LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2854, 19 August 1916, Page 6

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

?An Old Acquaintance. In "Neafing.jJordaii," the third and ' concluding volume of Sir Henry Lucy's generally lively but, in places, rather verbose reminiscences,.there is a refer.-' once to a'gentleman once,well known in gubernatorial circles in New Zealand. Sir Henry had been visiting Lord Houghton when the latter- was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and records that ho took his office very seriously, and stage-managed the pomp and circumstance attending the important post with awe-inspiring results:— "Throughout the day, whether at homo or abroad, he inflexibly preserved the attitudo and manner imposed by his high estate. No one was more impressed by them than has,-aide-decamp. It was the established custom for guests to assemble in the. drawing-room punctually at. the hour for dinner. Presently the aide-dcicaiiip disappeared, promptly 'returned;, and, standing at tho open doorway; in awed' Voice, announced 'His Excellency!' Whereupon tho guests with'' one accord rose to their feet. The idea subtly conveyed' r,s that, strolling out by the door, Mr. Guise had unexpectedly come upon the Lord Lieutenant advancing towards the drawing-room.. Stricken by his majestic ;personality, fearful if it blazed.'unannounced upon tho company they, would,faint, he, with great presence of mind.; nulled himself together, and 1 at full speed: returned just in timo to avoid catastrophe." A Bishop's Recollections. One does, not usually look for humor ■ ous stories in-the autobiography or rem-* inisoeaces of a bishop, but the late Bishop of Bristol, the Right. Rex..G. P. Browne, whose "Recollections" havo just been published, appears to have been a many-sided man, with a very large strain of ordinary human nature—and sense of humour—in his mental make-up. A forkshireman, hewa's naturally.fond, of' horses. He tells with evident glee how, when secretary to the Cambridgo University Commission (many years after he had been ordained), he went to Epsom to see Bend Or win tho Derby.

(Reviews of several novelslaro held over: until next week.).