HELPING THE BELGIANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 227, 4 March 1915, Page 8

HELPING THE BELGIANS.

A FINE RESPONSE. New Plymouth central yesterday afternoon was densely .packeu. The townspeople wer e out, to assist what is probauly tli e greatest c'.iarity sc.ieme ever known to tlie world—tne liclp.iig oi the starving Belgians. With commendable public-spiritedness the members of the Royal il J antoininie Company iiad gratuitously ottered a musical and vaudeville entertainment, and fcneir etlorts were crowned wit:i marked success. At 3 o'clock Devon Street held a crowd of probably 1400 people, and belore the performance commenced the jingle oi coin was freely heard, even little girts and boys folding in their chubby lists tliu small change that they had gathered to help to feed their starving little kindred in t'lie land that .has been so ravaged by war. After a few minutes' wait the members of the Royal Company put in an appearance, the lady memuers very tastefully,attired in costumes represent-' ing the national colors of the Allied armies, and the male members garbed in' various styles, some in grotesque garb, more easily imagined, perhaps, than described. Two large lorries, gaily bedecked with patriotic bunting, etc.', conveyed tlie performers from the Theatre Itoyal to the Red Post Furnishing Ware- • house, followed by motor cars, etc., in procession. Clowns, acrobats, and sleightoHiand men contributed to the merriment. After a spirited musical item by the pantomime Orchestra th e procession returned to tiie centre of tlie town. Patriotic items were sung by members of the visiting company, and Mr. Geo. Stephenson, the manager of the Company, then did a little auctioneering. Tho first item auctioned was a Belgian flag, only a little bit of silk about a foot square, but it commanded a lot of attention. Bids came slowly for a start, but it soon changed ownership at £2 l«s. The purchaser quickly re-quested fc'ie auctioneer to "put it up again," and in a feu- minutes the flag had bei :i sold and re-sold a dozen or more times, and realised well over £2O. A kiss from a charming member of the company realised fl. This set the crowd in good humor, as the purcltasor went up and, with a resounding smack, took delivery. Articles were offered and sold again and again in rapid succession, including gifts of all sorts from townspeople. With plenty of "patter" at his command, fc'ie auctioneer quickly found willing purchasers. Meanwhile other members of the Company were busily engaged with the collection boxes, and th- appeal of "Help the poor little Belgians" did fall on responsive ears. Mr Stephenson informs us that the performance will net to the Belgian fund something over £l5O. J a. result that should be gratifying to both performers and people.