New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-22
PERSONAL.


The late William Writ Skies, United States Con-
sui at Cardiff, was a native of Watertown. N T..
and Mt the age of sixteen was temperance lecturer
and editor OF local newspaper.
The venerable Dr. ]. H. Falrcbild. President of
OberlIn College. has been visiting relatives in Berk
shire County Mass. and preached the other Bun
day evening in the Congregational Church at Lee.
lie is a native of Stockbridge In that county, ms
father having moved thther from Sheffield.
The Rev. Waldo Messaros, of Philadelphia. who Is
a converted Turk and popular preacher has &C
aured great reputation as bold, swift and grace
ful swimmer He was mistaken for mermaid at
Atlantic City the otherday as he was swimming lar
out from shore, with his long brown hair streaming
on the waves behind him.
The King of Cambodia has rendered to General
Halderman. United States Minister in Siam. the dec
Grafton of - the Royal Order of Norodom l." with
the rank of commander. This an honor rarely shown
to foreigners and is partly in recognition OF General
Halderman's efforts to connect Siam and Cambodia
by telegraph. and especially as coiuphnonV '" 'no
United States.
In unpublished card NJ D. L. Moody denies the
story that he and Mr. Sankey are no longer able to
work in harmony and declares that if their lives
are spared they will continue together In the labor
they both love and enjoy. The recently revamped
tale about Mr. San keys using his position evan
gest in the interest of a reed-organ company Is
also branded false. Mr.. Moody declaring posi-
tyely that during the ten years of their association
Mr.. Sankey has not acted az agent Tor any organ
company, nor has be sold any organs on commits
sion.
The arrival in Paris of Mt Porter Rhodes, with
his diamond weighing 100 karats. 43l2 karats
more than the KOh-i-noor. IS reported Competition
tor the acquisition of the gem Immediately arose be-
tween the Empress of Austria and Mrs. Bonanza
Mackey, with the chances decidedly in the latters
favor, so the correspondent of The london Globe
thought. al shall have good nights rest when
I've got rid Of that bauble," said Mr. Rhodes talk
of hundred weight on your backs I've got o ton
weight on my mind" He relates that at first, for
four months, the discovery OF tine stone kept
secret but at last it leaked out, and then the dig
gers wild with curiosity to see 1t that he
put il on exhibition and took in $500 IN entrance
fees. which sun he handed over TO the managers OF
the hospital on the diamond fields. Then" he
says my first thought was TO steer homeward, and
| was speedily on my way to England with my
treasure carefully concealed; As loyal English
man. / resolved t1at Gu zen Victoria should be the
first ont OF South Africa to see the stone and to
break the seal of the envelope winch contained it,"
Signor Raceo Nina, of Naples. Italy, apparently
considers the United States Post Office Department
to be a benevolent institution for the encourage
ment and assistance of poor authors. He
recently published little volume, this SlgDOr Raceo
Nina which he dubbed "ShIzza della Mia Pcnna"
and dedicated in laudatory preface to Postmaster
General Gresham to whom he sent copy In paper
| covers second copy followed, and then. a couple
of weeks later, General Gresham had the dull
rnonotony of official duty beautifully envened by
the advent Of postal card, on which was ndited
the following message: Naples, Aug. 81 would
ask you to ledge the receipt of two copies of
a small work entitled Shizza della Mia 'Penna.'
| The fact Of my having dedicated the work to you
may have as Onished you. as you do not know me
but desired that your name should enhance the
value of my poor book. Please answer soon, and be
| kind enough TO send me some money ~ cover the
expenses of printing. Yours devotodly, Raceo
Nina" There IL sad reason TO be leye that In the
| hardness OF his HOOsier heart General Gresham
merely grinned at this touching eplste, and then
tucked II away IN a big pigeon-nole marked
"Cranks." At any rate. he hasn't sent Signor Nina
any money and the spirit OF the latter, instead OF
LYING it'll dreamful eyes under the walls of Para
disc" Is probably growing IN sadness and silence
over the unapprecistivc Yankees neglect to i'm
mortalize himself the Mecenas OF the Nineteenth
Century
That exceedingly prolific and entertaining but
drolly improper writer, Charles Paul de Kock. who
in his life denied entrance either to the French
Academy or the Legion of Honor, and who since his
death has US yet received sculptured tributes
to have a monument ut last--sometime. The Mu-
nicipal Council of the Commune of Les Lilas, near
Pans has voted 81 90 for that purpose 1t is strange
that such hero worshipping and Zola-reading peo-
pie as the French should cot have treated Paul de
Rocks memory generously. or course, in his
books he was gross and immoral; but he bad his
good traits, too. He abused the Church,
Ineddled with politics; and as son, a husband, n
father and a ctizen his life was bameless. Alex
andre Dumas used to relate that once spending tho
evening highly intellectual company the hostess
vited her guests each to draw up Inst OF then living
French writers whose works seemed surest of de-
scent to posterity. From these lists the ght names
having received the greatest number of votes
taken TO form tnal roll of honor. Dumas. by his
own request, was left hOrs c0noOgrs and to him,
arbitrator the final list handed for approval
lie read the names Of Hugo LImartine. Alfred de
Musset. Bazac. Alfred de VIgny. George sand.
Montaembert and Beranger. al cannot indorse
your choice" said he; there is lacking the illus
trious name OF the most popular of all living nov
eists who has had aud will have many imitators.
but never rival. His name must be added. Strike
out Mon alembert and put in Paul de Kock." This
award was unanimously approved, and Dumas used |
TO say aterward. with ohucke, that all the ladies
in the company privately confessed to him that they
would have voted for Paul de Kock in the first in
stance. " only they were afraid"