M.A. P.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2580, 14 August 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

M . A. P.

(Mostly About PeoplcJ

“The Pall Mall Gazette” tells the following story of our premier, now on a visit to England. Sea-fishing (says the paper) is his favorite pastime,- and he nearly lost his life while far out in the Straits. A shark, known locally as “Black Jack,” made for the boat, and as he had been known to attack fishing parties, Sir Joseph and his companions made for the shore. It was a touch-and-go struggle, for while the other men pulled for all they were worth, Sir Joseph fed tlieir pursuer w'itli the cod they had caught, and thus kept him at a distance until the danger zone had been passed.

A young negro lias just been admitted to the Paris Bar. He rejoices in the name of Hector Apollinaire Moliro Liber, is 24 years of age, was at school at the Lyceo Carnot, in Guadeloupe, and sthdied law' at Bordeaux, where he got his diploma. M. Liber expects to be tlie object of considerable curiosity w'hen he makes his professional debut, ■ t says that this will not prevent him from pleading w’ith modesty, and from making the most of his client’s defence. He does not,intend to remain very long in Paris, as his ambition is to obtain .a post of magistrate in one of the colonies.

_ The riots in Spain, although sufficiently serious to threaten the existing order of things, do not appear to hold out any great hope to the supporters of the Carlist movement. The death of Don Carlos in Venice a few weeks ago aroused comparatively small interest. There are, however, Carlists still in Spain who greet a Royal fete w'ith an exhibition of black flags, but they become less demonstrative every year as the Spanish throne strengthens its hold upon the national sympathies. The late Don Carlos, who once so nearly had the ball at his feet, ceased to he an active Pretender years before his death. He was too well-to-do. And even when he handed over the business to Don Jayme, it was hardly a going concern. To-day, except among the perfervids of Bilbao, Carlist pretensions count - for no more in Spain than they do on the Grand Cana] of Venice.”

The Duke of Wellington waited on the King the other day, it being the ninety-fourth anniversary of Waterloo, to perform the service of “petty sergeantry,” by which he holds his estate of Strathfieldsaye. The condition of his tenure is the annual presentation to the Sovereign of a miniature tricolor flag, bearing the golden Napoleonic eagle on the top of the staff.

It”is now twenty-one years since Mrs Humphry Ward, wlio.se new’ novel has just been published, won distinction as the creator of “Robert Elsmere,” which was lucky enough to be reviewed by Mr Gladstone in the “Nineteenth Century.” In five months seven editions of the novel were exhausted, and the fortunate writer was reported to have made nearly £20,000 jn Europe and America. >

Much uneasiness prevails at tlie Italian Court regarding Queen Margherita’s health. In the spring it was affirmed that her Majesty was suffering from acute neuralgia, ami later she was attacked by bronchitis. Formerly an ardent motorist, the Queen has for long now never been -seen out of her palace in the Via Veneto. Her Majesty, ordered absolute quiet by her doctors, has now left the palace itself, and taken up her residence in a pavilion hidden away in the large garden. She is said to be undergoing a stringent cure for a nephritic disease. * *

“If Meath had his way he would pull down .the whole of London to make a garden of it for its inhabitants. 15 It was in these words‘that Lord Rosebery once referred to the invaluable work which Lord Meath, founder of Emnirn Day, had done in the way of giving London new open spaces and recreation grounds. ~ He was also the founder of the Hospital Saturday Fund, and the organiser of many other schemes for the well-being of the masses. Lord Meath began life as a clerk in the Foreign Office, and had five years of diplomatic service. * * *

A pretty story comes from The Hague of one occasion upon which Queen Wilhelmina acted as peacemaker The late King of Holland was, as is well known, a man of ungovernable temper, and when he was annoyed over anything it was quite useless to attempt to argue with him. On one occasion he was very angry over the manner in which one of the Dutch newspapers had criticised his actions. He refused to see his Ministers, and stamped up and down a corridor’ at his Palace, storming and gesticulating as was his wont. The Cabinet was becoming desperate, since some important papers demanded his immediate attention. It was left to one of the ladies of the Court to solve the difficulty. She sent little Princess Wilhelmina, then about five, into the corridor, to meet her father. She watched him for a moment unnoticed, and then imitated his actions, stamping backwards and forwards, with her fists tightly clenched. His Majesty caught sight of her, and was unable to help laughing as he paused to< watch her. Half an hour later the Premier found the King seated on the floor playing contentedly with-his little daughter, to whom he was devotedly attached, and quite unruffled. * * *

Walter Winans, who has just received a gold medal for his team of brown horses, which was the best exhibited at the recent show in Paris, is, without doubt, the most -wonderful shot of the day. . He has won numerous prizes and medals for his skill with the revolver, and has beaten some of the finest shooters in the world. In 1889, at Wimbledon, he made sixteen bull’s-eyes in succession, and once in competition with a ■ noted French shot he missed the target only twice in 60 shots, and won the contest. In addition to his skill with revolver and rifle, Winans possesses many accomplishments. It is not generally known that he is a very clever artist, and is descended from the famous Dutch painter, Wynants. - As a horseman Winans is without superior, and his horses are among the finest in the world. It is interesting to note, by the way, that Winans was the first to note the true action of horses in galloping. He painted pictures which the critics said were unnatural, as it . was impossible for a horse to have one Toot on the ground and the other three raised at once, or, at any rate, no human eye could be keen enough to_ detect if such wore the case. But Wmans’ eyesight is extraordinarily kcon, and ho said that he had himself seen what he described to be a fact. bince then photography has shown that lie was right. It is, of course, his wonderful vision that lias enabled Winans to be so successful as a shot.