INTERESTING ITEMS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 327, 11 January 1911, Page 2

INTERESTING ITEMS.

Sir Francis Yiiliers can point to a wide experience of diplomacy and foreign affairs. A brother of Lord Clarendon, and a nephew of that fine old Parliamentarian Mr Charles Pelham Villiers, wli) for a great many years was "Father of the House of Commons," Sir Francis entered the Foreign Office forty years ago, and before taking up his work as Minister to Portugal was Assistant UnderSecretary at the Foreign Office for nine years. The clock at the entrance to Lord Ellesmere's estate at Worsley strikes thirteen at one o'clock. This peculiarity ia due to the last Duke of Bridgewater, He noticed one day that many of his workmen were lolling about after the allotted dinner hour, and on making enquiries was told that the workmen had failed to heai* the clock strike one. The Duke immediately solved the problem by having the old clock removed and one that would strike thirteen put in its place. The Rev. R. G. Johnson, vicar of St. Silas', Sheffield, told an interesting story of his curate days at a recent bazaar. It was his first Sunday, he said, in his new capacity, and his vicar, in giving out the notices, announced that the offertory on the following Sunday would be for "our new curate," and begged that there would be a suitable response, as "it will be the first collection in our church for that object." Mr Johnson remarked that he had never before or since been called an "object" to his face.

The story is tolu of General Booth that he was on one occasion in a tradesman's shop, and, as is his habit —for he is a persistent hunter after information —he commenced to chat with the man about his business. "Business!" the tradesman exclaimed. "Business? Why, there is none nowadays! I was reading the bankruptcy reports this morning, and " "\ou would have been much better employed in cleaning your front window," asid the General. "In the failure of others the devil provides excuses for our own failures." King Manuel has always been intensely fond of music, ami is himself an excellent pianist. He frequently organised concerts at the Palace, and it is recorded of him that, on seating himself at the piano, he once exclaimed, "Ah! What would become of us if we had not music.'" It is also related of him that when he heard of the investure of his brother with ths Order of the Garter by the late King Edward, and was asked what he thought of it, he replied, "A very fine ceremony; but I would sooner conduct an orchestra." No fewer than throe of the judges now entitled to sit in the House of Lords arc old "Blues," The Lord Chancellor thrice played in the Oxford cricket eleven and thrice represented his University at racquets. Lord Macnaghton rowed for Cambridge in the University Boat Race sixty years ago, and won the Colquhoun Sculls — the sculling championship of the University —in 18-51; while the Lord Chief Justice was famous both as runner and cricketer, and to this day preserves a keen interest in the national game as president of the Surrey Cricket Club and an ex-presi-dent of the Marylebone Cricket Club. One of the most brilliant men of the day in England is Mr F. E. Smith. This youthful K.C.—he is the young est King's Council we have —first caifle into general public prominence by a brilliant defence at the Old Bailey in 1902, when he appeared for Goudie, the Liverpool batik forger, Later, he entered Parliament and created a sensation by hi 3 maiden speech in 13QG. Uis almost certain that, when the. Unionists return to power, Mr F. E. Smith will be in the Cabinet. On one occasion, at the opening of an educational institute, Mr Smith declared that he had always detested work, but his father's early death had made it necessary for him either to work or starve. And his extraordinary energy enables him to put in a long day in the Courts and a long night in the House, anc] still look fresh and fit.

That the possession oi' wealtb does noi. always Jhiic) lo itd fortunate possess jr any ouuvatd or visible sign by which he may be distinguished from the common 'nerd of mankind, was proved by an amusing incident which occurred at a horse sale iii Gisborne. An animal hai jurt bsen knocked (Jovyn tq a bidder, and lie at once look pari; in ih<> biddinr- which was proceeding for the next animal put up. The auctioneer remarked: "Don't you think you had better 'square up' for the last horse you bought before bidding for any more?''" The individual r;ddresse(l promptly exclaimed : "Pay up for a horse like that! Do you think I haven't enough to pay for? Look here!" With that he dived a hand into the breast-pocket of his coat and pulled forth a huge roll of bank notes, in which there must hit ye been upwards of ,1:200. Waving this at the auctioneer, lis exclaimed, "I've got enough here to pay for every hoof you have, got in the yard. I'm not a GisborniteHaving thus effectually proved his bona fides, the capitalist was permitted to bid to his heart's content.