna has been a spectator of some action in the field, he never assumed the command of his armies When a youth of only nineteen, after having been but a year on the throne, he was present at the capture of Riab, in Hungary, which had refused to recognise his right to rule; while again in 1859 he gave proof of cool bravery as an eyewitness of Solferino. But seven years later, when King William took the field against him, he was content to remain at Vienna and allow Marshal Benedek to command the army which incurred such a terrible defeat at Koniggratz—or Sadowa,' as the Auatrians call the battle. Since then Austria has had no campaign of the first order, and her ruler has beets engrossed with the cares of statesmanship.

THE CTJNTNGHAMS. ' Sir Williajn - Stewart Dick-Canyngham Bait, of Pfjestonaeldi-who is to marry Miss Evelya I?raaei£ was b?rn ia 1871, and succeeded his father as tenth baronet in 1897. He-is captain in the B'ack Watch, and served in South Africa, where his gallant" ancle, Colonel Diek-Cimyng-ham, V.C , 'fell s© ingloriously while assisting in the defence of Lidysmith. Sir William's father was also a brave soldier, who" served with distinction throughout the Indian Mutiny and was present at the siege of Lucknow, for which he reserved the medal and clasp. The DickCunynghama are descended from that Captain John Dick who commanded the Royal vessel in whioh James VI. of Scotland sailed to Denmark in order to espouse 'Princess Anne, Sir James Dick, r who was created a baronet in 1677, left only a daughter, who married Sir William Canyngham, Bart, who coajoined the names, and whose son inherited both baronetcies under special remainder. There is also a Cunynghame baronetoy, no'w held by Sir Percy Cunynghame. its tenth representative, who is on the stall of Bajah Broeke of Sarawak. He is in no way related to the Dick-Ounyngfcaaas, being descended from Sir David Cunynghame, first baronet of Milncraig, a dis» tinguished lawyer, an eloquent member of the Scottish Parliament, and the ftiend and coadjator of Fletcher of, Sjilfcoua..