M. A. P. (Mostly About People.)

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2769, 26 March 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

M. A. P. (Mostly About People.)

“THE MAN AVHO NEVER TAKES A

HOLIDAY.”

Tlius .is described in the Navy Sir Arthur Wilson, who will succeed Sir John Fisher when the latter leaves the Admiralty, fie is wrapped up i in his work to such an extent that lie rarely goes ashore, even when his Fleet or flagship visits .any port. It is not that lie is unsociable; but he simply regards every moment spent away from the seirvice as wasted. His idea of a. satisfactory day’s work is to take the Fleet out at four or five o’clock on a oliilly morning, and keep them hard at it until nine or ten at night. He it was who won the V.C. at the battle of El Teh with his fists. The Arabs broke the square, and Captain Wilson, as ho then was, went to the assistance of a gunner. He broke his sword, and .then, with his fists, bowled tlie enemy over like ninepins. Before the. Arabs could recover from their surprise at this novel attack, they had been repulsed. » « » WANTED IT NEAT. Robert W. Chambers, the American novelist, often tells a “trouble” story. A lady, on the way back from her husband’s funeral, stopped with her supporters at a house of refreshment. Gin was chosen as the beverage best suited to the occasion, and a liberal quantity of the transparent fluid was poured into the bereaved lady’s glass. “Any water, Min?” one of the other ladies asked her, holding out the jug. But she did not deign to lift her face from her handkerchief. “Water?” she sobbed. “Water? Good gracious, ain’t I got trouble enough as it is?” « * * • MISS ADA REEVE’S ADVICE TO GIRLS. The following views of Miss Ada Reeve oil stage life will be read with much interest “That there. is stin room for talent on the stage I am ready to admit,” she says, “and a girl with real ability may make her way to the top of the tree, but this is not, and never has been, an easy achievement, although many people appear to think otherwise. To begin with, there is a great deal to learn, even for the most gifted, and, in the second (place, all progress is a matter of real hard work. My principal advice to girls about to take up acting would' be, Never forget that it means hard work, and that only real ambition, backed by patience and determination, will bring you within sight of success.”

* # • PADEREWSKI’S KINDNESS,

Another story illustrating Paderewski’s great kindness of heart and generosity is being told. He heard of a poor crippled boy while on a recent American tour who, possessed of wonderful musical talent, was unable to develop it for lack of means. Paderewski heard him play the piano, was impressed by his talent, and straightway offered to provide £l2 a month for two years to defray the cost of his education in New York. * * • “ANY DUFFER AN M.P.” ■Judge Ren to ill tells the story of an occasion when he was (presented with an address setting forth his services to local government. In the address his “M.P.” appeared in very small letters, while underneath in very large letters were the words, “barrister-at-law,” and when he pointed this out to the artist the latter replied: “I know what I’m -about. I did that purposely. Any duffer can he a member of Parliament, but- it requires a very clever man to become a barrister.” * * • DECEPTIVE FLATTERY. A good golfing story of Mr Alexander Ure, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, is being told. Playing on a certain course' in Scotland, Air Ure remarked incidentally to his caddie: “By the way. I played a round with Tom APGregor the last time I was here. Grand player, AUGregor!” “Aye,” said the caddie, “but ye could'bate AFGregor the no o'.” “Do ydu think so?” exclaimed the gratified Lord Advocate, being well aware of Al'Gregor’s prowess. “Aye,” drawled the caddie; “Al'Gregor’s deid.” # * * KISSED BY QUEEN VICTORIA. A strange story is told by the Rev. W. J. Holder, a retired Congregational minister, living at Ilford, who, as a baby, was kissed by Queen Victoria one day when his mother was wheeling him in Lord Liverpool’s private grounds, to which she had access. “It is remarkable,” says Air Holder, “that years af-. ter my head should save Her Majesty's. I was in the front- row of a crowd in Piccadilly expecting her to pass. As her carriage came -along, I felt a stunning blow- on the head and was thrown on to the carriage. The Queen’s bonnet was knocked over her eyes, but she was not hurt. It was an Army lieutenant named Pate who had dealt the blow, and he was transported for it. I still feel the effects of that blow.” OF SLIGHT SERVICE. Too many men, said Air. Carnegie, are not thankful enough to Providence for their success. This is especially true of self-made men-, who are prouder. as a rule, than kings and dukes. A self-made man I know was talking to a minister. The topic was, of course, his own success. “Yes, doctor,” he said, “I began life a bare-footed l newsboy. At twenty I was worth 8000 dollars. I was a, millionaire at- thirty-two. And yet everybody was against me. I have achieved my success, doctor, single-handed and by my own, unaided efforts.” Here the proud self-made man seemed to remember that, in conversing with a minister, he ought to adopt a hnmWer and more religious tone. He said lightly, after a short pause: “Of course, I don’t denv that Providence may, .now and then, have been of some slight service.”