Personalities

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 428, 28 July 1904, Page 3

Personalities

[ KUBELIK'S MUSIC* FAILED. •f(P§£HE approaching marriage of Jan l*fl§ Kabelik, the violinist, to the Vv Countess Marianne Csaky, recalls an incident in his career which he told to a well-known impresario not long ago. ' ' I was asked to play before the inmates of an insane asylum by a physician,' said Kubehk, • the doctor believing that music was a fine medicine for unbalanced minds. I accordingly accompanied him to the institution, where he introduced me, and saii I would favour my hearers with something light and bright. • I hadn't intended to do this, out reilowiug his suggestion, I played a brilliant Slav composition, which I hoped would be joyous enough. The audience were all seated about the platform in chairs, and seemed to be intensely interested. Aa I finished, a very pretty young woman rose and beckoned to me, I thought, artistlike, that she wanted an encore, aad so said to the doctor: < • • Ask her what she desires,' . He rose to his feet and was abaufcte question her. when she exclaimed: 'To think of the likes of me being in here and he being at large in the world!' • That was the last time I ever played in an insane asylum.*

A HARD-WOKKED MONA.SCH. The King of Italy, who is shortly to pay a visitt to England, has the reputation for being a very hard-working monarch. He devotes himself entirely to the interests of his people, and is exceedingly popular. Perhaps the hardest day's work he ever did was one day last June, on the occasion of- the first birthday of his little daughter. The day was celebrated as a actional holidaj. Prom haU-pnab seven till half-past ten in the morning the King was present at a review, and as the ' weather was extremely-hot, this task alote would have been quite sufficient for most men for one day. At eleven o'olook, however, the King was present with the Queen at a reception at the Qairinal, at which the Kin? stood for two hoars. Then he harrkd off to lunch, and immediately afterwards attended a meeting of the Lincei Society, the most learned society in'ltaly. At five o'olook the King presented medals to the winners of aa international shooting match. In the evening there was a State dinner, followed ;by a dispjay of fireworks. At the close of 3he day the King drove through the orowded streets to be seen by devoted subjects. It Is seldom, of course, that the King gets quite snoh a full day as this, but his daily duties are quite as arduous as those of thousands of his humblest subjects. In the matter of hard work even the Kaiser could hardly surpass him*

THE GEEA.TEST MAN. It would be interesting to have the opinions of a hundred eminent men of our time as to the one man who, in all the world's history, towers above all others. Mr Gladstone thought, as probably the majority of people think, that Shakspeare had the distinction, and he' placed the pcet in company with two others aa the world's greatest trio of men. He was not prepared to qualify his sweeping statement, but declared that 'undoubtedly' the greatest men who ever lived were Homer, Dante, and Shakspeare. 'Homer created a people, a language, and a religion. Dante created a people and a language, but not a religion. Shshsoearo did not create any of the three, but t am inclined to think that his reputation will inorease, and that in another century he may be universally acknowledged to ba the greatest man who ever lived.'

WHEN MARCONI WAS A BOY. Much has been written and said concerning great men who were dunces in their youth, and it appears that Signoi Marconi must join the ranks of those who showed no signs of exceptional ability in early days. Tbe schoolmistress who taught Marconi at Florence in his youth, Signora Lniaa Cavallerio, how seventy-foar years old, expresses unbounded astonishment at the genius he has developed. «Who would have thought,' she sajs, 'that the little Englishman, a3 we used to call him because of his alight figure and sedate manner, would .have tamed out a genuuP He always wasauodelof good behaviour, bnt as to his brain—well, the least said, the soonest mended. ' ; «I am afraid he got» m*ny severe smackings, bat he took them like aa angel. At that time he, never could, learn anything .by, heart... It was impossible, I used to think. I had never' seen" a child with so defective a memory.'

WANTED HIS REFERENCES. Mr Pett Ridge tells an experience of a literary frien.d7"who went t6 the country in order to Jake on a\farin.~M£e sat? the farmer and conducted the preJiminary negotiations.-with perfect satisfaction to both Bides presently he asked: "'* WoUld you like dome references t ' ' No, no,' said the farm«, genially, * Ton are .a gentlemanj I can see ..straightforwardneßS,;written 'across :; ?your -_faofi; .-Dona bother about the references."" I expect yo e want to get back to your buainebß Jn th city,'" -Thn friend mentioned thatrb* had no business in the city. 'Oh, then,' said..,, thd farmer, 'I-supposa you have busimesr outside the city.', h.* No,' he- replied j 'I am an author.' ' What !* oried the farmer, * not an author that writes books P' Yes, he admitted that.he had written books. A look of doabt crept over the honest farmer's fabe. •Well,. well,' he said, ?to tarn back to the business we ware talking about. I think, after all, mister, I'll have to trouble you fpr a coupleof them 1 tefetenoeß.' • ■•■■••"

..... , V'i BEBfaa^Bjr.;.Tie last piano ever used'by Baethovan is now housed in the jfteat composer's Dirttiplaoeaf Bonn amongst other precious memorials. The piano was made expressly to suit B aetho van's doa?naaß by the .Viennese Court manufacturer Graff, and has four strings to each key, and produced such strong tones that it was used till the time of B jet no yen's death.

LADYLIWYSB. .. 3 . The first lady lawyer to appear in ft Swiss law court is Mile. Mtekenroth, who • recently acted for the defendant in j* case at the Assiaa Court at Zarioh. Her eloquent defence on behalf of her client * •■- surprised even the judge, and the jury "t without retiring found for the defendant, the lady lawyer being warmly congratulated by her fellow counsel oa leaving tho court. \ 5,t , , 1 ' •? '. ;", A TELEGRAM FROM HIS MAJESTY.,? t . When the King sends a private telegraphic message all other messages must be stoppefl till his luw bean transmitted. Very of ken':, a- pilot message is sent-on beforehand to clear the wires. Generally • a private cipher code is used, bo that the „ message cah'l)e oorreotly read only by the person to whom it is addressed* H.§ Majesty does not pay for telegrams .at the time of sending, but at stated intervals the account foe such messages is rendered by the Post Office, and promptly settled.