The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-12-23
OCALA FLORIDA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 1911
Famous People
Nan,ed'Chrishnas

ish family name, especially In Surrey
and Camhridgeshire, and many people
bearing 1t have achieved fame in one
direction or another.
For instance. there was Gerard
Christmas, the famous carver OF stat
uary, who flourished In the early part
OF the seventeenth century. He de-
signed Aldersgate and carved with his
own hands the richly ornamented por-
tai OF Northumberland House, a ia
miliar object to the older generation
Of living Londoners.
His chief energies, however. were
directed toward ornamenting aud
beautifying the ships Of the royal ma
w. and the highly decorative style he
originated was continued right down
to the middle Of the last century.
when iron superseded oak In the con-
struction Of battleships.
At his death his two sons, John
Christmas and Matthias Christmas,
whom he had brought up to his art.
succeeded him as official carvers to
the lords of the admiralty and WORTH
" carried on the work he had so well
begun.
Every one interested In coins and
coinage is familiar with the name Of
Henry Christmas, the eminent numis-
matist, who died In 1868 Besides
being a fellow OF the Royal society
and Of the Society Of Antiquaries, he
was for many years honorary secre-
tary Of the Numismatfc society, to
whose publications be contributed
largely. He also wrote and published
a large number Of religious and his
torical works.
John William Christmas ("Jean of
the Iron Hand'D was one Of the most
famous Of the many English adven-
turers who during the French revolu-
tionary disturbances of 1901 fought on
the losing side.
Joining the Chouans or roya1ist in
surgents Of Brittany, he soon made
his mark and was Entrusted with the
conduct Of division by George Ca
doudal, their supreme commander.
Later on, when Cadoudal. disgusted
with the dissensions OF his highbOrn
generals, organized a new army In
which no aristocrat was permitted to
hold command, Christmas was forced
to resign with the rest He was, how.
ever. reinstated on his pointing out
that he was not, as had all along been
supposed. Of noble lineage. but was, on
the contrary. the son Of a south OF
England peasant
Thence onward he acted as Cadou
dal's adjutant general and did splendid
service against the royalist forces until
January, 1893, when he had the mis-
fortune to be taken prisoner. He was
shot at daybreak on the morning FOL
lowing his capture.
Noel Is, of course, only another form
Of the word Christmas, and Of famous
Noels, both living and dead. there IS q
lengthy list.
It is, for instance, the family name
Of the earls Of Gainsborough, whose
history has been a distinguished one
| for generations past
Noel-Hill, again. Is the name Of Bar
on Berwick. q famous member Of IA
nous old English family.
Then there Is Ernest Noel, who has
done more to improve the housing OF
the working classes than has probably
any other man living.
Vice Admiral Sir Gerard Noel. whe
has been commander in chief on thu
China station since 1903, has received
many decorations, including the mucl
coveted gold medal Of the Royal Unit
ed Service institution.
Going farther back, there was thai
Henry Noel, the famous courtier Of
the reign OF Queen Elizabeth and au
thor Of the now familiar phrase Mon
ey was made to spend" His extrava
gance knew no bounds and very mucl
displeased his royal mistress, hersel
one Of the most extravagant of mon
archs.
OF very different type was Baptis
Wriothesley Noel. the eminent non
conformist divine He was at first ed
ucated for and inducted into th,
Church Of England But the result o.
the Gorham case. which drove many
high churchmen into the fold of Rome
sent Noel IL to the ranks Of the Bap
lists.
He publicly renounced on Dec.
1S4S, his connection with the Estah
lished church and was a little late
publicly rebaptized by immersion I,
John Street chapel, Holborn. a build
ing situated hard by the very churcl
wherein he had ministered during loni
years prior to his conversion"
Thomas Noel, the poet. who died II
Papers Drive" than which no poem
has been more widely read. recite'
and quoted. The verses are, however
almost universally ascribed to Hood
even by people who ought to know
better, and the real authors nam
remains In consequence buried In OF
ivion.
Another poet named Noel. who er
1oyed considerable reputation In hi
day, was Roden Berkeley Noel. th
author Of Behind the Veil." "Bea
trice." ''The Red Flag" and othe
poems. his collected works were pull
lished in 1892 among the series o
Canterbury Poets"
Roden Noel. who was well known +
society and q groom Of the priv
chamber to Queen Victoria. died yer
suddenly at Mainz on May 26. 1894
NOTICE
Ocala, Fla, Dec. 9Th, 1911.
The annual meeting OF the directo