This has become so well known and so popular an institution that I can scarcely leave it unnoticed. The more so as its origin is, I may be permitted to say, not without interest personal to myself.

Victor Hugo, when an exile in Guernsey, established a substantial meat dinner for very poor children, in the belief that even this amount of good nourishment, supplied once or twice a week, would afford them valuable aid during the period of rapid growth, by developing the constitution of these young people, and thus improve the stamina of the rising generation. And he advocated the general adoption of the system from this point of view, in some letters on the subject in the local press in the year 1865. By some means these fell into the hands of Lady (at that time Mrs.) Thompson, who forthwith resolved to try the experiment in Marylebone. Having consulted the clergyman of the parish, who approved the plan, she at once issued the following prospectus: " It is proposed to supply hot dinners of wholesome food for poor children, especially those who are, or have been in bad health, and who need more nutritious diet than their homes afford.

" On and after the beginning of October it is intended to engage a room where twice a week such children may come for a meal of meat, vegetables, and bread, all of the best quality; and where, with only just enough discipline to insure good order and behaviour, their hunger shall be satisfied, the means of restored health provided, and habits of neatness taught.

"The room will be in the immediate neighbourhood of High Street, Marylebone.

"The arrangements are in active progress, but the cost of furniture and kitchen utensils involves some outlay, hence immediate donations are earnestly solicited for this purpose.

" Further, any person may become a subscriber by paying the sum of 3s. 6d., which will entitle him or her to ten tickets, and to the privilege of sending children to that number of dinners - each child paying one penny for every dinner afforded. The ticket must be left at the room before 9 o'clock on the morning of the day on which its recipient will dine, so that the number may be provided for. The dinners will commence in October and continue till July.

"Tickets will be sure of beneficial distribution if forwarded to any of the neighbouring hospitals or local dispensaries, to the clergy, or the district visitors.

"A list of these, and full information on all points connected with the establishment of this ' Children's Dinner Table,' may be obtained by those willing to co-operate, on application to Mrs. Eyre, 20, Upper Wimpole Street; or Mrs. Henry Thompson, Treasurer, 35, Wimpole Street; or Mrs. H. G. Wright, Secretary, 23, Somerset Street, Portman Square. Subscriptions may be paid to the Bankers, Sir S. Scott & Co., 1, Cavendish Square. Tickets may be had at Thomas & Co.'s Stationery Warehouse, 21, Great Marylebone Street.

"August, 1866."

The scheme was well supported by friends and neighbours, and came into operation early in October. Her first report thereon (also now before me), dated November of that year, and therefore when the plan had been tried only six weeks, shows that the dinners had been provided "every Wednesday and Saturday at 12 o'clock. The room accommodates 60 children: at present (November, 1886) the largest attendance has been 44." And it goes on to say that "' a dinner can be sent to a child too ill to attend, if the messenger applies at the room before nine in the morning," etc. - a further development of the original plan.

This was the first public children's free dinner - table provided in this country. Victor Hugo was delighted with this endeavour to realize his idea in London, and wrote to the pioneer of his views here earnestly and encouragingly to persevere in her work.

From that time to the present day, this institution has continued under the same management, and has been very popular and well supported, so that its funds and operations have been largely increased. A kitchen open daily for good and cheap soup has been associated with it. For many years the plan has been greatly extended so as to supply also adults, both healthy and invalid, of the poorer classes, every day in the week except Sunday, not only with dinners and soup, but also with beef'-tea and rice milk, and continues to do so. Larger premises are soon to be erected (1898).