GARDEN FETE AT THE CONVENT OF THE SACAED HEART.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2328, 9 December 1914, Page 3

GARDEN FETE AT THE CONVENT OF THE SACAED HEART.

Instead of receiving tho customary reward of their studies for the year in the shape of prizes, the pupils of the Convent of; the Sacred Heart desired that the money devoted to prizes should instead be given to the Belgian lleliof Fund. In addition to this, with tho assistance of former students they organised a j garden fete which was held at the Convent yesterday afternoon for the purpose of aiding tho samo cause. Her Excellenoy the Countess of Liverpool, who was received by the Reverend Mother, Co-adjutor Archbishop O'Shea, and Mrs. Burke, opened tlhe fete and was presented with an illuminated address and a bouquet of beautiful pink flowers. Afterwards she was entertained at_ afternoon tea, and also visited tho various stalls and side-shows of which there wero quite *§, number. In startling contrast to the previous .day: the weather was perfect and a great many people went out from town to attend thefete, ind incidentally to ■further the object forwhich it was held. Tho stalls had-been erected upon tho tennis courts and elsewhero' and by tho time tho afternoon was ended were pracr tically denuded of their wares. Quantities of lovely flowers had been sont in for salo and delicious home-mado sweets found many purchasers, as indeed did the contents of tho other stalls, particularly tho fancy-work which was much admired. Afternoon tea was served in the children's refectory, which was thronged during tho greater part of the afternoon by thirsty people. Another attraction was the short concert, for which' an excellent programme had been arranged. ■ ■ During the course of the' war the Order of the Sacred Heart has suffered severely, many of the convents in Belgium having to be abandoned, while- tho nuns and the children fled to England for Bholtor. In Mexico,' too, it has fallen upon evil days and convents have had to bo abandoned-while the nuns fled to San Francisco, whero they wero recoivod with tho greatest hospitality and kindness, as in the case of those, who fled to England from the devastation of the European war. In all tho welter of German cruelty which has been the crowning horror of the war it was a relief to be told of tho kindness of German soldiers to children and of_instances of courtesy and consideration to nuns, more fortunate than others, apparently.