All Sorts of People

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 268, 19 August 1905, Page 3

All Sorts of People

THE Rev. J. R. Flynn Anderson, from Zuurfontein, Johannesburg, who is trying to raise funds to buy a train for the railway mission he chaplains, is a story-teller. You shall judge. There was a Dutch farmer at Zandspruat, and he was driving a pair of horses in a CaDe-cart to Moddeirhjoek—we will say". On the way, one of the horses took horse^sackmess, and turned his toes to the broad 1 arch of heaven — a way each horse has once in two years in. Africa. The Dutch farmer was canny. He would leave the dead horse, but would take his skin to sell ait Modderhoek. • * * He duly skinned the horse, paled his skin on the Cape-cart, and made the remaining horse pull the Gape-oart and load. Outspanning to take "skoff" at noon, he looked to the, north, when, he saw a pink apparition trotting towards him. It was the horse— witluout a skin 1 He wouldn't part with the hide, but in a kraal near-by were four sheepskins, and he nust stuck them on, and tied them with "reims" — so! Before he got to Moddeirhoek, the skins were grown on to the horse. Next year, he shore four bales of wool from that horse. The farmer told Mr. Anderson Dutch hospitality is proverbial. Trekking on tfhe veldt alone a few months since, the little English "predicant" struck a few Boer hunters. They made him welcome. They threw some skins over the "diesselboom" of the waggon for him to camp under. They brought out their bottle of "dop," and offered it to him first. Mr. Anderson turned his eyes to the stars, and firmly said : "No, thank you." They did not press him. They are not rude, these simple children of the gun. Each applied his mouth to the bottle, and took bis "tot." Then they went to blanket. In the morning, the parson kicked something with his foot. It was the "dop" bottle. The Dutchman, in a spirit of fairness, and 1 recognising that the "predikant" must make some sort of a show of holiness, had eiven him a chance to drink his portion secretly, silently, and surreptitiously. • » * Mr. Charles Bonaparte, President Roosevelt's naval minister, is a remarkable man, not only as grand-nephew of the great Napoleon, but on his own account. His grandfather was Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother. Jerome married Miss Patterson, in America, and their son was the father of Jerome and Charles. The elder of these brothers died in 1893. He was intent on prosecuting claims to the Napoleonic succession, but Charles has been utterly contemptuous of "them. He is only proud of being an American citizen, and has earned 'high distinction , with considerable wealth, as lawyer and politician. • • * Gomg back to his grandfather, Napoleon tried in vain to get a divorce for Jerome from the Pope, who sternly refused, although Miss Patterson was a Protestant. Yet, Napoleon made Jerome marry the Princess of "Wuirtemburc, and created him King of Westphalia. His son by this alliance was the celebrated Prince Napoleon, Plon Plon, whose son is the Bonapartist claimant to the French disused throne.

, The late -Mr. George Wiltshire, who died suddenly in a law office last week, was a lovable mam. Of a retorimg disposition, be was yet most oompanaonaible. Mr. Wltsnire was lame, and so he carried a stack , which reminds us that the stick was given to him by the Corporationi offices' staff, together with same other expressions of their goodwill some few years ago, when he resigned his position, as city engjneier. * * * I/The Lance remembers tbe emotion — almost the shyness — of Mr. Wiltshire when he found out how fond they were of inim, and his very 'halting reply .'But, once Mr. Wiltshire got warmed to has task, he touched delightfully on the past, and humourously showed ihiow prominent a part hotels played in the municipal life of earlier days — many meetings and much office work having to be done in licensed houses for lack of others accommodation. • * * V/Mr. Wiltshire was a good councillor, after he ceased to be a salaried servant of the Corporation, and his technical knowledge of many tilings was a most valuable aid to his fellow-counjcallan&. He was a friend to tram-employees, mainly because he understood and) appreciated the difficulties of their duties. They always gave ham a special smile. His kindness to them was recognised in some degree by the muster of tramemployees at his funeral. * * * v-The late Mr. Wiltshire, despiste his ■health, was always cheery, and a perfect fund of information, which he was ready to give to anyone who required it. Although the community is shocked at the sudden death of a much-re-Bpeoted and capable citizen', who has served Wellington, in many capacities, one cannot but feel that by tbe manner of his death be may have been saved from much pain and suffering that a lingering sickness would) perhaps entail. The Lakoe offens its sincere condolence to the relatives of the late Mr. Wiltshire. ♦ * * The Rev. 0. Neill, the interesting parson, who has been visiting Wellington after seven or eight years'" labour in the Master's! vineyardi in torrid India, left for England on Saturday last, after making a favourable impression, and being favourably impressed. 'Tis said — whisper — that he is off Home for Mrs. Neill, and that he has been appointed to the parish of beautiful Khandallah. • • * The reverend gentleman is a very distinguished person, and would be within his rights were he to write the letters M.A. and M.D. after bis onesyllable name. His particular employ in India was the medical mission, and it was a physical break-down through stress of work that induced him to come along to New Zealand, on tbe pressing invitation of his old college dtean, the Right Rev. the Bishoip of Wellington. Ehandallah is a strictly Hindoo word, so if be 'ears the East a-callin' he will only have to remain where he is — the 1 "Resting Place of God." • • ♦ Mr. R. Howell, of Wellington, foiwards us copies of an ode of welcome to the Very Rev. Father Hays, an his visit to this city. Mr. Howell is a member of the Father Hays local committee, and his ode shows some originality of thought, and a devotional expression of ideas worthy of the subject. That the scansion is a little inaccurate in places does not detract seriously from the message the ode conveys. The ode closes thus: — How lovely are the Messengers of Peace, Who bring the tidings, that a full release Awaits the Sinner at God's door, And shall from age to age endure.

John Pirouse, the vigorous baritone with tihe appearance of a Spanish hidalgo, has returned to Wellington with the blushing honours of a London success full upon him. Indeed, so gemiuime were his successes on the concert stage that tihe question whether he will or won't continue on the glamourous .path of a star vocalist, or retire once more into the timber business, is being oarefuly weighed 1 in tine balance. A critic once said of Mr. Prouse that he had "a black beard, and there was no nonsense about him," to which muist be adlded a strong, fruity baritone voice and an artistic method of treating anything he songs, andl the man stands revealed!. /■ • ♦ • Mr. Prouse cordially loathes the sweet, rose-tinted, lone ballad, cultivated to such a great extent by many alleged vocalists, but throws his soul into strong stuff that makes demands on the dramatic instinct© — patihos, fire, declamatory invective — and! he comes out with honours. John made a place for himself through sheer merit, and! ended up by securing an engagement as siole vocalist with Kuibelik, on tour in England and Ireland, andl he tells how the great fiddler travels like a prince in the King's very own much-gilded railway carriage, and if two or more people were not injured in the rush to get a seat in the hall each night, it was significant of a falling away. ♦ • • Whale Kubelik fiddled bis way into the good graces of Ireland, "Our John" charmed the colleens andl bhoys with "The Queen of Gonnemiara" or "Off to Philadelphia" in his fine resonant baritone. To those vocalists who yearn to go to the English capital city, he says "Don't!" which was Santley's advice to him. At least, the big basso said: "Don't go unless you can well afford it. Sacrifice nothing in the going, but if the time comes when you can afford London, have a try, and if you strike home it will be all right — if not, you will have had the expedience. " * vifc. and Mrs. Prouse, with George (of hockey proclivities), and 1 Miss Constance, returned to New Zealand via the Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon, and all declare rapturously that America is a dlelightful country. Public receptions are accorded a lot of queer people in Wellington, but this city oonventionially holds off honouring its own prophets, and so profits little by its own honour. • » ♦ i^Many will regret to learn of the serious illness of Mrs. John L. Kelly, wife of the editor of the 'TSew Zealand Times," who lies in a critical condition at their home in Hill-street. Mrs. Kelly went Home for a trip last year, and, as the vesesl was being docked, sihe accidentally fell down the hold, receiving a very severe shook. She has never recovered her health since. By the way, his eldest son, John S., who has been a reporter on the Cliristchurcn "Press," has been appointed editor of the "Grey River Argus," a position rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr. Florence McCarthy. / * P. A. Vaile, son of railways "Sam" Vaile, the young lawyer, who ha© be^n teaching Britain to play cricket by writing of the colonial article, announces that he will give up writing about athletics, and go in for the literature of the turf. This remarkable young man, who isi an authority on golf (he invented a golf stick), bicycling (he drafted a Cycle Tracks Bill), tennis (he has dissertated about it vastly), jumping, running, boxing, and' several other sports, doesn't do anything at any of them himself, and is stated m London to be a "colonial authority. If P.A.V. poses in London as a New Zealand horse-racing authority, heaven help Sir George Clifford or G. G. Stead.

cmrolee received a shook cxn Monday last when it became* known tjhat the flags were at half-mast out of respect for Mr. Clement Winter, the unassuming but extremely popular and! talented inspector of tthe Bank of Australasia, who had died 1 the previous night. Mr. Winter was very colonial — he was born in British Guiana (South; Amiefltiaa), learned practions andl interest in Canada, and was polished' off at Christ's College, in Ohrdstbhurch, with credit to all concerned. From college, he went into the service of the Bamk of Australasia, and his career has been onie< of steady progress. _^' • • • After being transferred hither and thather in New Zealand! as a junior, he was drafted to Melbourne, and two years later was suddenly promoted accountant at Sydney when but thirtythree years of age. Four years later saw him aotang as manager in the big city through the chief official's long illness. Then, he managed at Christchurch, was aotingHmanager at Melbourne, managed at Dunediii, and, on the dleath of Mx. E. W. Monrah (of Wellington) was appointed 1 inspector to the great satisfaction! of eveiryonie. • • • i -^ r , Winter has been asthmiatical for many years, and only two years ago took a trap to England and America in the hope of getting relief, but his known, ailment did not cause death — it resulted from heart failure, which makes the second dleath of wellknown Welhmgton men witihin a few days from the same cause. Clement Winter loaves a widow, who is the daughter of the late Mr. B. H. Willis, formerly Collector of Customs at Launoeston (Tasmania). * * * Jones, the well-fed manager of the famous Frimley Orchards, near Hastings, has been in town for the last few dlays, talking, in notes of astonishment, about tomato ketchup or fruit salad, or something. Last winter's gales accounted for the loss of half the season's peaches, but this year the man with the aesthetic front name says the trees are in great nick, and 1 a large crop is anticipated. Frimley peaches are a thing to write verses about in a hammock on a summer's afternoon, with a pretty girl at the other side of the fruit. • ♦ * • Uwilliam Henry Cook, who, with R. G-. KJtnght, conducted! a flourishing sailmaker's business in a one-horse shanty, now covered! by the National Mutual pile, in Ouctom-house Quay, died! at Petone last week, after a life of sevenityfive years' duration. Many sailmakers come from Bristol (which, a generation ago, was a big shipping centre), and 1 Mr. Cook was amongst' them, but the spirit of man "that is in him" shook off the residential yoke of his forbears, and in 1868 he came out to New Zealand;, and planked himself in Wellington at has old tirade, and prospered) to such an extent that when the Knight of canvas (of Victorianstreet) offered himself as a partner he was accepted. * * * jFive years were they stitching together, then Mr. Cook retired, and took up finance as a profession, and organised the. South Pacific Loan Company, of which he remained' secretary up till the end. Mr. Cook had a very level head, and his services as a member of the Petone Borough Council were more valuable than those of the average suburban councillor. There was always meat in his argument. He left a widow, one daughter (Mrs. J. Alexander, of Khandiallah). and three sons, W. H., J. J., and H. Cook. "Billy" Cook, the eldest son, was a bold volunteer at the tune of the Parihaka scare, and waa amonigjst those who took up arms, without firing a shot.

Handsome Lady Constance Knocx, a miniature replica of her mother, Lady Ranfurly, lias been pledlged in marriage to Captain Gaskell, who was A.D.C. to Sir AirthuT Havelock, when, that distinguished person was Governor of the land of apples— Tasmania. We know of two Captain Gaskells-— ane of the Indian Army and the other of the nuktia, and it would most probably be the army man, who is, the writer thanks, a son oi Lady Catherine GaskeW, who was the fifth daughter of the Earl of Portsmouth. . . * Thomas Trowell, the talented seven-teen-year-old son of that well-known violinist, Mr. Thomas Trowell, of this oity, has covered hamselr with glory by scooping the top prize at the Ooneours, or public, musical competitions at the Royal Oonservatorium of Brussels. Young Tom's pet specialty is the 'cello, which instrument he took on when a small boy, under the guidance of has gifted! father. The old •gentleman thought he gave exceptional promise, but didn't care to say so. .But when Jean Geira,rdy happened a Long he trotted him out, and Jean said Hdla! or "Viva!" or something lake that, and said the lad had great talent, if not genius, 'and he should be sent to the Continent to study. ? That settled it. Trowell, senior, made the effort, and away went Tommy and his brother, Garnet, to study music as an art ,in far-off Frankfort — the home of the sausage and 1 the haunt of la,geir beer. They were a year there— Tom under Hear Becker — but it was as good as wasted, so they emigrated to the Royal Conservatorium at Brussels, where magical success attended on both, but particularly on the 'cellist — wasn t he introducedl to the King of Belgium a few months ago? / Jacobs (Gerardy's tutor) "took ham up," and the result is the Conjooursi — the highest honour a 'cellist can achieve, so 'tis said. The Lance offersi its congratulations to the young man, but urges on him the necessity of getting hois hair out now and again, if it is only to keep the strandls clear of the 'cello strings. Plenty of musicians who can't play wear heaps of hair, and the real musician, therefore, who shears is worthy of all praise. / * * /The Rev. Edward Isaac, of L&umoeston, is an immense success, and he preached a sermion the otlber dlay on "Bugle Calls." It drew like Phil May or a treacle plaster, for before he proceeded to dole out his advice he would announce, "The bugler will now blow the "Reveille.' " A bugler, hidden in the vestry, promptly blew. Then he blew : "Orders," "Retire," "Advance," "Last Post," and all the rest of it. Of course, all the while the smart panson illustrated bis points, and fired a vivid sermon into the congregation. * • * Once, a man in the "pit" — wei mean the back seats — jumped 1 to attention and saluted, and once, when, the painson called for the "Assembly" there was no response. The military person behind the buiefte had gone out to refresh. Anyhow, the memorial church in Launceston was fuller than it had ever been. A big crowd wouldn't assemble to [bear the best bueleir that ever blew following has trade in barracks, but in church — ! Ye gods ; they had to send for bigger collection plates! • • • Mr. Woolley, the wordy water apostle, reckons that if hatred, malice, narxowmindedness., prejudice, and! all that sort of thing showed up in people's ■ noses like whiskey does, a lot of us would have to wear veils. Wouldn't some of the parsons look quaint with veils jpn? / * * • v/Mr. T. W. Kirk, the Government's active and talented biologist, is a man of bright ideas. It was he who instituted the system of issuing leaflets to the people on the land about anything that might tend to ease their burdens. The idea met with some opposition from the higher authorities at first, but now it has been adopted in every branch of the Agricultural Department. Mr. Kirk's argument is: "They'll read a leaflet, where they toss aside a bulky report/ V/Another idea of Mr. Kirk's) is the bulletin issued by the diff erent branches of the Agricultural Department whenever there is any need to expand on a particular subject. The covers of these bulletins form a complete symphony in colour. For the Veterinarians' Department a blood-red cover is used, and instantly a mirage of brawny Gilruth cutting up a camel — -and getting the hump over it — rises before the horrified gaze. The horticultural smd agricultural branch publishes what it knows between grass-green covers, and the Dairy Commissioner's cover is, of course, milky white. There was a dwuibt about the statistical branch's colOHT, btrfc, as the trouble of wading through dreary structures of figures is conducive to language with a capital "L," the sfcatißticiam's bulletin cover is coloured blue. AH Kirk's idea !

Mr. Mcßobie, chief jabbmg printer for some yeans past at the "New Zealand Times" office, has achieved a lease of the "Pahiatua Herald." * ■* * Mr. Arthur H. Vile, the new member of tihe Wellington Education Board, is the editor, proprietor, etc., etc., of the Eketahuma "Express." He is already displaying zeal as an eduoataonalliet — two days after his election be reported that a school had been burned down in his district. ♦ •» * It may not be generally known, that W. F. Massey, the Leader of tih© Opposition, and Leonard Isitt, the great protagonist of the prohibitionists, came to the colony in the sanne ship as boys. How carefully old Neptoine, who, amongst other attributes, no doubt possesses the faculty of clairvoyance, must have nursed that treasure-laden barque ! If the sea god had but winked his eye, New Zealand might have eventually become a prey to the sringle-taxers and the brewers! • * * A paragraph is goimg th© round ot the press intimating tibat the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, exSecretary of State for the Colonies, can't "abear" slropers, and never wears them. Now, if this aversion were singular, there might be some excuse for making s<uoh a fuss about it, but Joe is not the only great man who neveir wore slippers. Mabuta's grandfather didn't use the article. No mare did King Billy, of Australia. Even "Tarn" Duncan occasionaly dispenses with them.