People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 31, Issue 44, 31 October 1907, Page 28

People We Hear About

Astronomical science, (says • the ' Ay e Maria') has suffered a loss, that will be' .widely felt by the* death of Father Karl Bauer, the founder of the observatory at - Kalocsa, in Hungary, and the inventor of a number of valuable meteorological instruments. He • was a member of the Society of Jesus. v - - - Mr. Owen Phelim O'Conor,' eldest son of the 0 Conor Don, - arrived in Wellington last week, and expectS to remain in New Zealand for about six months. It is strange (wrote a correspondent of the ' Freeman's Journal' at Me- time of The death of our visitor's. * grandfather in June of last year) that the title of the .late O'Oonor Don was almost invariably written as 'The P™ nor Don>> wh -. ereas the - correct form should be 0 Conor Don.' Tlie error arose from a confusion of ideas as to the affix < Don,' several eminent scholars^ holding that it was the distinguishing adjective of one Branch of the O'Conor family as opposed to -• Roe.' Certainly Turlogh Ruaffn O'Conor, grandson' of King Felim O'Conor, was called < O'Conor Hoe,' from the color oj Ins hair, but In the case of his rival and narnesaice, Turlogh, the affix ' Don 'had no such significance. In, 1385 we meet wilh the name « O'Conor Don' for the first time, and ever since the head of the fan> lly has uniformly been styled 'O'Conor Don.' Alexander; O'Conor Don, died in 1820, and with him- ended . the descend in the male line of Hugh Og O'Conor . of Castlerea. TEe headship of the family then- devolved ??„ ?W? W £ n + £ C ,°M Or S l Be j an agare, who had previously acquired the Clonahs estate, and whose death occurred ' m June, 1T531. Denis O'Conor Don died in 1847, and was succeeded in the title and estates by his eldest son, Charles Owen, the late O'Conor Don. nr,?Z m °V-^ S u n rV Mr ' John Redmond is the 'finest orator in the British House of Commons at the present fl me f n (sa ?f 5* c London ' Onlooker '). He possesses to the full, all the poetic eloquence of. his race. In his soft, rich brogue, which, if not so pronounced as that 01 some of his followers, is at least, more pleasant to^ the ear. I have heard Mr. Redmond deliver more than one speech, that is quite worthy to rank with anything that the House has ever listened to. As he warms to his subject, he assumes a dignity of bearing, and a re's, traiint of language, that becomes him well, and even the most casual observer realizes that he fully believes .in every word he is uttering ; that he is exerting himself to the utmost, to convince his auditors of the justice of the cause for which he pleads. It may be said, that Mr. Redmond never resumes his seat, without having done something to advance the well-being of his beloved country. To hear him emphasizing the disadvantages under which Ireland labors, to paint her woes,' and to picture' her wrongs, would move the most inveterate Unionist who never waved a pocket handkerchief at a Primrose League Demonstration. In all parts of the House, Mr. Redmond is popular, even with his hereditary foes— the Irish Unionist members. And speaking of this, I recall -a remark made to me hy the late Col. Sanderson, only a short time before his death' : «if there were manyrmore Irishmen * possessed of the eloquence and ability of John Redmond, it would not "be long before Great Britain was won over "to the side of Home Rule '. Bishop LeFevre of Detroit, the predecessor of Bishop Borgcss, was a good, holy man, and dearly loved by his people. Hie had a most amiable .disposition, and carried sunshine and gladness, wherever he went. The Bishop was a fine conversationalist, and told many good stories full of wit and humor. When a young man, he was very thin and delicate looking but after he turned 40, he- fell into flesh very much, which he 'found uncomfortable, for he .was always a man of austere and abstemious habits. In his early days in Detroit, he formed the acquaintance of a tall, raw-boned Yankee, who was in the lumber business, Sam Jenkins by name. Sam failed, and shifted elsewhere, returning to Detroit, after an absence of twelve years. The Bishop met him- on the street one day, and stopped, extending his hand cordially to his old friend with the salutation : ' Why Sam, my old friend, how do you do ?' Sam shied a little, and muttered. * ' Stranger, you seem to have the advantage of me.' ' ' Good gracious Sam>; don't you know your old acquaintance, Bishop LeFevre ?' 1 You Bishop LeFevre ?' asked Sarai in astonishment. 1 Why, Bishop, how in the name of sense did you get so fat ? I would surely never know you.' - ''All the effect of a good conscience,' said the Bishop laughing heartily. ' Wai you must excuse me, Bishop,' retorted Sam, [ ' but you must have had a confounded bad conscience when I knew you fust.'