The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-10
WELL KNOWN PERSONS.
Anecdote and "Reminiscences.


Lady Henry Somerset employs two
secretaries, who are busy ten hours day
in replying to her correspondence and
who have to be diligent then to keep it
within bounds.
Blondin, the famous rope walker, died
in London Feb. 90. His greatest feat was
achieved when he crossed Niagara Falls
on tight rope on June 80, 1859. On Sept.
IA, 1860, he crossed the falls on a rope, car
rying a man on his back. Blondin was
seventy years of age and never made
slip.
Cyrus A. Sulloway, of New Hamphire,
the tallest man in Congress, is six feet
seven inches high. He is brilliant law
yer, keen wit, and eloquent speaker.
His bride was little lieutenant of the
Salvation army, which organization he de-
Tended against prosecution on charge of
disturbing the peace.
The English wit, Mark Lemon, once
wrote of chubby faced little urchin who
passed his conceited instructor upon the
street without bowling. The schoolmaster
stopped and frowned. ''What has become
of your manners, sir2" he roared. st
seems to me that you are better fed than
taught!n "Yes, sir,n replied the little
boy. That's because you teaches me;
but feeds myself, SIR
Vice-Admiral Sir John o. Hopkins,
commander of the British Mediterranean
squadron and now in charge of English
affairs at Crete, is an sold sea dog" and
has soon mo end of service" He was
present at the attack of Sebastopol in the
Crimean War, has been First Lord of the
Admiralty, aide-de-camp to Queen Victo-
ria, ETC., and is known to Americans as
Commander of the British Naval move
ments in Hampton Roads during the
Worlds Fair. He is grizzled and bronzed,
and as he is seldom on land lie has little
use for his numerous decorations and hon
ors.
Ras Alula, who has just died in his fifty
fifth year, was the greatest chief tributary
to King Menelek. 1t was he more than
anyone else who helped Menelek defeat
the Italians in the recent Abyssinian war
Born of poor parentage he spent his youth
as groom of the uncle of the Negus, Ras
Area, whose daughter he afterward mar
ried. He finally rose to the rank of cham
berlain, became governor of Tigre, and
gained the title of Ras. He is said never
to have laughed, and to have been
severe with all his interiors, beating
his servants for every kind of delin-
quency. He could neither read nor
write; but like many men of his race, was
the possessor of great cunning and intelli-
gence.
Mrs. General Grant made the first move
against Intoxicating liquor at the White
House, and secured its Punishment from
the Presidents New Year reception.
Mrs. Grant was succeeded by Mrs. Hayes,
a lifelong teetotaler, who never offered
wine. Next came Mrs. Garfield, Mrs.
Harrison and Mrs. Cleveland, all total
abstainers, and none of them furnishing
wine to their own guests, though lacking
the cooperation of their husbands, they
could not prevent its use at State dinners,
as Mrs. Hayes could because the Presi-
DENTS views conceded with her own.
Mrs. Mckinley is well known to be total
abstainer, so that, as Frances Willard
points out, the wives of six Presidents
president Arthur was a widower), since
1868, have perhaps dealt more telling
blows against the drinking habit than any
other women who have lived For''where
McGregor sits is the head of the table,"
and what is done at the White House sets
the keynote of social observances for mil
lions.