DICKENS CLUB

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18273, 16 December 1933, Page 4

DICKENS CLUB

XMAS TREE PARTY AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS The numerous functions, held during 1933 by the Dickens Club have been most successful, and the grand finale in the form of a children's Christmas party added still another success to the credit of the club. This function was given yesterday afternoon, by members, for their children and their friends" children, and invitations were also forwarded to a number of ■ children who, it was thought, may possibly have a quiet Christmas through prevailing adverse circumstances.

About 40 juveniles .were- expected, but 79 attended and this number was augmented by a large gathering of adults. The scene of the festivity was the top floor of the Freesia Lounge, and the obvious happiness of the small folk warmed the hearts of the organisers and amply repaid them for the trouble they had taken.

The cynosure of all eyes was a large Christmas tree laden with toys and decorations, which had kept a band of willing workers busy from 10 a.m. till the time of opening, 3 p.m. The names of the children were taken as they entered the hall, and as each answered later to a call thy were presented with a gift. Not- one child was forgotten, and a fairy queen, with glittering wings, wand, and head-dress, assisted to hand out the toys. Father Christmas, too, received a warm welcome from the little ones, and after shaking hands all round, he, also, assisted to distribute toys from the tree.

The "mother of the club,” Mrs. Erie Hampton, with customary forethought and generosity, donated dozens of balloons, and presented each child with one, thus adding greatly to the general happiness. dumps, games and dances amused the throng, and at times the floor was covered with wee folk playing with balls, dolls, guns, aeroplanes, rubber and stuffed animals, skipping ropes, and all manner of modern tovs.

A delicious party tea was served on the second floor, after which the games and romps were renewed. Little f.smo Houlahan contributed a fancy “dance and a tap dance, and the tiny, mite was heartily and deservedly applauded.

At the conclusion club members dispersed, feeling happy in the thought that they had justified their existence ns a Dickens Club by carrying out the blaster’s precepts. The toys for the tree were generously donated by club members, and among those who gave valued assistance during the day in making the festivity such an outstanding success were: Mesdames J. Pirie, P. Mann, E. Hampton, V. Clement, A. Scott, T. G. Lawless, H. Holmes, H. Sinclair, Matron Clark; Misses A. Hampton. F. and M. Keany, H. Pirie, N. Arnold, and Mr. T. G. Lawless.