People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 30 October 1913, Page 41

People We Hear About

-'■■-'-■J -:";■■■.'■:- While all the monarchs of Europe sent presents x to ' King Manoel ' on the occasion of his marriage, the -~- iLI & U 1 xl "*v "Uuiooosa .mo to tut) iviuy 01 x oriiugai.' The Austrian Emperor is the greatest linguist among monarchs, speaking, no less than eleven languages quite fluently. The Kaiser, it is said, can make himself understood, in seven. Canada has had two Catholic Premiers late Sir John Thompson, a convert to the faith, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who for almost a scbre of years prior to the last election, occupied the highest position, next to that of the Governor-General, in the political life of the Dominion. Sir Wilfrid is still hale and vigorous,, and continues to lead the Liberal Party in the Parliament at Ottawa. There is (says the World) nothing which Lord and! Lady Kenmare feel more, in the overwhelming misfortune that has come upon them, than the destruction of the private chapel at Killarney House, whose rare beauty was due to the taste and devotion of Lord Kenmare's mother. Wherever she lived, Gertrude Lady Kenmare had the gift of gathering round her beautiful things, arranged in perfect taste; and this was evidenced not only in the sumptuous interior of her lovelyIrish home, but also in the Roman flat, close to Trinita. de' Monti Church, and in the charming little house at Sevenoaks, where she spent the last years of her life. It is a curious fact that one of the most prominent ecclesiastical architects of the day, largely employed by the Anglican custodians of our ancient cathedrals, is a Catholic (says an English correspondent). Mr; G. Gilbert Scott, a grandson of the late celebrated architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, is the author of the famous; Lady chapel, which is a feature of the new Anglican Cathedral at Liverpool, and which, though it bears the old Catholic name, is to be made a sort of Valhalla of famous women. But when it comes to restoring and preserving the beauties of the past, the Catholic mind of this rising architect is a great advantage to the nation generally. He has just submitted designs to the Dean and Chapter of Chester Cathedral for the restoration of the beautiful old Refectory, which is one of the finest examples of monastic refectories in the country, though, as the architect says, vandalism and decay have, combined to rob it of its former beauty.' Lord de Freyne, who died on September 11 at French Park, County Roscommon, was descended from Walter French, Chief Magistrate of Galway in 1445, and prominent are the legal associations with the late peer's name. Litigation beset his birth. Born in 1855, he was his father and mother's fourth son; but the three elder boys were debarred from succession on the pretext, good in law, of illegality in the marriage of his parents, celebrated by a Catholic priest. The ceremony had to be repeated in a Protestant church, and after that ceremony the late peer was the first boy born. He was but thirteen when he succeeded his father in the family title and estates. Educated at Downside and Beaumont, he had some experience of soldiering, but his main purpose in life was that imposed by his ownership of an estate of 40,000 acres. His marriage with Lady Laura Dundas took place when he was only twenty-two. At twenty-six he was a widower, his s son, Arthur Reginald, by that union, being now his successor. Early in 1905 the new peer, who was in New York, suddenly disappeared. The British Consul, the New York police, and a number of private detectives sought him in all directions. It was proved that he had left Liverpool in January, and on arrival in New York had gone to the Hotel St.' Denis, His luggage was still at the hotel on the following month, but there was no clue as to what had befallen him, and for some time it was feared that he had been murdered. However, on February 18, he was •discovered at Fort Slocum, New York, where he had enlisted as a private in the United States Army for three years' service.