MEN AND WOMEN OF NOTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 26 November 1907, Page 4

MEN AND WOMEN OF NOTE.

MR. N. A. NOX. Next year the cricket world will be the poorer by the absence from its fields of the famous International and Surrey fast bowler, for the noted wickettaker intends to retire from cricket after '.his season. There are so few really good fast bowlers in this country that all lovers if the crease will hope that Mr Knox vill reconsider his decision when 19u8 reason begins, and once more fight the 'jattles of his county, j Although but 23 years of age, Knox is j tine specimen of the athletic Briton, for he stands 6ft. 2in., and is splendidlydeveloped. Unfortunately, he has suffered this season from a sprained leg. but this has not prevented him from giving a good account of himself as England's most deadly fast bowler.

It was not until 1904 that he became prominently before cricket lovers; but in that year he played in a single match for Surrey, and gave promise of good work for tho future.

His performances in 1905 more than came up to expectation, for he captured 105 wickets for his county in championship matches, his full total being 121 wickets, at an average of 20 runs each. The 1906 season found him the fast bowler of the year, while in the match between Gentlemen and Players, at Lord's, he captured twelve wickets, and won the game for his side. Mr. Knox intends to enter the musical profession, and will leave in October for Paris to study singing under M. Jean de Reszkc, for he has a fine baritone voice.

BIR THOMAB MITCHELL. The honour of knighthood recently conferred on Mr. Thomas Mitchell, the Constructor-Manager of Portsmouth Dockyard, will be as popular among the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors as it was well deserved by the recipient. Bom in Belfast in 184-1, Thomas Mitchell left Ireland when he was only just entering his teens. Coming south, he received his early education, both practical and theoretical, in Chatham Dockyard, although he was twenty-seven years of age before he got his first appointment as draughtsman. Soon after, be left Chatham for the Admiralty, where he remained for about three years, when he was appointed to Portsmonth Dockyard to build the battleship "Trafalgar," in the capacity of foreman of the yard. He was made Admiralty overseer at Palmer's shipyard at Jarrow, in 1889, to superintend the building of the "Resolution" and the "Revenge." Two years later he left for Hong Kong, where he was appointed Constructor in that dockyard. Coming home about four years afterwards, he went to Devonport as Senior Constructor, and in 1899 he got another colonial post in the same capacity, at Bermuda, where he remained for three years, when he took up a similar position at Sheerness. After serving there for a year he was transferred to Chatham, and later he went to Portsmouth as manager of the Constructive Department. While occupying this nost he superintended the building of the world's largest battleship—the famous "Dreadnought"—which was built in record time, the thanks of the Admiralty being accorded to Mr Mitchell for his wonderful energy. The "Dreadnought" as is well known, was completed in the remarkably short period of a year and a day from the time the first keel-plates were laid—a feat unparalleled in the history of shipbuilding. Chiefly due to Mr. Mitchell's performance, the vessel was completed at about £70,000 below the estimate.

When the "Dreadnought" was launched, the King conferred the C.V.O. on the Manager-Constructor, and the,, promotion to the Order of Knighthood makes another record, for it is the first case of such an honour being conferred on an officer connected with the civil administration of a dockyard.

The recent successful launching of the "BeJlcrophon" marked Sir Thomas Mitchell's retirement, for he vacated his appointment on September 1.

MISS DENISE ORME. The glamour of the stage is naturally associated with surprises, else the pieces represented would fail to attract; but occasionally the surprises come from unexpected quarters, and give that touch of additional romance to the surroundings which makes the stage doubly attractive.

Such a touch of romance was recently made public when it was announced that the well-known comedy actress, Miss Denise Orme, had varied her perform ances at the Palace Theatre bv a motor njr journey, on April 24, to the regi "-'- offir K<>-- ! -~*-- —-' u

irar's office at Kensington, and had there become the wife of Captain the lion. J. Yarde-Buller, an officer of the Scots Guards, and the eldest son and heir of Churston. In private life, Miss Dcnise Orme was known as Jessie Smither. of Maida Vale Mansions, she being the only daughter of Mr Alfred Srnither. She comes of a family in which musical talent is largely hereditary, for her mother appeared at the Royal Albert Hall at fourteen years of age, when she played from memory Cusin's pianoforte concerto in A minor.

Miss Orme herself was very clever as a child, for at fourteen years of age she won the Wessely violin exhibition at the Royal Academy of Music, and three years later the vocal scholarship at the Royal College of Music, she being the youngest child who had ever obtained the coveted honour.

Her first appearance on the stage was at the Alhambra; in a song with violin accompaniment. Mr George Edwardes, ever on the look-out for new talent, secured the young artiste on a five vears' contract, and under his management she has become a very popular and successful comedy actress.

Besides being a very good executant, Miss Denise Orme is also a readv composer, for she wrote, at sixteen' vears of age, a song entitled "One Little Word," with which she is now delighting enthusiastic audiences at the Palace Theatre.

It is probable that the Hon. Mrs. J. \arde-Buller will shortly retire from the stage, to take up the more serious duties of married life; but she will first complete a tour that has been arranged for her, when she will sing another of her own compositions, entitled "See See."

MR. AUBTIN BRERTON. There are few writers who arc better known in journalistic circles than Mr Austin Brerton, whose latest book "The History of the Adclphi," has had I such a good reception, and should be read by all who delight in readme ot old-world associations. The district dealt with is known to everyone, and especially those who get Ihcir living by their pens, while the charming and fascinating way in which the author treats ot the historic neighbourhood of the Adelphi will make evervone who reads the book regret that there is not more of it.

Born at Liverpool in Julv, 1862, Mr Brereton found his way to the great Metropolis at the age of 19, and omcklv became associated with journalistic work.

From 1881—188? he was dramatic critic for "The Stage" and other theatrical papers, and, in addition, he contributed art and dramatic notes to various foreign and Colonial publications. For the past twenty-seven vears, in tact, he has been a foremost writer on theatrical subjects, some of his bestknown works being "Some Famous Hamlets" (1884); "Dramatic Notes" : L Cn !! c . aI /. ecord of the Sta S c f rom 188086; A Short History of the Strand Theatre" (1899); "By the Silent Highway" 11900) ; and "The Criterion-Past and Present."

He also arranged the illustrations on a novo plan for the "Complete Works of Shakespeare" (jooo), and supervised a new extended edition in 1902. . One of the most interesting works is The Lyceum and Henry living," which was published in 1903. He has been dramatic critic for "The Sphere" since Julv, 1901. laughing.

SWEEPINC AND DUSTINC. In a dusting room do not use a feather duster, because this does not remove the dust from the room, but only brushes it into the air. Use soft, dry cloths to dust with, and shake them frequently out of the window, or use slightly moistened cloths and rinse them out in water when you have finished.

A recent medical convention in England has not considered it beneath professional dignity to give housekeepers and maids some general directions when it comes to house-cleaning. Unhygienic ways of sweeping and dusting are unnucstionionably responsible for many different illnesses, for germs are in dust and dirl. To prevent making a great dust in sweeping use moist sawdust on bare floors. When the room is carpeted, moisten a newspaper and tear it into small scraps and scatter upon the earAs you sweep brush the papers along by the broom ;they will catch most of the dust and hold it fast, just as the sawdust does on bare floors.

pet when you begin sweeping. When you sweep a room raise as little dust as possible, because this dust, when breathed, irritates the nose and throat, and may set up catarrh.