M. A. P. (Mostly About People.)

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2086, 11 January 1908, Page 8 (Supplement)

M. A. P. (Mostly About People.)

There is n-o more ardent disciple of the simple life than General Booilli, whose health lias boon causing so much anxiety of late, lie neither smokes nor drinks, and lor several years he has been practically. a vegetarian, not us. a matter of principle, hut because ho finds that it suits him. Ho always, if possible, takes a short rest after midday dinner, hut apart from this siesta lilie old General is constantly at work from eight in the morning till about eleven '.it night. While, however, ho lives a life of Spartan simplicity, ilie General devotes a certain amount ol attention to personal details, which would surprise some. He is careful that his dollies are dry, and that he dees not stand in a draught while speaking at his meetings. An assistant has travelled with him for many years, who sees to it that when the General goes on the platlorm the conditions are right in all respects. General Booth has doomed oy experience .tlliat it is little trials and nerve strains that take more out of him than the big efforts. Id is not generally known that, with the exception of the King, the Lord Alayor of London is the only person in the realm who is privileged to visit the Tower at any hour ol the d.iy or night. Outsido tho City boundaries tile Lord Alayor ranks as ail Earl and takes precedence as such, but inside he takes precedence over all mankind, save and except his Sovereign. Ho is also a judgo, and is included in the Iloyal Commissions. At the Coronation of a King' or Queen it is the Lord Alayor who has to act -as chief butler, a not very arduous office, and one which is amply rewarded by the exceedingly handsome cup of wrought gold which constitutes his private and personal perquisite. Behind the Lord Alayor’s cliair at State banquets there stands an official in sporting costume, anil wearing on liis head a jockey’s cap. None other in •England can command the attendance of this officer. He is the “common limit,” a relic of tho old privilege of the citizens of London, granted to them by Henry 1., to hunt Aliddlesex and Surrey, and as far away as the Ohiitoni ili)ls.

Herr Harden, who has been convicted in the Berlin libel case, has crowded many extraordinary incidents into his i'ortv-six years of life. Domestic troubles parted his mother and father, the latter being a wealthy merchant. Voting Harden loved his mother and ran away front his lather, who caused him to- he brought- hack by the police. In spite of this the boy rail away again on his fourteenth birthday,- tramped Severn! hundred miles to Berlin, and slej t many nights under hedges ami 1 ayricks and on the benches lit the Berlin parks. Ultimately ho joined a theatrical touring company and changed liis name, so that liis father, who had again evoked the aid of the police, should not trace him. During the next four years Harden underwent many sufferings and privations. His employment as an actor was intermittent, and lie often went without food for days. He lias never quite recovered from the effects of the period of starvation through which lie then passed. Ultimately he attracted notice as a writer, and founded the “Zukuuft,” a paper which gained its first prominence through espousing the cause of tho late Prince Bismarck after his dismissal from office by the Kaiser. Bismarck became friendly with Harden, who was a frequent visitor at tlio statesman’s country house at Friedrichsruh.

A good story is told by that popular actress, Alias Agnes Eraser (Airs. Walter Passmore). Who was taking a -short cut- through a London back street, near Victoria Station, when she noticed a ragged-looking woman standing outside a butcher’s shop. “What do you want, madam?” tho butcher asked. Aiiss Eraser, noticing that the woman squared her elbows and looked at- the butcher in a defiant sort of way, paused to hear the reply. “What do I want, young fellow?” the woman answered, in a loud, hoarse voice. “Well, 1 wants a fortv-elephant-power motor-car, a house in Park Lane, £50,000 a year, and a diamond tiara; but what I hope t-o get from you is half a pound of steak, on credit, till Saturday.” Tho King of Norway is one of the handsomest and best-dressed monarclis in Europe. His Majesty lias scientific tastes, is interested in new inventions, and especially in any contrivance which may be of use at sea "or in the Navy. Ho also likes sport, is a fine shot, rides well to hounds, and is a first-rate billiard-player. King Haakon is a Knight, of the Garter, and holds several- other British dignities. In this relation it is curious to note that at the Court of Norway there are no nobles and no titles; and in this respect it resembles the Courts of Athens, Belgrade, and Bucharest. When he came to the throne he abolished the prefix of “Your Excellency” for Ministers and other dignitaries, and even wished to dispense with the title of “Majesty.” Indeed, at the time of liis arrival in Norway lie was quaintly addressed as “Mr. King.”