TOYS FOR HOSPITALS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—You drew a dreary picture in your review of "Aunt Mary's Bran Pie" of the troubles of bachelor uncles who are so weary of selecting at Christmas-time costly toys for their little nieces and nephews that are to give no pleasure, and which will soon be con- signed to the silence and dust of the lumber-room. I could not help contrasting his pitiable perplexity with the hearty interest and delight with which all my household have helped to prepare a miscellaneous assortment for the children's ward in a hospital. For weeks the children employ their play-hours in colouring wood- cuts for picture-books ; dolls are purchased and dressed,—a little- sum goes a long way in buying the kind of toys suitable to amuse small patients ; warm clothing which the children have outgrown is repaired, and helps to make a padding for the more fragile con- tents. There is a small parcel of pin-cushions and needle-cases, and as the box is being packed, the dolls' houses are ransacked for final contributions.
Now, this seems to me the way to go to work. If these goo& uncles would clear the coast by simply stipulating that all last year's toys were to be put into the best repair little fingers were- capable of, and then packed off to some children's ward of hos- pital or workhouse, the difficulty of selection would cease. I would just add that though Christmas is over, toys, to those who- have none, are welcome all the year round.—I am, Sir, &c.,
II. W. O.
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