People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 8 December 1904, Page 10

People We Hear About

Mi. Justin McCarthy, the veteran Irish Lovelist and writer, has just entered on his 7 5 tin ye>ar. The night Rev. Dr. llsley, Bis^p of Birmingham, who celebrated hio episcopal silver jubilee on Sunday last, was bom at Stjailord on May 11, 1838. He was educated at Stidgley Park School, and 'afterwards at Oscou College. Jie was ordained priest J,une 29 1861 and w,is consecrated Bishop nf Fesse (Bishop-Auxiliary) in St. Chad's Cathedral by the Right Rev. Dr Ullathorne, O S.B , then Bishop of Birmingham, on December 4, 187 1). On February 17, 18,88, he was? transferred to tjhe See of Birmingham. Dr. llsley holds the following public ppsitaons— Go,V€»rnor of the University of Birmingham, president of Duooesajn Voru/ntary Schools' Association, hon. president of Birmingham Catholic Association, aaid president of the Catholic Art Society.

Lord North, who 'has just celebrated his 68tdi birthday, i,s the holder of a title whi^h lay dormant fogr nearly forty years at the beginning ,of tine past centlury, and was terminated in 1811 in favor of his mother. The prescint Lord North, who is a Catihohc, is a Knight of Malta, and vice-president of that Sovereign Order in Great Britain. He has for some time had tjhe interests in Britain of tihe Maltese Nobles, of whose assembly he is president, m his keeping, but the connection is purely social, iamd relates only to presentations at Court and Go lorth.

Airoins.o XIII., Spain's youthful mioinarah, has choseh the bea-utilul D,u,chess Marie Antoinette of MeeklenWurgSchwerm to be his bride. He is eighteen and sfie is twenty. The Ihiehess, who was born in Venice, is- natuially Latin in her sympathies, and met the King while he was travelling with his tutors in Italy aftd Austria-, As ( a b|oy Altonso learned to play football and billiards, and is a dasihing horseman, lie emulates the Kaiser in his demotion to military sciemce, and at times snows a rare s(kill during the Spanish military manoeuvres. It is not stated when the marriage ceiennony is to t>ako place.

Judge Adams, the County Court Ju,dge of Limerick, and a well-kaiown story teller mi the National Liberal Club, is one of the wittiest of Irishmen, but occasionally in an encounter he conies out second best. Recently he was presiding at Quarter Sessions in Limerick. A juror asked the Judge to excuse him from serving on account of deaf neb,. ' Were you in my court during my charge to the jury in the last case ? ' a&ked tho Judge. ' \es, youi honne-r,' replied the juror. 'Did you hear it ? ' l \ es, yer honner, I heard /©very word of it, bfcit I couldn't make any sinse of it.' The reply evoked a roar of laughter, in which Judge Adams heartily joined. But he did 'not excuse that juror.

Xhe Princess of the Asturias, sister of the Kifrg of Spaifa, died on October 17. '1 he Princess was tihe sister of the King of Spam, and from the day of her birth, September 'll, 1880, until the birth of her brother, May 17i, 1866, was the presumptive heiress of the tthxone. The birtjK of a boy altered the position of the Ihfaata Maria de las Mercedes Isabella Theresa Christina Alphonsina Hyacmttha, for such was her name in full. The Princess was married February 14, 1901, to Prince de Bourbon, a relation who belonged to the branch of the family that formerly reigned in the Tw,o Sicilies. Her husband was naturalised as a Spanish subject, held the rank of liuant of Spain, and was a general in the S,panish army.

The strained relations which have recently arisen between France and the "Vatican have brought Cardinal ;\lerry del \a I into prominence. He is the Pope's Seoretary of -State, and m many cases is held to be responsible for his Holincss's action in regard to the withdrawal of the Bishops from France. The Cardinal's position at the Vatican (Ways the l Review of Rejvievjs') is one of the highest importance. Through his hands pass all the important atiairs of state, and on his tact and judgment depends in great measure tihe friendly ,ielatio»ns 'between the Holy See and the Catholic PioWers of the world. At one time it was qjiiite likely fchat'we should have seen Cardinal Merry del Val in England. 'On the death of Cardinal Vaughaji he was mentioned as being tihe probable successor to the Ardhbishopric of Westminster. The post of Secretary of State, stacceerting Carjdmal Hompoila, was considered, however, to give greater scope for his peculiar abilities, and very soon after his appointment he was raised to the rank ■ of Prince of t,hc Church. The Cardinal has served,, -the Church in many lands— from Spain to Manitoba. ..His knowledge of countries is indeed wide, for, whilst ,lus father was a Spanish nobleman, his mother was .an Irish woman. Cardinal Merry del Val's education svas received at Slough and Durham. He is a fluent conversatiqnalist in five languag.es.