MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 121, 19 June 1909, Page 4

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

i EAttUY KiiillNlSC-SCK, OF SWINBURNE. (London M.A.P.) Mr Forbes-Roliertsou's one addnss at the Shakespeare Cominemoiai.un. {service in Sonthwark Cathedral was the chief feature of the anniversary celebration. The mme of Swinburne brmi-ilit many interesting memories ol .lays' when the poet was .1 ymnijr niau or twenty-eight and i-oiric-HoOertson a lad of twelve. "He had already then aiven proof of his genius,'' said the gicat Mckor "His 'Atalanta in Calydoii' was first read in rav mother's drawing-room. Swinburne, iwas very fond ol reading aloud—not -necessarily his own woix; and revelled in the literature of the Jacobean and Elizabethan dramatistsWebster in particular. Well do 1 remember one evening when he had been reading from 'Tire Duchess ol Malh, and was about to take .'lis leave. He rushed back, pushed my father to one side, and, with Hashing eyes, said, Walt a bit; we must kill the Duchess! Swinburne did not read so much as chant in a wonderful way, as effective as it was original. Swinburne was passionately folud of children, and exercised an extraordinary influence over them. Once, I remember, when my sister (Mrs, Harrod) was' a little tot of a few months old, and was crying bitterly, ho said lie could at once soothe her sorrows, and, taking foer in his arms, he nestled his head against her own. Instantly, with a broken sob, the tears ceased, and Swinburne carried the contented child nn three nights of stairs without a protest. I often used to see him home, and had long walks with him, but soon we .parted, and saw little of him after he took up residence with Theodore Watts-Dunton. 1 endeavored to got Swinburne to adapt Francois-Coppec's play 'Pour la Couronne' for me, but 'n vain, bo availed" myself of another fine poet, John Davidson."

A SENSE OF HUMOR. This recalled a good story which contradicts the statement that John Davidson lad no sense of humor. "We were rehearsing his beautiful iplay at the Lyceum," said Mr. Robertson, "and Davidson was leaning against the proscenium engrossed in it. Presently a well-known actor, 'who shall be nameless, came on to the stage, waving his arms like a windmill and sawing the air b his desire to illustrate the text. Davidson edged quietly up to me. 'That, I suppose, will be a verra well-known actor,' lie said, sotto voce. 'Yes,' I agreed. 'And I presume he will be in receipt of a verra considerable honorarium.' he continued. I confessed ho was right. 'Then why does he wave his' arms nboot in that extraordinary manner?' said Davidson in his broad Scot's accent, adding 'With a 'humorous gleam in his eye, 'lf he did that in Piccadilly he -would be arrested!' "

A BLUNT RETORT. The visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Cowes in the Royal yacht Alexandra has been in connection with the future of Prince Edward of Wales.

Since the young prince is not intended to follow a naval career, but will enter the Army in due course, it now becomes necessary to modify his studies somewhat in' order that ihe may shortly be ready to' commence to read for the University. When he leaves Osborne

his comrades will he genuinely sorry to lose him, since he has made himself

highly popular, and enters -with great enjoyment into nil the sports, etc., of the college. A good story is told of one of his early experiences' at Osborne. He was down* to' play with the college cricket team, and "one of the opposing side approached casually and asked him what his name was. "Edward," replied the young prince. "Edward what?" demanded his questioner. "Nothing; just ■Edward." "Oh, you are a young ass; you must have another name!" was tht ! blunt reply of the elder boy as he turned away in "disgust. Subsequently, -when lil'ic lad found out with whom he had been speaking, he hastened to make apologies, but Prince Edward ' merely laughed and added; "But I have not , got another name, really, you know." i

THE KAISER'S FAVORITE.

Prince Eitel Fritz of Germany, who, it is rumored, is shortly to pay a visit to America, has a fondness for travel that is not always appreciated by his Imperial father, the Kaiser, and Ihe Prince's visit to Paris' some time ago greatly displeased Wilhelm 11. In spite of his somewhat wilful-disposition, however, Eitel Fritz is far and away Uie Kaiser's favorite sou, and it is said that he is more popular among the German people than is his udder brother, the Crown Prince. Probably -the chief re:-.-m)ii for his popularity is to be found -n the fact that he is completely lacking in "side," and his love of all manly games and sports is another quality in his favor. He is a fine shot and an expert horseman, and can navigate a yacht in quite a professional manner. The name "Eitel," by the way, means "vain," I and is an old family name among the Hohenzollerns.

A ROYAL LABORER. Some time ago Prince Eitcl found himself "rowing too stout, and so lie ' went in for a novel kind of ''cure" t.o ' decrease his weight. Vor several weeks i lie lived the life of an ordinary laborer I at hi* .summer residence near Charlotten, I lmrj.'. For many hours a day he wont I in assiduously for gardening, free-fell-ing, mill carpentering of all kinds. Clad in •workman's garments, ho also helped . in the construction of n new riding- j s'nliool, and worked a good deal harder , than-most of the other liuildefs. Even the l'rinee's wife is not above a little manual labor. On one occasion alio md , hdr husband became interested in the ] worH of some masons who were making a clockwork fountain, which so fascinated them that they both set to with f hammer and trowel'and worked at tiie | fountain for nearly Tialf-nn-honr, I jr. KTOLYPIX, | if. Stolypin, tlin Russian Premier*! •who* health has greatly ini]irovi'd late- • ly, is one of the most. rcmarkaWc men in tin- Empire of the Tsar. Although ' oiie of the greatest opponents of tiie revolutionary .party, he is far less of a".i autocrat than, most Russian* in high positions, and ilie is against the policy of slaughter so often to be met with in his' country. „M. fi'tolypin lias spent many years in political life. In ISB4 he entered the Ministry of the Interior, and was subsequently appointed (loverior of Saintoll'. It was in lflOO that he became Premier, nince when ihe has had inanv exciting experiences. In appcaranee M. Stolypin is by no means a striking personality, tint he is a man of iron a:id a iborn lighter, and he is said to be utterly fearless of the dangers' lihat surround him on every side.

TOLTIUXfi TRIIIUTKS,

Alhough lie 13 hated and feared by luradreds, tliere are many who hold jfc, Stolypin in the highest veneration. After the dreadful attempt upon his life in 19011, when many were killed and injured, and two of liis oirn Moved oJiSJ' dren 'were terribly mutilated, he went round in the coolest maimer possible surveying the wreck of his house, and searching for the dead and wounded. During his sad tour lie. eame across an ex-marshal of ('.lie nobility of Kovno, who was lying On the "round mortally hurl. Directly M, .Stolypin approached, the,, injured iimn opened his eyes, and {rasped: "You do -,iot recognise me; lmt say good-bye. How happy T am that I (iin killed —not you!" Another victim of Hie outrage, a general, wrote some time previously to a friend, giving instructions that he desired carried out in the event of his death, ami added that he 'Would gladly lie a sacrifice, provided that the Premier, M. Stolypin, •was saved.

,; LORD TEXXYSOX. The 'commonwealth of Australia will be represented at the forthcoming International Copyright Conference by Lord Tennyson. He does not, it may be remembered, hear his father's Christian name, but only that of his father's friend, llallain. ' The historian asked at the 'christening, "Why not give the child your own name as well as mine?" "Fo r fear." replied Tennyson, "for fear he should turn out a fool. Let liis nani'i i lie Halkim only." His appointment in ISfID to the position of Governor of ' South Australia, came as a surprise to ) tiie. public, in general, Unit his success i more lilian justified the choice. One of his' first acts on reaching the colonies J was to' allow himself to he interviewed i hv a leading newspaper, in connection | with which an amusing blunder oc- ■ curred. Lord Tennyson, in reply to a question a'Jiont Lord Roberts, remarked , that "liOrd Roberts never hesitated to , tell the truth to serve the Arniv." The i next day the newspaper described him I as saying, "Tn order to serve the Army, Roberts aw the. tru, v X"

VISCOUNT HOSIER. iThis month. Viscount Milricr caters upon his fifty-sixth year. Son of a doctor, he first came before the public ns assistant editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, then under the control of Mr. \V, X. Stead. In those days lie had the reputation of toeing somewhat lackadaisical, und until tilic day wore on it is eaid to have been a physical impossibility to rouse him. In this connectio:i an amusing story is told. While addressing a meeting in the East End, a ma:i in tl)e body of the hall hurled some derisive remark at him. To the amazement of everyone on the platform, Milnei's temper' was disturbed for the first time on record. Gazing at the interrupter with flaring eyes, he retorted in such- a forcible manner that the fellow instantly collapsed and slunk out. "I really think I could speak," he confided to 'Mr. Stead the next morning in relating the incident, "if I could have someone to hit me in the eye before 1 started. But it needs a thumper like that to make me take off my coat." To this Mr. Stead replied: "Well, Milner, I wish I could hit you every morning before you start work/'

LADY BURGESSES, It is s'eldom that we Jicar of tins freedom of a Scottish Iburgh being conferred on a lady. However, the old town of Paisley, in Renfrewshire, which dates back to the rßign of James IV., has decided to abandon the old unwritten law of reserving this honor for politicians, and, as a token of appreciation, is about to inscribe on its roll of burgesses the names of two prominent West of Scotland ladies who have been closely identified for years with philanthropic work in the neighborhood. The ladies who arc to be made* the recipients of this unique honor are Mrs. Stewart Clark, of Dumlas, and Mrs. John Poison, of Westinourtt. The former is the widow of one of the partners of the firm «f Clark .and Co., thread manufacturers, now one of the principal constituents of the great Coats combination. Mrs. Clark originally came from Lame, and Sir Hugh Smiley, Bart., who died the other day, was her brother. For the last fifty'years M~rs. Clark has taken a very active interest in social work in ■ Paisley, her principal benefactions hav-. ing been associated with the local infirmary, where she recently founded a ward in memory of her husband.

PRACTICAL PHILANTHROPY. Mrs. Poison's husband was widely known as one of the .pioneers of the corn-flour trade, and as one of the founders of the celebrated firm of Brown and Poison. The. late Mr. Poison had very original and practical ideas on philanthropy, and in particular his workers were encouraged to patronise the local savings bank. In educational mat. ters he insisted on a practical knowledge of nature being imparted to the local school children, and to every pupil who could tell the names of, say, «eventy trees, not merely by repeating them in parrot-like fashion, 'but by distinguishing Specimen branches exhibited, he would award a prize. In this way he distributed hundreds of books each year. In like manner Mrs. Poison is best known in Paisley not so much for her handsome charitable donations as for the very active interest she takes in town improvement schemes, and it was due to her timely gift of .£IO,OOO that the principal business corner of the town was recently widened and improved.

A SHOCK FOE THE GENEBAL.

General Sir OJloore Creagh, who has been 'definitely selected to follow Lord Kitchener in the supreme command i.i India towards the crosc of the present year, has served for the past .two years or so as Military Secretary of the India Office, where his' knowledge of the Dependency and its military problems has been well-nigh invaluable to Lord Morley and the permanent officials. He is ! an officer of the Indian Army, with which he ilius served for nearly forty years. Like many of onr other leading Generals, General Creagh is an Irishman and hnils from Clave. His last appointment in India was as Commandant ,of a First-class District. While serving ! in this eapaeitv he bid an amusing ex- ' pevience on one occasion. He had presented the prizes at the garrison sports, and was rather surprised when one of the prize-winners—<i private in an infantry regiment—approaohed him n few days later and begged to know if be would be allowed to change his prize for something more useful. "What wasi your prize?'' asked tlie General. In reply .the man produced a long case from under his arm and showed a handsome pair of meat-carvers. "Very nice, lam sure," said General Creagh. "What do yon want to change them for?" "Well, you see, sir." replied the man, "I find them rather difficult to use at mealtime, anil if it is all tihe same to tho committee, sir, I would rather have a knife and fork of the usual size to eat my meal with." General Creagh had to has'i'.'.y turn his face away to avoid his \ mirth becoming visible to the man.

ARCHDEACON OF MANCHESTER.

The Archdeacon of Manchester, the i Kev. .1. C. Wriglit, M.A., *ho lias been elected Archbishop of Sydney, is inti- | inately associated with- all branches of I church work in a city which after Lon- j ' don ranks amongst the largest in the ' Empire, He is chaplain to the lay j readers in the diocese, has been a prime I mover in the diocesan'missionary fes- | tivalf.', is on many diocesan committees, I and has taken an active interest in I home missionary work. A writer in England said last February that there . was "hardly any branch of public church ! work in which he had not already had , good, training.' 1 As a citizen he has taken a keen interest in the industrial and other social questions, and in a comparatively recent sermon in the ] Manchester -Cathedral he showed liis power in that direction. He is chairman of the Manchester and Salford Hospital Sunday Kimd. He was secretary of the | subjects committee of, the last Church I Congress. After winning the LangI worthy scholarship at the Manchester j Grammar School lie became "pontI master" at Merton College, Oxford, a j ! scholarship of CBO per annum, and only • open to be won by those under nineteen I years of age. He took a good 'degree i in the University, and was ordained a curate for lubworth. He was there three year-, and then became curate nm! "lecturer." a s'2ll of his power as a speaker, to the Bradford Parish Church. AVlien oiijy about thirty-one he was elected by the trustees as vicar of i Ulvorston, in the diocese of Carlisle, [ j where he had two eurates under him. i I Two years later he was elected by trus- ■ tees as vicar of St. George's, Jjeeds'. an important parish in the north of Kiig- , land. The church will seat fourtcn hundred. In 100-1 he was offered by tha Dean and Chapter of Manchester the position of canon residentiary and the parish of St. George's, Huline, with a church seating seventeen hundred persons, which he accepted. From there in January last he was raised by liishon Knox to be Archdeacon of Manchester. The archdeaconry has M 7 benefices and about 11(10 clergy, and in England is second only in importance to the Archdeaconry of London. Ho is 4ft or it years of a^re,