PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT AT CHRISTMAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT AT CHRISTMAS.

Among tho most charitable off our prirs cesses is Princess Christian, whose good deeds in tho Windsor district, 'at Christmas especially, have long since made a general favourite. Her Royal Hifti''. ness' principal hobby 1 consists is helping the poor. ' , ' * Under the direction of Mr. . "William Wheatley no fewer- than five thousand Christmas dinners are supplied to the destitute. Mr. Wheatley ' isiithft' gentleSiw who has so much to do with the reformtion of convicts when they come out of gaol. Many an ex-prisoner has had good cause to f thank Mr. Wheatley for bit Christmas meal. ' '' r ■ ' ' ' : ; —— : ■' '^-0$ Busy millionaire and grand seigneur u he is, Lord Rothschild takes the liveliest interest in the poor during the ' festive ; season. Besides giving away a considerable sum of money at Christmas, he forwards a quantity of game to the London 'busmen and cabbies. A curious fact in connection with this great financier, by* the'by, is that he has boon a member of both the German and the English Parliaments. . >. ■" ■ - "■ It is not easy to imagine a clergyman who distributes Christmas gifts, And. ishappy in doing so, without receiving » single spoken word of thanks. ' 'The' Rev. F. W. Gilby is a case in point* however. Mr. Gilby is, of course, > the widely known clergyman to the deaf and dumb in London, to the poorer members of which community he hands over numerous presents at this period. ' > '■ : The little children in tho London hospitals have at Christmas an excellent friend in Mr. Labouchere, M.P. : 'Mr. L»" bouchere's annual collection and distribution of toys—provided through'" the medium of —brings happiness to many hundreds of little tolk, whose lives are brightened when .others are making merry. Thero is also a mysterious personage who, through Truth, circulates ten thousand sixpences at Christmas. ■ This generous individual conceals his identity) but many people believe that he,.if MrLubouchere himself. , The Rev. A. B. Boyd-Carpenter acts as Father Christmas to dozens of youngsters in the City of London. His congregation consists in the main of caretakers* whose children may be described as a race to themselves, for they seldom wander beyond the confines of the City., tn«' presence of their parents being required, of course, every night. Mr. Boyd-i/W* penter, who is a brother of the Bishop ol llipon, gives Christmas tea-parties to these little ones, and doesn't forget a big ; tree either. With his small guest# ( the distinguished clergyman plays games wit .• enthusiasm. . " ' The man who probably has most to'do with London slum children at Christ in the way of putting some sunshine into their dreary lives is Mr. John Knk, . indefatigable chief of the Ragged School Union. ' ' 'f '■ To the sailor who lands at and has no homo of his own, the in need and the friend indeed' ■ * Agnes Weston, whose Sailors * , . Devonport and Portsmouth. alth 8 • . ways inviting, are especially .to . . s 25th of December. Appropriate-fm » provided, and with Miss > Weston P P aence a delightful day is spent. ift g

One who is invariably prominent in ti* a cause of charity is Mr. I. A. ? e n, c h . banker. Mr. Bevan, who gives MM away himself, is the treasurer o1 ,j . Watercress and Flower Girls Ch • , Mission. Some of the money reeeiveag Mr. Bevan goes to provide Christmas Q " ners .for -starving families.*, WU teresting feature of this society is to lends, at a very low rate, poUto pvfO 5 . coffee stalls, barrows, and boards tor lu ,, sale of whelks. . ~ J

For a long time past charities', bajj • benefited to a largo extent u j exertions of Sir Squire Bancroft, ww> the month of December is generauy , j pecially prominent. Sir Squire j ings from Dickine'. " Christmas^gjßMi have brought in thousands of P ouU j 0 charities. It is only when he co« » some good to tho poor that the p ; actor emerges from his retirement. < - | gB his monocle, without which ho u ww/ or never seen, lie is a man whWJi look at twice whea you pass buaySJfiS street*, '

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