M. A. P.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2461, 27 March 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

M. A. P.

(Mostly About People,)

A MIGHTY NIMROD. A remarkable career has been that of Mr F. C. Selous, the famous hunter and explorer, who will accompany President Roosevelt on his African big-gamo expedition in- the spring. He was only twenty years of age when he went to .Matabeleland, in days when railways wore unknown there and when the interior of the country was a sealed book to the European. For years he was in unknown countries hunting elephants, lions, and other aimals, and at one period he was nearly three yeara without •seeing a newspaper, a telegram, or any , kind of money, and he was perfectly happy. Ho spent nearly a quarter of a century of his life penetrating the interior of South Africa. Then ho went to Alaska on a fifteen-thousand-mile tour in search of moose and caribou. It was while on this tour that, in the wildest part of the Yukon, Mr Selous came across a trapper’s hut occupied by two Englishmen. One had just got his discharge from the North-West Mounted Police, and the other, who had earned the nickname of “Neverwasb,” ,vas the son of a peer. "A WOMAN J USX LIKE VOJ7.” The practical sympathy shown by Queen Helena towards the Messina earthquake victims is but another illustration of that kind-hearted womanliness which has so endeared her to the hearts of the people of Italy. Her Majesty is always holding out a helping hand to those in distress. A few weeks ago, for instance, a poor woman in Rome took her sick child to the local dispensary. The little one’s condition'' was so serious that the doctors advised the mother to take it to the hospitaL The woman began to weep at the thought of parting with her child, when a lady, plainly and very simply dressed, who was waiting in the dispensary, went up to the doctor and spoke to him in a low voice for a few moments. The doctor then went to the poor woman, handed her a oOfr. bill, and said, £! Queen Helena says that she will pay for all that your child needs; so you need not bo parted.’ The poor woman endeavored to express her thanks to the Queen. “But why this trouble?” Her Majesty asked, smilingly. “Am I not a woman just like you? Your child has the same right to live that mine has. and it shall be cared for till perfectly well again.”

ITALY’S HEROIC KING

All the world is eulogising the King of Italy at the moment for his courageous and indefatigable work on behalf of the victims of the - Messina earthquake. and his donation of close upon £50,000 towards the fund raised for the suffers is an example of-lii sympathyy for those in distress, which recalls another earthquake incident. Some time ago the students of Romo were making a processional collection through the streets in aid of the suffers from the earthquake in Calabria,' and, meeting the King, they surrounded his carriage. It so happened that the King had left the palace forgetting his purse so. putting his head out of the. carriage window, he cried: “I've no moneyon me, but I have plenty at home, and will send you some.” The students then made way with a cheer for the carriage to pass. THE KING AND THE YANKEE;Jr" Unconventional to a degree, His csty rides and drives about without ceremony op escort, and tfioY consequence is that, he has av-fiumber. . of amusing stories to tell of his advent- , : tures. One day he was motoring-'be-yond the regulation speed and nearly.. y ran down an American. “Well” said the Yankee, “I’m dashed a scorcher like you about. You ..oi’ght--to be hanged and quartered.” “Til fibn.fi . of my own palace?” asked His Majesty. “I don't care where it the other, “so long as it is doner;-You V are a public nuisance.” On occasion, while travelling in V' a railway carriage, a broke out-into a violent tirade, against the Royal Family. The King put inVa: gentle remonstrance, and was prompt- v ]y “sat on.” The King said nothing £. more, but when he stepped oiifcxdf; the carriage and was saluted as Majesty” by an equerry, the man’s face was a B ER ESFOR D k The fact that Lord Charlps Befesford has just presented buUdogjpups to four • of the battleships in reminds one that biilldog breeding is only one of “Charley” Beresford’s hobbies. Carpentering and turning are numbered amongst his land recreations, which Y also include gardening n\t& horse-break-ing. He has long been a member of the Society of Ornamental Turners, and at his suburban, home on Kingston Hill ho has a good workshop,-. ' -