HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 835, 13 October 1916, Page 4

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

CLOTHING BRITISH BABIES. "It's a sight to do one's heart good, I so it is! " That is the way a lady described the display of children's clothing at present on view in the Chamber of Commerce, and she was not far wrong. For there was something infinitely touching in those neat, stacks of little garments, made principally by the schoolgirls of i this country, for the babies of England,] whom the war lias robbed so bitterly. 1 It somehow typified the humane side of war—the "silver lining'' of kindly: thought and charitable action that the; struggle lias brought forth. It was a ] concrete example- of the quality of mercy, which blcsseth in a twofold di-| rcction. The school girls, who have]

given up their time and money to make those garments, have, learned valuable! lessons—patience, sacrifice, industry, kindliness—and the babies who receive them —well there need be no pointing] out of the blessing the garments will be I to them. i The outfits have been collected by the] Plunk ct .Society, who fights the battle of the baby unremittingly, and the display arranged by it, in order to give the pilbli some knowledge of the splendid gifts received. There is a beautifully made collection of garments from the girls of the High School, made under the supervision of Miss Burns. Some 300 garments are included —frocks, "nighties." indoor and outdoor coats, knitted bonnets and vests, bibs, bootees, and every other garment that, a baby could possibly need. Miss Sanders's School sent along 114 dear little Magyar jackets, and Miss Old's School (To Whare) had a nice collection to its credit. Earlier donations from the two last-named schools are already on their way to England. The Technical College girls, under Miss Partridge, sent along '221 articles of children's clothes. Mrs Card'nor was represented by four complete infants' outfits, and Miss Gerard contributed a donation of various little frocks, bonnets, etc. The exquisite hand-sewing spoke eloquently of the "revival" that needlework is going to have as a result of the war, and in every instance the clothes were perfectly made and finished. The l'lunket. Society is providing a Kaiapoi shawl in which to enclose every outfit —useful articles these, which just put the finishing touch of excellence to the outfits. Ho, in fhis way, (he Christchureh girls and women are stretching hands across the sea to help those wdio need it most. — the little babies who will be the men and women of to-morrow.