The Sphinx, Vol. 14, No. 213

              6
THE SPHINX.
March 2, 1907.
Beresford has studied all departments closely, and, as he once remarked, “If there is any work on a man-of-war, from stoking upwards, that I haven’t done, I’d like to know what it is, so that I might have a shot at it.” Among other things pertaining to his profession that he knows how to do may be mentioned sail-making and tailoring. As he himself says, “I’ve cut out and made no end of jumpers and trousers, and could sew a hundred yards of canvas to-morrow if necessary.” Moreover, he can mend a board, make a chair or table, and can break in not only untamed horses, but elephants as well. When he was in the Galatea, under the late Duke of Edinburgh, an elephant was brought home which only Lord Charles could manage. He taught the beast a number >of tricks, making it stand on its hind legs, or lift one leg, at the word of command.
And although in every walk and department of life the personal equation is of importance, there are few professions in which it counts for so much as in the Navy. And, after all, this is not to be wondered at, considering that often a thousand men will be cooped up together for long periods on board a warship. Lord Charles Beresford has for many long years done much to make Great Britain really and truly the mistress of the sea. There is not an officer or man in the service who would not absolutely go through fire and water and do the most astonishing deeds of derring-do at the slightest nod from “Charlie.” But it has been left to Lord Wolseley to sum up in a single sentence this great admiral’s qualities as a seaman, for he once described him as “An officer whose readiness of resource and whose ability as a leader are only equalled by his daring.”
A whole crop of stories go the rounds anent Lord Charles Beresford. It will be remembered that Lord Charles’ father began life as a clergyman and ended it as fourth Marquis of Waterford. He was an athlete and a keen sportsman, and all his sons followed in his footsteps. On one occasion a friend of the family, who disapproved of this sort of education for a clergyman’s son, approached the youthful Charles, and observed severely : “Do you suppose that the Apostles shot on the Sabbath day ?” “Perhaps not,” was the prompt response, “but I am certain they fished.” Later in life he had a Chinese servant called Tom Fat, who learnt to imitate his master’s signature so exactly that he managed to forge cheques to a large amount before he was discovered. This became known to some of Lord Charles’ friends, and at a political meeting, when he declared that a Buddhist or a Mohammedan had as good a chance of Heaven as a Christian, a friend interjected slyly : “But what about Tom Fat?” “That Fat will certainly be in the fire,” came the answer as quick as lightning. Every one knows of Lord Charles Beresford’s achievements as a sailor and a politician, but it may not be generally known that he is a man of many hobbies, which include gardening, boat-building, house-building, turning, and carpentering, and he has been for some years a member of the Society of Ornamental Turners.
Captain R. C. Wilson, R.A M.C, and Mrs. Wilson left for England last Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Birkett and their son and daughter, Dr. and Miss Birkett, who have spending some time at the Savoy, have gone on to Rome.
Last Monday afternoon a large party was given at the Eastern Exchange "Hotel, Port Said, to
inaugurate the magnificent and space tea-room, which has just been fitted out on the ground floor of the hotel at a cost of over £2,000. Some 300 or 400 were served with tea during the afternoon and the manager was the recipient of many well deserved congratulations. Among those present wereMouheb Pasha, Khalil Bey Riad, M. Phi-lippides, Schack Bey, Dixon Bey, Snow Bey and Mrs. Snow, Count and Countess Mancinelli Scot-ti, M. and Mme Ole Stepski, Baron and Baroness de Trauttenberg, Mr. D. A. Cameron, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Shadwell, Rev., Mrs. and the Misses Strange, Mr. Geo Ricke, Mr. and Mrs. Guy and the Misses Guy, Mr. A.F. Tunstall, Mrs. Dowrie, Mr. W. Broatch, Mr. W. Lichtenberg, and many others.
Our readers will be interested to hear that they can now obtain in Cairo the world-renowned brand of Laurens cigarettes (Societe Anonyme “Le Khedive”). The Laurens Company, who have been appointed by special warrant purveyors to the Regis of France, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Tunis, etc. and to their Majesties the Kings of Italy and of Spain, to H.R.H.Prince Charles of Bavaria, and to the Household of H.H. the Khedive, will open on Monday their premises in the Maison Spiro, Sharia Kasr el Nil, opposite the Savoy Hotel. In addition to their cigarettes thay have a large stock of the finest Havana cigars, which have been specially selected for English and American connoisseurs, and are sold at the same prices as in London and New York. To witness an example of the high i artistic taste in which our modern Cairo buildings are designed, our readers should not fail to pay a visit to the Laurens establishment. The walls have been decorated with four beautiful frescoes, representing the four season, painted by the well-known Parisian artist M. H. Rapin, who has also designed the whole scheme of decoration of the establishment. The ceiling is traversed by light beams of oak between which areelectric light globes, and there is a most picturesque fire-place , of green tiles. The wood-work is all of light oak | in M. Rapin’s special “genre” and the whole effect is altogether most striking.
We learn that Mr. J. Oliver, Maple and Co’s representative in Egypt, is returning to London on Monday. Any one desirous of communicating with him should address him at Tottenham Court Road, W.C.
We have every confidence in asserting that those in search of oriental curios, carpets and rugs will receive full satisfaction from Mr. Vitali Mad jar, whose kiosk is situated in Shepheard’s Hotel Buildings. Mr. Madjar’s collection of oriental prayer-rugs, antique embroideries, and objets d’art are unique, and he has taken Over his late father’s complete collection, which was so well-known to all residents in and visitors to Cairo. Visitors should not leave Cairo without calling upon Mr. Madjar.
THE DEAN’S BUILDINGS.
The foundation stone was laid on Wednesday afternoon by the Countess of Cromer of a building which as long as an Anglican community exists at Cairo, will stand as a memorial to one the very mention of whose name recalls a host of memories of a past which is quite recent. Dean Butcher had taken a very large share in the labours, and it had been his constant wish to be present at the foundation ceremony, but he was taken from us before that desire could be realized. There were many at Wednesday’s service at Shoubra with whom that hallowed memory was
very present, especially when the Rev. Thompson Burns referred to what the Dean had done towards the work.
The buildings are to consist of a school and chapel, and apartments for the Assistant Chaplain of All Saints and the Head-mistress. They will cover an area of 300 sq. metres and stand two stories high. It will certainly satisfy a long felt want on the part of a growing community.
Among others present at the ceremony we noticed :—Major General and Mrs. Bullock, Mrs. Butcher, Dr. and Mrs. Madden, Mr. and Mrs. Eddy, Rev. and Mrs. Thornton, Mr. and Mrs. John Walker, Miss Margerison, Mr. and Mrs. Possman, Miss Cochrane, Rev. Gairdner, Rev. and Mrs. C. Thomas, Mrs. J. T. Burns, Revd. Mclnnes, Mr. G. Walker, Mr. Erreaux, also 40 children from Shoubra School under Miss Ker.
Before the religious ceremony the Rev. Thompson Burns, Assistant Chaplain of All Saints, delivered the following address :
Before the Service begins I must say a few words about the object of our meeting here. You have been invited to witness the stone laying of the Dean’s building. I have sent notices to the Members of the Church Committee and the Members of the Railway Institute Committee and to those who have in the past shown an interest in our efforts to establish an English School in Cairo.
For more than a year we have been trying to acquire land for this purpose, the brunt of this labour falling on the Dean and Mrs. Butcher; owing to being without a School house for October extra efforts were made and this parcel of land was discovered by Mr. Erreaux. The land was bought for L. 1,000 by Mr. John Walker, who is most kindly giving us his services. Mr. Luyck, the rchitect has taken great pains to exactly supply what is required and after receiving several tenders we finally accepted that of the Egyptian Constructions Company. The total cost of the scheme is estimated at L4,ooo which is being borrowed at 4%. The building will consist of school premises, a large room for Services and Sunday-Schools convertible into two school-rooms for week days, a flat which must at present be let, but which it is hoped will, when funds allow, be used as a small orphanage, a flat for the Head-Mistress and a flat for the Assistant Chaplain of All Saints; thus the annual charge of interest and other expenses will be met by rents and two additional grants and it is hoped gradually to pay off the capital charge and so establish it on a more permanent basis.
Our most grateful thanks are due to the Earl and Countess of Cromer and Mrs. Foote for their never failing interest and help in our work, and to Lord Edward Cecil and Lt. Col. Macaulay for the kind assistance they have rendered us.
Lastly when our late beloved Dean resigned it was his wish that his last public act in Egypt should be to conduct the Service of this stone laying and we have felt that it would be in keeping with the general wish that this Building should bear his loved and honoured name.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Popham Blyth, D.D., Bishop in Jerusalem who was attended by his Chaplain, the Rev. Oddey, read the service and on conclusion of the Blessing Hymn 215 (The Church is one foundation) was sung by all present. Countess Cromer then preceded to lay the Stone and Major General Bullock read the following dedication paper, which was sealed up in an iron coffer and enclosed in the foundation stone, with the customary coins :—
“This is called the Dean’s Building in memory of Charles Henry Butcher Dean of Shanghai Cathedral and Archdeacon of Egypt and 26 years Chaplain of All Saints.
“In the reign of his Majesty King Edward the