Graphic Santa Claus’ Tey Distribution.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue I, 4 January 1902, Page 33

Graphic Santa Claus’ Tey Distribution.

THE CEREMONY AT THE CHORAL HALL.

No doubt all our juvenile readers, especially the “Graphic" cousins, and those who dressed dolls for the competition. will be interested in hearing <vf the exhibition of dolls, and of the distribution at the Choral Hail on Christmas Eve. Well, then, to begin at the beginning. The arrival of the dolls at the “Graphic* office is not a thing Cousin Kate or those helping her is likely to forget. How they did pour in. 'Hie office boys seemed to be doing nothing else but running up ano down stairs carrying the carefully packed gaily dressed children. Fur almost all of them were dressed as children. Curiously enough there were only two boy dolls sent in, and one little girl with a turn for humour had made hers a “new woman.” with bloomers and a riding jacket. What a work it was ticking off the names aid entering them and the ages on a list, and then placing on each doll a number, .so that those judging shou.x have no idea of who the competitors were. Every now and then those doing this work had to stop to admire some more beautifully-worked dress than usual, but the most satisfactory part of the whole competition really was the remarkable evenness of the work. The dresses were all so good that it seemed almost impossible to conceive hqpr the judges wculd get through their work, and. as will be seen later on, they found their task difficult enough. Once all the dolls were unpacked they were taken in huge baskets to Messrs. Phillipps &. Son’s window in Queenstreet, and as many as possible were there displayed, and. as all Auckland children know, attracted an immense amount of admiration. Then on Tuesday afternoon all were removed to the Choral Hall, and arranged along the long tables, which were covered with purple cloth. It is a pity all the children who dressed dolls could not have seen the show as the dolls stood out with their dresses all carefully fluffed out and arranged by a committee of ladies. All the colours of the rainbow were represented. Pink dolls, blue dolls, yellow dolls, dolls ot all colours and of all ages, most beautifully and most neatly dressed. Two of the very best were two babies, one in long clothes, most exquisitely finished by hand, and the other also in long clothes, but machine made. Every detail was complete, one even having her bottle. Then, again, one family of three sisters sent a set of nurse, cook, and housemaid. All were beautifully done. The nurse was a regular hospital professional, and had two medals, a little note book and a pencil, the red cross badge, and a tiny little thermometer for taking the patient’s temperature. The housemaid had a little salver with cards and letters for the “Graphic” and was most cleverly dressed in black, with the neatest of

white apr—v aad eapn We eook. too, was very-——ipcete an her gel up. A lovely eanvas apron with a package of nursery recipes in the pocket. Another doll nhieh aroweed much admiration was dry—rd in white pique, relieved with blue. The dress and underclothing were marvels oi neatnest, and the whole effect was one at cleanliness and noli—ited pains. But ooe could go on discussing dolls l>y she hour, or rather by the eoiumn. did space permit. AU were in their way almost as good as the best, and when it eame to the judging the ladies who had undertaken this work confessed then—elves completely beaten. They insisted that it was quite impos-.cne to judge the dolls 'or krst. second aud third prUe, and «*> forth, for ail were so eten. AU they eou.d manage to do was to pick out the six they thought best, and aii these six they considered equal, absolutely. The handsome baby doll, they thought. deserved special mention from the enormous labour put into the hand-drawn work on the skirt and the beautiful nnish of the underclothes. The following are the rarnes of the prLre winners:— Dolly McFarlane, Epson:. Minnie McTier. Taka pt: ns. Bay Tole, Ponsonby. Dor* Hibson. Taupnki. Pearl Goodyear, Eden Terrace. AueK--1 land. Doris Gittes. Hamilton Road, Ponsenby. Special prites hpve also been awarded to — Bessie Martig, Hawera. Lilian Webster, Manukau Read. Parnell. The judging took some time, and by tfc heir all w*® arranged and in order there was quite a —rowd waiting to eotne in and see the show. Scarcely had the doors Wa opened before the young recipients, too, began to arrive, and though hours too soon, to walk round admiring the dolls and speculating on which they would get. Faster and faster they eame. til? at last it was evident that rhe children to receive presents must be separated, and got on the stag?. They were arranged in rows, the youngest at the bottom, and these received their toys first. Never was «ueh excitement. The children were wild tsith joy. and it was hard work to keep order. Stilt at last. doH after doll and toy after toy disappeared, and the bright-fae-d boys and girls hurried off to compare their Treasures, and ehatter excitedly over their good luek. Then came the IcTTie distribution, and how the children *iid enjoy that I It was a pleavnre to see them. Those distributing had a hard time to keep up with the eager little hands and expectant months, as the rows filed past. It had been hoped to take a group of the children, but they were far too excited and anxious to get home and show their mothers their prerents, so alt that eould be done was to take some snapshot.*, and these wil-I give some idea of the happiness given. All the best dolls were sent to the sick children at the hospital, who had also several other treats this year. Packages of dolls, etc., were also sent to other- deserving institutions. In brief, the distribution was a great success. and aP those •■hildren who helped can coßgraralaXe themselves on having given others much pleas are. THE WELLINGTON DISTRIBUTION. In Wellington the dolls dressed by the cousins and others were distributed among the following institutions:—Wellington Hospital, St. Mary's Orphanage, St- PanEs Dorcas Society. Lesin Memorial Home. St. Mary's Home. Karori. and the Home for Ir—raMe*. As tn Auckland, the recipients were delighted with the presents, which served in no small ■egret to brighten their Xmas.