People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 37, 14 September 1905, Page 10

People We Hear About

Ati exchange reports that the Holy Father recently gave audience to a poor man living at Tivoli, near Home, who personally presented the Pontiff with a bunch txf asparagus of his own growing. In exchange he received the Pope's photograph. Amon'gi Lord RoHierts's many claims to distinction it is little known that he is one of the best and hardest riders in, the British Army. In his younger days he was nicknamed Jehu,' ' h|ecause heridetih furiously,' and even to-day his staff must be good riders and well mwnted in order to keep pace with him. It is related that when Sarasate, the famous violinist, (juittdd the Paris Conservatoire the advice was tendered him, ' Wed thy violin, Sarasate, my son, but no, or wad a woman. 1 The great player is now over 60 years of age and unmarried. For something like -30 years ,past be teas enjoyed an immense reputation, and since tho age of 12 he has always practised six hours a day. Cardinal Raphael Merry del Val, Pontifical Secretary of State, is a Londoner by birth. It was on October 10, 18&5, at Portman Square, that he first saw the lighifc, 'bis fatihefr at the time hieing Secretary to tho Spanish Embassy. He wont to school at Slough, and completed his education at Ushaw Uollage, Durham. Cardinal Merry del Val speaks five languages fluently— English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Miss Marie Narelle, of New South Wales (says tfae ' Austraßa'sian '), who has beetu singing for over a year in the United States, is still, according to accounts, doing well there, where she is called the Irish-Aoistra-lan soprano. She lately sang at the annual festivp.l ot tlic Gaelic Society in New York, and received a very warm leoeption. She has booked many engagements at Lake Uhamplain, Cliff Haven, and also in Montreal, Quebec, and Ottawa, Canada. Mr. Walter Kirby, our golden-voiced tenor (says a Melbourne paper), isi evidently succeeding as well socially in the g,reat English centre as he Sid when here. He is at) ipresent the guest of the multi-millionaire, Sir George Newsies,. Bart., witih whom and a small select party he is dn joy ing a summer cruise on the French coast in that gentleman's magnificent yacht, ' Albion.' Meanwhile, the Diudhess of Somerset is making arrangements for his first London appearance, which is to take pla-e early in tho autumn, and the success of which will le locked forward tio with much interest by Mr., Kirby'b friends and well-wishers in Melbourne. Mr. Justice Real, of the Supreme Court of Queensland, is certainly qualified for inclusion in any new edition of ' Self -'Help.' Born in Limerick 58 years ajgp, Le was only a child when his parents emigrated to Australia. He was apprenticed to a carpenter, and afterwards found employment in the Queensland Government railway workishops. At the age of 21 he resolved to become, a barrister. A Catlholic priest taught him Latin and Greek, and he learnt all his law himself from the 'diligent study of text-books. At 27 he was called to tl c Queensland Bar, and at 43 he was a Judge of the Supreme Court. Mr. W. Kiilen, who moved the resolution adopted at the Farmers' and Settlers' Association meeting in Sydney Ihe dilier day condemning sectarianism, is a splendid typo of North of Ireland man, a sturdy Presbyterian Home Ruler, nephew to Dr. Kiilen, wfro was once hwad of the PresVyterian College, Belfast, and Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly. His grandfather, aether Dr. Kiilen, is the historian of thej Ulster Rebellion of '98. Mr. Kiilen, who has 'been for some years in Australia, is a son-in-law of the Hon. CharJes Young, whlo was for a long time menibej for Kyp€)ton in tho Victorian Assembly, and a prime favorite in that almost Irish town. Mark Twain's first meeting with James M'Neill Whittler seems to have been as characteristic as was to Slave been expected. This is how he recently described it :> 'I was introduced to Mr. Whistler in hisstudio* in London. I had heard that the painter was an incorrigible joker, and I was determined to get the bettor of him A if possible. So at once I put 'on my most hopelessly 1 stupid air, and I drew near the canvas that Mr. Whistler was completing. ■" That ain't bad," I saW. "It ain't bad, only here in this corner "—and I made as if to rub oart a cloud effect witib my finger. " I'd do away with that cloud if I was you." Whistler cried nervously, " Gad, sir, be careful there. Don't you see tihe r<aint is not dry ? " '" Oh, that don't matter," siaid I, ">l'vo gp-t my gloves on." ' Mr. Clement adds that they go* on very well together afterwards.