NATIONAL CHILDREN'S HOMES.

   Mrs. W. H. JOHNSON, of Meadow House, Whitehaven,  opened an A. B. C. sale
in the Wesleyan Church Schoolroom, Whitehaven, on Friday  afternoon, in aid
of the National Children's Homes and Orphanage. The sale was  organised by the
Whitehaven Branch of the young Leaguers' Union. The stalls were  well laden
with goods of all descriptions, and flowers were in abundance.

Mr. H. W. WALKER presided at the open proceedings and gave a short account
of the work of the Homes. Last year, he said, the Homes had spent more than
their income and that made the position serious, there being a debt of £16,000.
The Young Leaguer's Union had worked hard in raising money, and Lord
WAKEFIELD  had made a broadcast appeal, which had helped a great deal. The expenditure
had  been reduced from £203,000 to £183,000, and money was urgently needed
for  carrying on good work. A great problem, said the chairman, was that of the
unwanted child, and despite all the public organisations which were
available,  the necessity for private enterprise was present. They had ceased to send
children to foster parents, preferring to keep them in their institutions.
Much  of the money spent went to help boys of the institution emigrate to Canada
and  Australia, and the girls who stayed in England, to receive a training. It
was  indeed a very big and expensive work and they needed all the help
possible. The  chairman then introduced and asked Mrs. JOHNSON to declare the sale
open.

Mrs. JOHNSON said the work of the Children's Home and Orphanage had grown
considerably since the institution was founded 62 years ago, and thousands of
children had been saved from evil and misery. The door of the Home was always
open to any child in real need, and the motto was "Love, care and attention."
Every child who  was taken to the house was well cared for and given a
chance in life. Mrs. JOHNSON, in declaring the sale open, wished the effort  every
success.

A vote of thanks was proposed by the Rev. Bancroft JUDGE, who stressed the
fact that the work was of a National importance.

A solo was sung by Mrs. JUDGE, and recitations given by three young  Leaguers
Elsie PHILLIPS, Nancy BANKS and Bessie TAIT, "Bags." Those on the  platform
were presented with flowers by Joyce PHILLIPS.

The stallholders were:

Work stall - Mrs. JUDGE, Misses JOHNS and LACHLISON

Fruit and flower stall - Mrs. ELLWOOD, Mrs. J. M. STOUT, Misses. LUCAS,
LOWERY, MOSS, M. STOUT, WORKMAN.

Cake stall - Misses DOUGLAS and M. WILLIAMSON

Sweet stall - Miss. HARTLEY and the Misses MOORHOUSE

Stationery - Misses HUTTON, W. KENNETT, E. CANNOR and B. TAYLOR

Tea - Mrs. HODGSON, Mrs. L. HODGSON, Mrs. H. PHILLIPS, the Misses BRAGG,
WILLIAMSON, B. and E. WARWICK, MARTIN, M. BOUCH, HORNSBY, WILSON and W.  KELLY.

A concert was held in the evening when Mr. J. BURLINGTON presided, and the
following contributed to the program:

Mrs. CAMPBELL

Mrs. and the Misses SPEDDING

Misses WHITEHEAD, ROTHERY and M. BOUCH.