THEN AND NOW

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1930, Page 5

THEN AND NOW

An enterprising newspaper recently published one of the most cheering and encouraging documentST—though document is hardly the right word—that have appeared for many a long day (writes Mrs. H. A. L. Fisher, wife of a former British Minister of Education), in the London "Daily Nc.ws"), and the striking contrast she illustrates ii! her- pica is worthy of note.

It was, actually, a eouplo of photographs, each representing a group of Uttle girls. One of them had just beeu taken, and tho other represented the corresponding group of children, of the same age, at the same school, about thirty years ago. .

I The difference between the two groups was amazing." Not only were the modern children, prettily, sensibly,, and tidil.y dressed, while their predecessors' garb looked untidy, cumbrous, and unbecoming, but 'thfc appearance of the children themselves was a revelation. The littlCj girls of to-da"y looked out upon tho' world with confidence and ;;ood cheer. They held themselves well, they were obviously not only healthy, but happy and intelligent. Their predecessors ■ seemed stupid, anxious, careworn, almost frightened; they were huddled, they stooped, and slouched., The neighbourhood has undergone no special change, no new industry has moved there, tho schoolis where it was, and the parents of the children are in much the same economic position as wore th,oso of the children in tho earlier photograph. Yot there was this undoubted and blessed difference between the two groups, .'i difference which anyone who has worked among children for the last thirty years joyfully recognises, and knows to bo real and characteristic."