Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-29
Mem and Things

With a notable array of guests, includ
ing Vice President Fairbanks, Mr. Bryce,
the British ambassador; NJ. Jusserand,
the French ambassador, and a host of
other members of the diplomatic corps.
senator's, representatives, prominent Off
cials, distinguished scientists and others,
the National Geographic society, the
largest organization of its kind in the
world held its annual banquet in the Will
lard hotel. The dinner was featured BY
the presentation of the Hubbard gold
medal of the society to Captain Roald
Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer for
his success in first making the northwest
passage and for definitely locating the
magnetic north pole. The medal Is
awarded annually for the greatest geo.
graphical achievement of the year.
s.
Shortly before DIR. George F. Shradys
death he put into permanent form for
publication in the Century his memories
oil General Grants last days, the first
full and authoritative record of these
months of suffering, marked by unfailing
patience, heroism and kindliness. Dr.
Shrady was much with Grant in these
months, and 1t was his skill that did
much to make easier the hard days.
ie-e -H.-
"a woman, poor thing, is as old as she
looks; man is as young as he feels" 7"
This is the burden of the tune which IS
hummed by Uncle Joe Cannon as he
strides down Pennsylvania avenue IN
Washington every morning on his way to
the capitol The only way to make Uncle
Joe hopping mad is to have a conductor
try to help him off a car or for some
young buck to offer him seat. Homi
eide has been with difficulty averted OH
several such occasions,
-
The San Francisco Argonaut for No
vember 23 contains, under the title
"Old Favorites,' some verses of Victor
Hugo and Theophile Gautier translated
by Brig Gen. E. L. Huggins, U. S. A.
The standard of literary excellence of the
Argonaut has always been high. Since
the establishment of the publication 1t
has in nearly, every number had col
umn or SO of verse under the heading
"Old Favorites," and their selection has,
as a rule. been made with rare taste
and discrimination. General Higgins
may therefore feel highly complimented
to find his name In the role of transla
tor, linked in the pages of the Argonaut
with the laurel-crowned names of Hugo
and Gautier The two bits of verse trans
lated by General Higgins are exquisite
gems, both in the original and in the
translation.
-s.-
victorien sardou at the age of rs will
shortly witness the production of his lat
est drama, ''LAffaire des Poisons." Sar
dou is still alert and vigorous, mentally
and physically bit he thinks his lates.
effort will be his last at play writing.
81
Alfred G. Vanderbilt has given his
check for $4,000 to St. Mary's Protestant
Episcopal church. in Portsmouth, r. IT,,
near his Oakdale farm. Half is for It's
endowment fund and the other half s
to be used for any purpose the officials
deem necessary.
General Cyrus B. Comstock, corps OF
engineers. U. S. A., has given to the
National Academy of Science, of which
he is a member. the sum of 10000 the in
come from which is to be devoted to thu
advancement of knowledge in magnetism,
electricity and radiant energy.
-
Some of the many symbols of mayor
atty which have just changed hands are
of greater intrinsic and historic interest
than the civic mace and the golden coll,
lar, generally regarded as the only in
sigma of chief magistracS. The mayol
of Lincoln. however, is inducted into Of
flee by the placing upon his finger Of the