A POOR CHILD'S MATINEE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 207, 26 May 1908, Page 5

A POOR CHILD'S MATINEE.

It; was i certainly a. joyous afternoon for many a child (writes '.':Laura" to tho " AustraJasian.''),.;.,when, ' .the- great .' Princess's Theatre was itnrown open to tho poor-children of :_Melbourno by v the: generosity of Mr. J. C. Williamson,;; and - never .wa3: a more - enthusiastic audienco assembled to applaud , tho" winsomp, pranks of ■ Peter Pan. Vociferous sheering, hand-clapping, and crowing was the order of the day, and /there were, times' Rjen. the orchestra was almost inaudiblethe noise made by the children, fscver was there such a dress circle audience, for. .Hjuns, fruit, and lollies were being consumed galoro by the, occupants 'of the blue plush -.fauteuils. And never was such an atmosphere :pf good humour. It wa3 pathetic, in-the extreme to look at the front row of the stalls, for it was given un to .invalid children, suffering from hip disease. Theso poor- children were wrapped in blankets, • and two.ynurses sitting ,together, supported the body of. each- child, and .turned the little.face toward tho stage as much as ; possible. A row of blind lads was a sorrowful sight, but they listened intently, and seemed-to be enjoying themselves,.-, for thoy .wero smiling. Poor; deaf and dumb children also were to be seen, and, they chattered away, to their companions, -on their fingers, and looked very bright and happy. When tho Darling children and Peter-Pan, began s to fly about tho stage thei-Q. wero screams' of delight.' Tho childish audienco was simply entranced, and carried away too. It was very funny to hear the- children cautioning Peter Pan to " look out, the _ pirate's comin'," and not to take his' medicine, "ibecauso the pirate's put poison into it!" But the greatest burst of appaluso was when, the fairy, Tinker 8011, was dying, and V Miss Brune (Peter Pan) rushed to the footlights and asked her audience ,if they believed in fairies. Then, too, at the conclusion of the ■ performance, wlion Peter Pau 'made his, very neat little speech to-the children, and wared to thomj how tho audienco cbeerod >in -response, and . waved back. . Coming 'out of the theatre J saw a little procession of bath chairs, and in them thij crippled children. I, stopped to speak to one, boy. His-face was just aglow with happiness. "He just loved it," said the pretty nurse. ;!' Didn't you, Jack ? " "My word —it 4 was all-right; and, look here, lady, couldn't that covo, Peter Pan, fly! " ho said,; with just the ghost of a sigh, but ho recovered himsglf bravely. ."-Some of the'youngsters .behind me was saying that he was shot ilong.on wires—but I was ih: tho front, and I never seen 'cm; I think lie really flew; I'm quite satisfied, anil mo and nurse tath'believes in fairies now," said the little 'shap stoutly. Vt ■ ■-V ;.; 4 - y;