HOLIDAY HOMES FUND.
[To ens EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." I SIR,—Of the making of appeals (especially in this blessed day of increased consideration for others) there is no end, and it is not to be wondered at if occasionally some sorely pestered man or woman, deemed to be "well off," should resent almost fiercely the continual cry of "Give, give." Yet giving is a luxury which few of us, however stinted in means, can afford to do without or would care to forego if we could. But it is to be feared that many do not get the enjoyment out of their giving they should do because they lack discrimina- tion, or are too indolent to inquire into the nature of the calls made upon them. To such I would say that the Ragged School Union, beloved of Lord Shaftesbury, founded nearly sixty years ago for dealing with the poorest of poor London waifs, is still waging its splendid war against misery. And of its ever-recurring campaigns is the glorious one of fighting gloom, airlessness, and hopelessness by sending away to its holiday homes some seven thousand neglected children for a fortnight each ; also the sending of some thirty thousand children for one bright day into the green, sun- gilded country. To do this the Union depends entirely upon the thoughtful donations of people who feel that their own holiday will be all the sweeter if a tiny percentage of its cost be set apart for those who have no other prospect of bright- ness in life at all. With many thanks, and just hinting that my friend the secretary, Mr. John Kirk, is sitting at the receipt of custom at the office, 32 John Street, Bedford Row, London, W.0.-1 am, Sir, &c., F. T. BULLEN.
[We cannot as a rule find space for appeals for subscrip- tions, but we must make an exception in regard to the above. We must, however, express the opinion that it would be much better to suppress the single-day excursions and spend all the money available on the fortnightly .bolidays. We greatly doubt whether the children derive any. benefit from the hurry and rush of a single day in the country. A fortnight, or even a week, is in most cases of untold benefit.—ED. Spectator.]
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