INDIVIDUALITIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8355, 15 February 1913, Page 9

INDIVIDUALITIES

"All tlio -world’s a stage. And all Uio men and women merely plajors.” Of the’ members of the Order of Merit who were given the distinction when King Edward instituted the Order ten and a half years ago, on the day upon which his Coronation was to hare taken place, only two wear the oak loaves upon the badge, denoting that they are civil members —Viscount Morlcy and Lord Rayleigh. The crossed swords, indicating membership of the naval or military side of the Order, appear on the badges of Earl Roberts, Viscount Wolseley, Viscount Kitchener, and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, the other “original” recipients of .the distinction. When the Order was founded, only twelve' of Groat Britain’s most honoured names were singled out for inclusion in the list, and of these the bearers of six are no longer with us. Now its members number twenty, and are understood to be limited to two dozen. There is only one “vacancy” among the civil members, the appointment of Sir Joseph John Thomson last March bringing the total up to eleven, while the bestowal of the Order upon Admirol of the Fleet Sir A. Knyyett Wilson, V.C., in the same month made the ninth military member. M. Poinoaire’s election to the Presidency of Franco in one sense breaks a chain, for M. Loubct was President of the Senate up to his election, while M. Falliercs succeeded M. Loubet in the Senate, ana later at the Tuileries. On the other hand, several of the French Presidents have been Prime Ministers before reaching the Chief Office. Thiers, of course, was long ruler of France in one capacity or another. Casimir Perier had been Prime Minister, M. Loubet was Prime Minister in 1892, and M. Fallieres was seven times a Cabinet ■ Minister and once at the head of an Administration. Among his numerous other honours and titles, Mr Asquith is now entitled to the rank of Captain. ’ This is by virtue of the Eoyal Warrant granting the rank of Captain to- the Elder Brethren of Trinity House, and giving them precedence after Captains in the Navy.. The British Prime Minister has always shown,a great interest in Trinity House since he was made an Elder , Brother; and ho nearly always wears their uniform on ceremonial occasions. Besides the great interest that he has always shown in naval, matters, Mr Asquith is the best sailor in the Cabinet and likes a holiday on the sea. Mi- Balfour will also be entitled to the rank of Captain in the future. Mr Thomas Blades is the oldest member of the Oddfellows in the world (says an English exchange). Ho has recently passed his ninety-seventh birthday, but takes a daily walk and ■ looks very hale for his great age. Mr Blades became on Oddfellow on February 3rd, 1840, when he joined a lodge, which is now extinct, at Apethorpe. His name appears in the old rule book belonging to the lodge, which is now in his possession. Mr Blades maintains“the keenest interest in Oddfellowship. The prime, donna who loses her jewels (says a London paper) is always regarded as fair game for the satirist, but Frau Julia Culp, who has just suffered in this way, has given such a clear account of all the attendant circumstances, and “put in” such precise particulars of the stolen articles that, once in a way, there will .hardly be any disposition to scoff—especially as this, famous singer is an artist of such distinction as to be altogether superior to such cheap and vulgar methods of reclame. Though a Dutch woman by birth—she is, in fact, a Lady of Honour to the Queen of Holland, and every summer spends her days in attendance on her Majesty—Frau Culp has her home in Berlin, where, as in Vienna, she is the idol of the musical world and an honoured guest in the most aristocratic circles. The Kaiser Wilhelm is one of her warmest admirers, ; and the Arch-Duchess Marin Joseffa is another. Like several other famous singers, Sembrioh being ope, Frau Culp was originally .a violinist. At the ago of fourteen, however, “ the exceptional quality of her voice attracted attention. Etelka Qerster was one of her teachers. Lard Kingsburg, who celebrated his seventy-sixth birthday a few weeks ago, is one of the most versatile of the occupants of the Scottish bench. Quito a number of books have come from his pen: books on law, tactics, electricity, motor traction, and fairy stories. His high office —that of Lord Justice Clerk, which racks next after that of the Lord Justice General among the Scottish judges—was at one time held by Lord Braefipld, the prototype of Stevenson’s Weir of Hermiston. At first the famous novel was to have been called “The Justice Clerk,” but ultimately it appeared—a magnificent torso —under the title of "Weir of Hermiston.” One of the most interesting of Australia’s “old identities” is Mr Walter Hitchcock, whoso book, “Reminiscences of a Fireman,” has just been accepted by the King. Mr Hitchcock, who has now passed his eightieth vear, was a prominent citizen of Geelong in the roaring fifties, when that neglected port was the nearest point of access to the rich goldfields of Ballarat, and the \ neighbourhood. His name is known all over Australia, and he is still a familiar figure at the great gatherings of firemen which are there exalted into important annual sports meetings.