In the Public Eye

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 24

In the Public Eye

SOME POINTS OF NOTABLE PERSONAGES '

Only those who are brought constantly into contact with the, King are aware that he has recently taken to wearing glasses for reading and writing. , Thjs is, however, purely a precautionary measure, and His Majesty retains much of that keenness of eyesight that has always characterised ■ him. This much ho has demonstrated conclusively by his prowess in the shooting field wber., as the guest of the Earl of Ivcagh at Elveden, he grassed his birds with unfailing .regularity. He was advised by his physicians a couple of years ago, however, not to impose any undue strain upon his eyes, and has followed this advice ever since. He has only once been seen wearing glasses in public, however, and is still very diffident of being seen in them.

Ono of the world's best known explorers is Sir Harry Johnson. At the age of twenty-one Sir Harry wandered out to Africa to paint, and soon found it . was a land of adventure. The exploration fever gripped him, and he penetrated many unknown parts, having thrilling experiences with cannibals. He has burrowed into four hundred and fif-ty-three native languages! Sir Harry is a distinguished artist, and has also occupied many diplomatic posts. ■

Admiral Sir William Pakenliam, 'is one of the'"strong men" of the Navy. He^was at the Admiralty from 1911 to 1913. Ho is known to have very decided views as to the future organisation and administration of the Fleet, so that his return to headquarters is i likely to provoke "a certain liveliness1," to use a time-honoured expression.. :

President Obregon, of Mexico, was described by Dr. Dillion, in, his book as "a world reformer" also as perhaps the first concrete example of governance by morality irrespective of political controversies, party interests and ephemeral success, and for , that reason among others is well worth a careful study by those public bodies and private individuals throughout tho world who are interested in the spiritual advancement of mankind. That view of Alvaro Obregon scarcely harmonised with the picturo Blasco Ibanez, the Spanish \ novelist, drew of him. Ibanez found the hero of Celayo, who displaced Carranza as President in the- traditional Mexican fashion, a materialist and not especially concerned about the "spiritual advancement of mankind."

Sir 'William Vestey, Bart., managing director of the Union Cold Storage Company, Ltd., was awarded a peerage for a life service to the- production and preservation of food supplies by refrigeration. He has opened up numerous new sources of supply of refrigerated products from various parts of the world that have materially helped to cheapen the food supply of the people. He also rendered immenso service to the country during the war, states an English paper, and provided,.gratuitous- •'• , J . cold storage accommodation required -for war purposes 'at Har.ve, Boulogne and Dunkirk. He is head of the Slue Star Line, and has done much relief work for the poor, botli in Liverpool md London, and generously contributes ,o charities. . ■■■

Though he has passed his ninety-sec-Jnd year, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. is frequently the working day of Sir Bradford Leslie, the famous railway engineer. This grand -jld man of engineering is frequently in *he City of London, as he presides regularly at the board meetings' of the Southern Punjab Railway. "I am trying to iind time to write my reminiscences but I am too busy,"-said Sir Bradford'to a newspaper representative. He went on to recall many interesting things in a crowded life. Born ( in Portman-place, 3ir Bradford Leslie mentioned the days when Dickens and Thackeray were frequent visitors at the house of his father, .Jr. Charles Robert Leslie, R.A several jf whose pictures are in the National -•ollection. Educated at the Mercers' school. Sir B. Leslie was apprenticed in .847 to Brunei, who immediately recogaised the abilities of his pupil While vith Brunei, Sir Bradford, acting as his jinef s resident engineer, shared 'in the construction of railway bridges which lavo since been striking / landmarks, ihey were the days when' Brunei, inpecting the construction of the Great vVestern Railway, used to drive through, the countryside in a carriage drawn by iour horses, and quite content with sherry and sandwiches for refreshment >n the road. In these jaunts young Leslie shared. . . .

Mr Milton Hershey, the .American ■jnocolate millionaire has just given .vhat amounts to 60,000,000 dollars to ■us pet charity the Hershey Industrial School. The school founded by . and named for the chocolate king is an orphan asylum which was established in L 909 for boys between the ages of four and eight,, with certain other qualifications, and for the purpose of- teaching diem a trade or educating them to be farmers. Mr. Hershey and his father before him were born farmers and.though he made his millions in manufactories .md railroads he still has a soft spot for the land. Mr. Hershey is fond of boys, and anxious to help poor boys with the essentials of education, and is a disjehever in the benefits of great inherited .vealth—hence his rather unusual disposal jf Ins fortune despite the existence,of close relatives. However; he has not oeg'gared himself by his deed, as what he lias given is the income of the common stock of the Hershey , Chocolate Company, which is calculated at the luoted 60,000,000 dollars. Mr. Hershey s srxty-six years old. He began life is a farmer boy; who tried 'the cancly justness and failed.! Then by a natural .sequence he essayed the chocolate business and succeeded mira.culously

The Poet Laureate, Dr. Bridges, does ;;iot court popularity, and refuses to ■vrite verse to order. Dr. Robert Bridges is now. nearing 80. Few Poets Laureate have attained to such an age—save Tennyson and Wordsworth. Dr. Bridges is the first holder of the office able to •vrite M.B. and F.B.C.P. after bis name, as well as sundry LL.D.'s, or to be able to boast .of having stroked an Oxford College boat to the position of second on the river. Music has shared with medicine and poetry the chief places in Dr. Bridge's affection throughout las active life. ■ .

The facility of the ex-Royal German Family for causing trouble has been shown again in the case of the sons of the ex-Crown Prince. Princes William Frederick Franz and Louis Ferdinand ittend a public high school in Potsdam -md though both ex-princes are reported to be democratic and unassuming, such is their'brilliant record that-teach-ers nre accused of pandering to defunct royalty. Tlie- vow waxed to tho extent Unit one faculty member suggested tho boys be reduced to a lower rank l-Bgard-■'css of merit. The unfair proposal was over-ruled but the dilemma persists and Hie harassed principal..of (lie high school has offered to let, any properly accredited person examine tlie wurk u£ hia once exalted pupils,. '