MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 198, 25 September 1909, Page 3

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

PRINCESS PATRICIA AS WATERI TINDER, j i Much has been written on Princess Patricia of Coaiiuught; but everyone inuv not know liiat she is said lo pusjscss a sort of sixth sense, called the odie force. 'lbis puivcr tells its owner when he or she is in the near neighborhood of water or minerals, and is a rare gift, the reality of which has in several ciiH-s been properly attested. Princess IPaniciu travels a'good deal, and goes much into society, bul she has several quiet pursuits, and bids fair to oecomu a good artist. J'or instance, a year ur two ago a charming fiower-picture ■ f hers was on view at the New Gallery. Writing of pictures recalls to mind Sargent's lovely portrait of the young princess, which docs justice to her pretty face and figure, hut hardly to the goldbrown hair; that is one of her chief attractions.

THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.

I The Duke of Cumberland, whose magnificent palace in Vienna was burnt to the ground recently, should have more than a passing interest to 'the average English reader. Brother-in-law of Que in Alexandra and cousin of King Edward, the Duke, is descended directly from [George 111., "farmer George" being Irs great-grandfather. The long-standing ! quarrel between the. Duke and the Kaiser is, of course, not unknown. Efforts have been made over and over again to establish amicable relationship between him and the German Royal Family, on one occasion by Queen Victoria herself, but without avail, the Duke declining such intervention on th-j ground that, beiag a German Prince, he could not ask the help of a foreign Government.

THE NEW COMPTROLLER OF THE KING'S HOUSEHOLD.

No one acquainted with the Earl of Liverpool can doubt that he will be .' he right margin the right place when he takes over' his new poet of Comptroller of the Royal Household. He brings with him all the qualities which are necessary to success in dealing with the various branches of his office, whilst he never shirks work, and is eminently thorough in the most trivial things he undertakes —of middle height, with marked features, large bright eyes, and a pemrating glance, one gets the impression that nothing escapes his notice, and that if he chose to "let himself go," he could bd an amusing raconteur to whom the fofbles of his acquaintances are as an open book. However, he is much too kind-hearted to make merry at other people's expense, and his affable manner makes him a persona grata with high and low. He was extremely popular in Dublin during his term as State Steward and Chamberlain to Lord Abcr. deen, and last April, when he was staying at the Viceregal Lodge, his former colleagues on the Lord Lieutenant's staff gave him, as a parting gift, a valuable silver cup, hie equally popular wife being the recipient of a dainty silver and tortoiscshell jewel case.

A HAPPY APPOINTMENT. The appointment of the Earl of Plymouth lu serve on the Censorship Committee is a singularly happy one, ior he takes more th»n a passing intercut in matters appertaining to the drama. In his early days he was an amateur actor of considerable ability, appearing on one occasion in his favorite role of Joseph Surface, before an audience which included Queen Victoria and Kin,; Edwajd. The Earl is also considered one of the finest connoisseurs of art h England, and has written an authoritative work on Constable, lie is, moreover, a fine artist himself, several of his pictures having been liung in West-cad galleries, A HISTORIC TITLE.

Lord Plymouth's pedigree goes back to the days of the Empress Maud, und-ir whom William Fitz-Waltcr was Castellan of Windsor. The first Baron of the name distinguished himself in t'.ie French wars at the 6iege of Tcrrouene, and the sixth holder rendered important service to Charles I. during tne Civil War, maintaining a troop of Royalist horse at his own expense. In the Midlands and in the Principality the present Earl is still better known as Lord Windsor, a title, which he he'd for thirty-live years previous to being elevated to the rank of Earl some three years ago. He.has a fine old seat, St. Fagar's Castle, jusl outside Cardiff, and he derives a large income from Welsh coalmines and ground-rents.

A WITTY LORD. Lord Newton, whose amusing speech m the House of Lords did much to enliven the conscription debate, has all his life been noted for his habit of giving very frank expression to his- views, for thirteen years he sat in the llouee of Commons as Conservative member for Newton, only vacating his seat on sueeroding his father, the lirst baron, whose wit and repartee he has largely inher ted. Once, after addressing the House at considerable length on some Army estimates, he made a dramatic pause just before the end his speech. "If the honorable member has quite finished," interjected a satirical member, "I shall show him that his contention is ridiculous." ''Then, for the sake of the House,'' said Lord Newton, Then plain Mr. Ijegh, "I will go-on." And he did, for three-quarters of an hour. Equally effective was tile retort of the first liaron Newton at a political meeting, whe n he was requested to state lm opinions regarding the Came Laws. "So far as my estates are concerned," came the prompt reply, "there is no use for them, for you've taken all the game!"

PROFESSOR NEWCOMB. By the death of Professor SinV'n Newcomb a remarkable figure has been removed from the world of astronomical science. The son of a stone-cutter who possessed a, copy of Euclid, he came to begin the real work of his life through an accident. Like many another Canadian boy, he early crossed ove r into the l r nited States in search of a fortune. His first work was teaching in a small elementary school on the eastern shore of Maryland. After a year or two there was a vacancy on the staff of the Nautical Almanac. Young Newcomb applied for the situation, and was asked to call and see the head of the department, who put him through it particular'.)' rigid examination. Newcomb. much to his own astonishment—for lip had never seriously studied the subject—emerged successfully, and was given the appointment.

As an example of his skill in astronomical work, he was not long since looking over an eclipse observed somewhere in the Northern Pacific about a hundred years ago by some Russian astronomers, when he said: "That must In; wrong. Their watches must have misled them." And upon figuring he found that they had made the mistake of a day in their calculations.

GREATER THAN WASHINGTON. In spite of his scientific attainments Professor Ncwcomb had a delicious sense of humor, and he delighted to tell the story of how on one occasion a deputation of inllucntial Kvntuckv, negroes visited liini al Washington. I "We, the people of Kentucky." said tile j spokesman, "have heard of yon, sah. I am glad to meet you, sail. 'M v people, sah, think you i greater man than Washington." To this the profess >v bowed, and replied: "Von Hatter me 1 overmuch. George Washington was a | very great man." "George Washing-. I ton!" exclaimed tlie spokesman. "Thunder, no! No, sah. I mean Booker T. Washington." i * « # PUBLICAN AND UMPIRE. I A capital speaker. Lord Harris once! told an amusing story of how in his young days he was persuaded to take part in a grand two-days' match organised by a certain club to open the cricket season. Great preparations were made, and the services of a local publican, who boasted of being an ex-groundsman from Lord's, were enlisted as umpire. Unfortunately, owing to the wet weather, the match seemed likely to finish out first day, as by luiieheon'tirao each of the teams had completed a single innings. On resuming one of the bowlers made several appeals for "leg before," but the decision was always ini the batsman's favor. "How's that, then?" he asked triumphantly, as he at last scattered the stumps. '"No ba'l." roared the umpire: '"and It ain't no use for you to keep on bothering, youn* fellow. This 'ere match has got to Inst two days out. That's my refreshment | tent over there."