29 DECEMBER 1939, Page 20

HELP FOR POOR FAMILIES

SIR,—In your issue of December 1st Mrs. Leigh Clare suggests that readers might adopt a particular family or indi- vidual among the unemployed.

A friend of mine, in response to an earlier letter of Mrs. Leigh Clare's, adopted a Welsh family two years ago, and corresponds regularly with the mother. Her husband is an invalid, and she has five children between the ages of two and fourteen. On the day that war was declared she Avrote to my friend offering to care for his four children so long as the air raid danger lasted. She wanted no payment except the actual cost of the visitors' food. " I cannot giver them any luxuries, but I will keep them clean, and as happy as I can."

That offer was, I believe, symptomatic of the kind of friend- ship which Mrs. Leigh Clare's scheme often establishes. The gallantry of some of these fellow-countrymen in the black districts can only be realised through such particular friend- ships. They are a humbling experience to the wealthier partner, but unbelievably enriching.

Mrs. Leigh Clare runs her correspondence) single-handed own expense. No one knows brilliantly. Her address is Guildford.—Yours faithfully, scheme (which involves a vast in her spare time, and at her how it is done, but it is done " Longshot," The Ridgeway,

R. C. HUTOUNSON.