MARYS'AND HARRYS'GIFTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18019, 18 February 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

MARYS'AND HARRYS'GIFTS.

FOR PRINCESS AND FIANCE.

CHILDREN CALL AT PALACE.

About a dozen Battorsca Marys, determined to present a wedding present of their own making to Princcs s Mary, and Battoi'sea Harrys, not to bo outdone, arranged to make a simultaneous wedding gift to Viscount Lascelles, who is popularly known as, Harry. They took their respective gifts to Buckingham Palace a few days before Christmas, although aware that the absence of tho Princess in Yorkshire would provent them from handing them to her in person.

The 24 little visitors, apparently of the poorer class, but beautifully clean and «s smart as they could make themselves, were received at the equerries' entrance to the palace, and four of their number were selected to go upstairs to make tho presentation on behalf of the general body. When tho visitors arrived at the front of the Palace they were singing lustily : " Oh. what a pal is Mary. Oh, what a pal is fihe. " An angel of love came down from above, and brought her here to me '■

Tho deputation of four went up in the lift and saw Miss Yorko and Lady Joan Mulholland, ladies-in-waiting to Princess Mary, who received them very kindly, accepted their presents and the letters which accompanied them, and undertook to see that they were delivered to tho Princess

at the earliest possible moment. When the young folk left they appeared to be greatly impressed by the size and magnificence of Buckingham Palace. One of them was asked if he saw the King, and he replied, " No, but I saw somo dukes and lordg. and some of them were wearing red coats."

One of these "dukes," it may be pointed out, was the footman who attended to the lift, and of their " lordships" ono was a companion footman who opened the door to the callers.

The Battersea Marys had made for the Princess a very pretty sachet which they had ornamented with " pearlies," and also I with some very eicellent pen-painting designs representing flowers and butterflies. The accompanying note was as follows: — Dear Princess Mary,—Wc, whose names are all Mary, ask you to accent this little gift made with our own hands. It is to wish you joy at Christmas. It is also our wedding gift to you. We send our love from Battcrscs.,. and this love will follow you wherever you go.—Yours affectionately. Here follow the names and addresses of the girls. The boys offered their gift through Princess Mary to Viscount Lascelles. It was a cigar box which they had decorated artistically with bands from cigar*. Their accompanying letter was as follows: — To Lord Lascelles, c.o. Buckingham Palace.

Dear Sir,—The girls of Battersea whose names are Mary are sending the Princess a gift made by themselves. We boys, whose names are Harry, want you to have a gift from us. We thought hard what to send you. We havo made a cigar box and decorated it with Havana cigar bands, collected by ns from gentlemen who smoke. We have so much enjoyed making this gift for you. Please take it, for it brings our best wishes for Christmas and the marriage day.—Yours respectfully.

The names and, addresses of eleven Harrys are appended to their letter.