WHO'S WHO?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10016, 12 April 1910, Page 7

WHO'S WHO?

The father and mother of Mr Will Thome, who was returned for West Ham South, were both bricKmakers. He was only seven when his father was accidentally killed, and he never had a day's schooling, though he says that "hard work, self-reliance, listening to good speakers, and reading will give anyone a sort of education." These ars the things, Mr Thorne declares, which have pulled him through. Earl Percy, the eldest son of the Duke of Northumberland, who died recently, owed his second Christian name —Algernon—to a curious circumstance. The founder of his family was one William de Percy, who came over to England with William the Conqueror. He w?s known by the strange title of "WiiJiam als Geraon, r ' or "William with the Whiskers," and since that time most of the male Percys have been christened Algernon in consequence. A few years ago the fortune of Mr John Cory, who recently died near. Cardiff, was estimated at about £3,000,000. His career furnishes a remarkable romance of industry, for, beginning in a humble way, he and ! his brothers .Richard built up a vast business, first as caol agents then as colliery proprietors a»id shipowners. Mr John Cory became the richest man in Wales, and enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most generous ' men in the United Kindom. His charity list included 2,000 societies, and it is stated Jthat he gave away £40,0700 per annum. The Earl of Desart has been appointed to be one of the four British members of the Permanent Tnternational Court of Arbitration at the Hague. A traveller, a cricketer, a shot, Lord Desart is not at all the sort of man who might be looked for in one who has filled the position of solicitor to the Treasury, director of public prosecution?, and King's proctor. Perhaps, however, something of his breezy characteristics come from his. earlier experiences in the navy, which was certainly an unusual route whereby to reach the Bar and the law courts.

There is probably no man who is more passionately devoted to cycling than Mr George Cadbury, the heaa of the famous UournvUle cocoa firm of that name. He nimaelf cycles every day from his home to the works, a distance of a mile and a half, and back again in the evening. Every Sunday morning he rises at six o'clock, and cycles into Birmingham, five miles away, to conduct an eight o'clock Sunday morning class tor men and youths. Nothing is allowed to interfere with attendance at this class, and even in the depth of winter Air Cadbury is punctually at his post. Mr Cadbury is proud of his class, and every member is proud of Mr Cadbury. ueneral Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny, who has just recovered from a serious illness, believes more in the efficacy of actual experience and training than in all the military text books ever written. Once i* was hinted to Sir Thomas that his methods were not approved by text books. "By all the laws of the text books," replied the bluff and hearty soldier, "Moore should never haye escaped from Corunna, and Wellington should have been crushed at Waterloo; Roberts' march to Kandahar should have been impossible, and De Wet should have been finally defeated and captured in a month. Text books are good in their way, but the man who is going to be led by them will never win campaigns." The recent centenary of Gladstone's birth recalls the fact that it was Mr Henry Labouchere who christened him the "Grand Old Man of Politics." Ther*> is probable no man who knows more of the inner history of politics than "Labby.'' But for an accident he might have prevented the split between Mr Gladstone and Mr Chamberlain un the Home Rule question. He neatly saved the situation by effecing a compromise with Mr Chamberlain as to the retention of Irish members at Westminster This was on the Saturday, and Mr Labouchere went to his residence, Pope's Villa, for the week-end. While he slept at Twickenham Mr Parnell caused the report to be spread that Mr Gladstone had not yielded one point. Mr Chamberlain was. consequently, indignant, and the rupture grew to such proportions that a reconciliation was ultimately found impossible. j Miss Ethel Irving, who has made J such a "hit" in the new Garrick J piece, "Dame Nature," was for' some time with Mr George Edwardes I in musical comedy, and tells an amusing story apropos of her appearance in "San Toy" at Stoke. "As the maid Dudley 1 had to sing a few songs," she says, "and I noticed a stage hand night after night looking at me thoughtfully from the side. He came upon our last night and said, "Good evening, Miss Irving; ever played fairy queen?" I said 'No/ 'Why do you not try here for Christmas?' he said. I said blushingly, 'Fairy queens have to do most of the singing, and I am afraid my voice is not quite up to that form.' 'Ah,' he said wearily, 'we have heard worse.' I understood, after that, why Mr George Edwardes always gave me talking songs to sing" J