A SCENE OF JOY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19730, 27 December 1926, Page 6

A SCENE OF JOY

XMAS AT THE HOSPITAL BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED WARDS. TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN. Real joy and' happiness, even among • those badly afflicted, pervaded the at ; mosphere of the Wanganui Public Hos ' pital on Christinas Day. No stone had I been left unturned to assure some pleaj i*ure for the hearts of patients who had j to spend the festive season in the institution. I With enthusiastic zeal tho staff of (“wingless angels,” under the sympathetic direction of Alatron AL McKenny, set about decorating the wards and spreading the Christmas cheer germ. Streamers were hung across the seven wards and the careful blend of colours added a note of gaiety to the otherwise monotonous white of th»* walls. There were also flowers aplenty to lend brightness to the wards. 'liristmas Eve was a night of tin -'d happiness for the 110 patients. , A band of 20 nurses assembled without a sound and when the shadows of darkness were cast over the huge in stitution at “lights out.” each nurse lit a taper and carolling commenced. Two joyous Christmas carols were sung in each ward and each patient had a bright face and a cheery smile as a welcome for the Alatron and her happy band of vocalists. On Xmas Day dinner was served at mid-day, and the Hospital was thrown open for visitors, of whom there was ' a large number. ' A number of patients helped with the decorating, especially those in the Eastern Ward, and the brightness which resulted through their handiwork must have been especially pleasing to the patients themselves. The children were not forgotten. The ward was beautifully decorated and a great Christmas Tree packed with toys stood in the middle of the ward. Some of the littel patients were even allowed to go home for a few days, but those who remained behind lost nothing thereby. Visit of Santa Claus. Santa Claus came round on the morning of Christmas Day to give away the beautiful things on the well laden tree. Eyes were wide open in wonderment as the representative of the patron Faint distributed toys with a cheering word and a pat on the head for the afflicted one. It was a real Christmas for the little ones, and bright and cheery faces welcomed mother and father when they arrived for the all too short stay with their cherished ones. There were toys in every direction, and quite a substantial parcel will go towards a reserve which Matron McKenny will keep for a future occasion. In conversation with a “Chronicle” reporter, Aliss AlcKenny stated that she was delighted with tho assistance given from outside tho Hospital. She wished to thank all givers of flowers and was especially appreciative of the assistance given by the Swankers’ Club, which supplied toys, and A4r H. Williams, who arranged a concert for the Hospital Christmas Cheer Fund.