LUCKY LITTLE LONDONERS

Evening Star, Issue 23620, 5 July 1940, Page 4

LUCKY LITTLE LONDONERS

Nine little London children from-, poor working-class homes arc living like sons and daughters of the lady of the manor in, a country mansion. They have 100 acres as their private playground. In wet weather they have a huge playroom—a converted tithe barn. And in the summer they will bathe in a private swimming pool. A complete wing of the mansion has been turned over to their use—special bathrooms were built—and a full-time matron looks after them. Every day a teacher calls to give them lessons in the beautiful panelled library which is their schoolroom for the duration of the war. The billiards room is now their gymnasium. The children, six boys and three girls, whose average_ age is seven, were evacuated to this fairy-tale home at the outbreak of war. The mansion is the Manor House, Chipperfield. Herts, and their hostess is Mrs Elizabeth Brousson, the lady of the manor. Mrs Brousson has devoted careful thought- to every feature of the children’s welfare. She said in an interview: “I have worked out a special set of physical exercises which 1 give them’three times a week. They eat the same food as I do, and most of it comes from our own kitchen garden. “ I. have their weights taken once a month, and it is a delight to see how they are .putting ’on weight—the average gain is 61b. “ As they have school lessons in the house it is hardly ever necessary for them to leave the grounds—they have 100 acres to amuse themselves in. “ I do my best to encourage them to understand the value of money and run a sort of little ‘ bank ’ for them. “ Every time they receive their pocket money I write it down in a little book for them, and explain the value of saving a little for a rainy day. “ I give them money presents on their birthday—and for being brave when they have teeth out! “ 1 have come to love them as if they were my own. But 1 do not try to monopolise their affection. Each week I ensure that they write a letter homo “ The mothers call .'regularly,” to mother.