Sale of Work in Aid of Limbless Soldiers and Sailors with a. Christmas sale sad Satur-December appropriate] opened
day's sale of work conducted by the Union Church Ladies' Society in aid of limbless soldiers and sailors, loca] purposes and charity, did great credit to those ladies respons: ble for it. The Union Church hall was most effectively decorated with bamboo and flags, with gaily coloured lights everywhere, and two brightly illuminated Christmas trees, while Old Father Christmas, who stumped about with his pack of toys, and the diminutive. Turk who sold Turkish delight further added to the picturesqueness of the Scone.
In introducing Mrs. H. G. Simms, who opened the sale, Rev. A. N Rowland referred to the patience and skill of the ladies who had arranged the stalls and carried through the other preparations, and expressed the heartfelt gratitude of the church for the aid thereby extended to the twe hospitals who still so greatly needed assistance, not so much as formerly in the actual hospital work, but in providing shop work and other em-Floyment to representatives of the Army and Navy disabled throug). the War. An interesting fact, unknown to the speaker until recently, was that the architect who designed the Princess Louis Bos pital in Glasgow was a member of the Union Church congregation. Mr. Rowland spoke, of the pleasure it gave him to see the Chairman of the Municipal Council among those present, and of how such they appreciated the kindness of Mrs. Simms in taking the time from the many social and recreative engagements of a Saturday afternoon to open the sale.
Mrs. Simms said in part:—In opening this sale of work to-day, would like to emphasize that our object is to assist those who still suffer from injuries received in the Great War, and who are permanently disabled. Their comfort and requirements should be the first charge on us who are benefitting by their sacrifice. On this occasion our sympathy is especially directed towards two highly deserve ing institutions—the Princess Lou: se Hospital for Limbless Soldiers and Sailors at Glasgow and Queen Mary's Convalescent Ho: pital, also for disabled soldiers, in Roehampton, but we must not forget the charities which call for immediate help in their efforts to j alleviate some of the real suffering and distress which lies' at our very doors and which is indirectly the! outcome of the late war.
With: sincere congratulations on what you have achieved in the past and will in the future, I have much pleasure in declaring "the fair open.
Two little girls then presented Mrs. Simms with a large basket of pink and white carnations, and the activities of the sale went forward briskly.
The various stalls about the room were very tastefully arranged and those present responded lavishly to the invitation offered by the beautiful and useful articles for sale at reasonable prices. The grouping of the different goods made purchasing simple and all business details ran very smoothly. Children turned out in good numbers and were thoroughly delighted with Santa Claus and his grotto, Aunt Sally, and all the special pleasures of their own department. The teu room was a very popular feature and the astute fortune—teller was kept continuously busy, The orchestra selections were an enjoyable addition to a very pleasant afternoon, which netted the Ladies' Society something in the neighbourhood of $3,700, with special donations of $931 and other sums still to be received, including returns from two stalls which had not been. heard from at the time of going to press. Too much credit cannot be given Mrs. N. A. Viloudaki, the president and chairman of the organizing committee. Mr. George Fryer acted as treasur-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.