PERSONAL PARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 74, 17 November 1906, Page 1

PERSONAL PARS.

Miss Grace Palotta has been- on the stage for the past ten years, and first faced the footlights of the Gaiety Theatre, London, at the. age of 16 ; which is to us a neat way of obtaining the popular' actress's age. In addition to 'being an actress, , Miss Palotta is an authoress, and at present a serial from her pen is running m a Melbourne Daper.

Discussing the legends of Dorothy Vernon's elopement with John Manners, "The Academy" says : — "The room m which she is said to have been dancing on the night of her elopement, and the steps down which she fled into the arms of her expectant lover (we be? pardon for the lapse into sentimentality), were not built at the time of her marriage, and m point of fact she did not elope at all."

Sir Robert Ball, the astronomer, is fond of telling an amusing story against himself. He is a round-faced, jovial-looking man m appearance, not resembling m the' least the ordinary conception of a famous scientist. Once foe was engaged to lecture m a remote part of Ireland, and found no vehicle waiting for him at the station. At last a typical Irish servant caane up, and said, "Maybe you're Sir Robert Ball ?" When he found that he was correct m his surmise, the man said, "Oh, sure, your honor, I am sorry to have kept you waiting-, but I was told to look out for an intellectual-looking gentleman,"

Poor, gifted, handsome, ■brilliant Myra Kemble. She was the finest actress Australia has produced and had a long and glorious career before her had she not yielded to the demon drink. Her life has had lots of tragedy. in it of late years. Her own total eclipse was coincident with that of her husband, who was once the popular and wealthy bookmaker, "Gentleman Jim," or "Glass-eye" White, but who lost his grip, took the knock, and is ' now a theatre doorkeeper m Sydney. Their one child, a pretty, very petite brunette, married Dr. "Tony" Brownless, and is now with hinv m Westralia. Mrs White died m a Melbourne hospital on October 29.

A smiling little woman m a plaid frock admitted at the Christchurch Police Court lately -that she was guilty of being Nellie Tuttle, and also that she had been parbolic drunk. The little bit of tartan had been making a great night of it at Sydenham, and 'her street antics caused Constable Martin to do his duty. During the eveniii" Nellie had lost the article she called a hat, and appeared m court without one. On being fined she sweetly asked for time to pay. and the beak wanted to know what she did for a livelihood. It then appeared that Nellie wasn't living m a moral atmosphere, and that she lived on prostitution at Sytdenham. "No hope" said the S.M. and the little sinner was waltzed out. •« • •

The deplorable results arising from an insane craving for drink were never better illustrated than m the case of the young man Leonard Craig, of Christchurch. Craig at one time lived m Wellington, and every hotelkeeper was aware of what would' happen were Craig to be served— he would be dead drunk m no time. Everybody knew the pernicious effects/ a glass or two of spirits— he took it neat— would have on him. In Christchoiroh he has been worse, and 23 convictions now stand to his discredit. Aprohib. order has been ineffective, as he was up once again last week, when he was fined 50s m all, or a month. He wanted time to pay, but the S.M. wouldn't hear of it. Craig is a good French polisher when he cares to work, but remittances .from Home don't tend to make him feel that way inclined, and most of the cash goes m grog.

What a lot of funny little personal traits and pomposities Edward vee two has developed since ma died. Here is the latest edict ; issued by "His Majesty" .—

The Admiralty have notified that the Royal Standard, being the personal flag of the Sovereign, is, by His Majesty's command, not to be displayed m future on board His Majesty's ships or on official buildings, as has been hitherto customary, on His Majesty's birthday and other occasions, but is only to be, hoisted on occasions when the Sovereign .. is actually present, or when any member of the Royal family is representiae; the Sovereign for the time being-. The Royal Standard is to be used for the Queen m the same manner as for the King."

How truly "majestic !" But are those "loyal" New Zealan9era who love to the standard from their flagpoles, to be prevented from gratifying their love of spittlelicking I

Mme. Bachelot, a poor woman, living m the Rue de Luneville, Paris, committed suicide to save her husband and little daughter from starv-a* tion. The woman had been ill for many months, and, though her husband did his utmost, he fell into debt, and the home was about to be sold un. Duxing his absence, Mmc, Bachelot, who was insured for £100 m a friendly society, called her daughter to her, and after kissing her, drank laudanum.

It was a good day for Auckland when Dr. John Logan Campbell, despairing of making a fortune as a medical practitioner m a climate where noraa of the sturdy pioneers were ever sick, went into partnership with one Brown, under the style and title of Brown and Campbell, wine and spirit merchants and wholesale grocers. He made a fortune all right that way and m judicious speculation, and Auckland has been good enouffh for him ever since, and has benefited immensely at his hands.. The worthy arid philanthropic old gentleman, who was knighted while mayor of Auckland, at the time o£ the visit' of the (now) Prince and Princess 'of Wales, celebrated his ninetieth birthday a couple of weeks back and is still quite a hale man, barring failing eyesight.

A woman named Mary Aiken, who was found drunk m the street at Christchurch last week, had a considerable sum of money on her, and was able to bail herself out when her condition became normal. There are a goodly- number of shemales there who are having: a rorty time on their own just ndw,-ajid don't dare twopence who knows it. For women who can't get accommodation a "Shelter" is provided by philantrophic people, opening at 10 p.m., the guests having] to rise at six next, morning and get out. It is a very good idea.* A woman was seen iii'" one of the -side streets of the city early the other morning pulling on her stockings and boots. Whether she ha/d slept on. the side walk all night,' and had undressed there, writer dunno, . but ; at all events when the ' lady, was first observed she was putting the finishing touches to her toilet.

Sir Joseph Ward has not strengthened his .hold on public opinion by, his vacillating policy m the matter of the Exhibition Munroitis, and his twist of the kaleidoscope, has left the big, black disc, that represents Munro, more prominent and more overwhelming 1 than before. As "general manager" of. the big show, this ageressive , di scour teous, blusterous and totally tactless man will be m an even better position to affront, flout and insult everybody who needs must havf dealings with him, than he was aW Chief Commissioner , and , being seized of the man's proved unfitness for a position where tact and urbanity, courtesy and unfailing good temper are absolutely necessary oualities, it says little for the Premier's own acumen that he should have so overridden General Opinion m such a serious matter.

Marie Narelle, otherwise Mary Callatrhan (nee Mary Ryan), the handsome and superb singer, who has charmed all Europe and America by, the witching power of her voice and' her mode of delivery, will not be able to .look back upon her tour of New Zealand with any pleasure. Not only was the patronage accorded her (particularly m Wellington) so meagre as to constitute a shame oa the good musical taste of the colony, but at Christohurch that "perfect gentleman" Munro (hope the bounder has a "scraps" agent who cuts out and forwards to him all the nice things the papers say about him ; if he has how he must enjoy himself !) deliberately set himself to injure her and deplete the Zibishun's treasury by ordering a free instrumental concert—the first— practically outside the doors of the concert hall where 'the charming Australian was to sins;. Naturally she did not sing, and Munro had the damnable gall to excuse his brutish act on the ground of the public interest. Something with a heavy horsewhip m ifc would do this bumptious bounder a lot of good. The Nowra nightingale sot a nasty blimp, too. at Singleton. (N.S.W.) where a bloke calling himself Robinson Barnett (evidently a disguised Yid) bought her business, borrowed six quid from the proprietors of the "Singleton Argus" and did them up for that and their printing and advertising; bill. Messrs Robjuson sued Sweet Marie, who pleaded that Barnett was not her agent, but acted m his own interests, but she was stopped from this denial under the law of "estoppal by conduct," and a verdict was given foe plaintiffs for £5 9s 6d, work done, £l Is plaintiff's lawyer, 8s court costs and 18s 6d witness' expenses. A nonsuit was entered m regard to the six quid which the estimable Barnett had separated Mr Ffeorv Skinner Robinson from. Miss Marelle will be apt to he «la-:l to cre'e back to Europe and civilisation }/