People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 38, 21 September 1905, Page 10

People We Hear About

Mr. William O'Brien, M.P. (says a. London weekly), is busily engaged in writing his reminiscenpes, (which are likely to prove exceedingly interesting reading when they tare published. From the age of 17^-that is since 18&9— whein he bjecame a junior reporter on the 4 Cork Daily H-eral'd,' he has been behind the scenes in Irish politics, and an active participant in some important events, the secret history of which has never been published. His prison experiences, for instance, should made a piquant chapter. The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, tftie Hon. A. Deakin, has just entered on hiss 50th year. He is eleven years youmger than Mr. George Reid. Mr. Deaikin was born poor, "became {a. law student and a journalist, and then a Parliameint^riian. He was a Minister of the (Jrown at 27, and was offered knighthood at the age of 33. He declined the distinction twice. Mr. Deakin is a tall, thin, bright-eyed man, with youthful manners and enthusiasm, but has \ cry poor health. Mr. Uharl'es J. Bona'partes, the distinguished American Catholic, who was recently appointed by President Roosevelt Secretary of the United States Navy, has decided not to 'accept free passes on the railways as has bfcen> the custom of his predecessors in office. •My declining,' said ire, 'to avail myself of the free passes sentj me wad not intended in any wise as a reflection either on the railroads whose officers tendered me this courtesy or on other public officials whose opinion on this subject may differ from mine. I recognise fully that many highly estimable men altogether upright men in public can see no objection to the acceptance of free passes. I think otherwise, and without criticising others, must act for myself, on my own convictions.' There arc few more notable personalities' in the Army -than Sir William Butler, whose striking report is noiw fctedng discussed on all hands. Alike physically and mentally he is a man of mark. Standing over Cft. high, his bearing and presence attracts attention to him anywhere, while, though he is now getting- on for sixty-fi»ve, he seems still as active and vigorous, both in mind and body, as ever he was. Hard work and exciting experiences in majny!.. 1/ands ha\c had only the best effects on Sir William's splendid constitution. Sir William is 'the author of several U>oks of. travel, tihe best livown and most popular of which is ' The Great Lone Land,' the outcome of a special mission to Saskatchewan territories of Canada, which he undertook in 1870. The legal position of Queen Alexandra is very curious. Soi far as her private business is concerned, she is no 1 ! regarded <by the laws and customs of England 'as a married woman at all. She is the only woman in Great Britain who does not come withintihe scope of the Married Woman's Property Act. The idea of the law is that affairs of State consume all the time of the King, and, therefore, no responsibility for the Queen's private business rests) upon him. If the Queen contracted debts in her husband's name, be would not be responsible for them as any other hAisiband would. The King cannot be sued for debt, but, the Queen can Vt>. Should the Kfo>g> die, some authorities hold that the Queen could not marry a^ain, in case she wished to do so, without the special license and commission of the King's successor. The modesty and amiability of the Duke of Norfolk are we'l known, these characteristics giving rise to many anecdotes of the Premier Duke and Earl Marshal of England, the following being tho latest :— A Brighton woman, it seems, took her little girl on, an excursion to Arundel. They had thirdclass tickets, hub ag the train was crowded they ware put into a first-class carriage. The little girl at once maldo friends' with the only occupant of the compartment, (a! ipjentlonvan "who bad botn reading a paper, blit put it away t-o talk to the child. They became so friendly that she opened her basket and gave him a banana. Hd accepted fit, and aJmi-ably *at<e it, so tho little girl rlecame more chatty than ever about what she meant or expected to do at Arundel. He asked whether she would like to seci inside; the castle, and as the train nulled up at tha station ho gave the mother a card, telling frer that iti would admit them to all parts of the castle. The kdnd ,e<entleraan got out and aaiickly disappeared, and the astonished mother Hiscovered from the card that he was 1 the Duke of Norfolk.