ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire, has the distinction of the help of many of its ex-mayors and ex-mayoresses on its life-boat day. Last autumn no fewer than six mayors and six mayoresses took part in the appeal. It also had among its collectors two who were over eighty years old. One of them was very lame, and could only get about with the help of two sticks, but dressed in life-boatman's cap and jersey, he gallantly went on with his collecting until the rain compelled him to stop.

The rain was heavy, but it could not damp the ardour of the collectors. 'At the produce stall in the market place one worker went home to change three times during the day.

The "crew" of the "life-boat," which is a feature of the St. Albans day, showed themselves as indifferent to bad weather as a real life-boat crew. This life-boat, about five feet long, is painted on oilcloth, and the public are asked to put their con- tributions on it—copper on the blue part, silver on the white end-boxes and life-lines. Its crew continued on duty until late in the evening, when, wet through, they were forcibly de- prived of their life-boat.

Another feature of the St. Albans day, which helps the hospital as well as the life-boat service, is the " goose from an egg" scheme. Eggs, which are given to the branch, are on sale, but the purchasers instead of taking them away, write their names on them and put them in an incubator. At the end of the day an egg is taken out and the goose (also a gift to the branch) is given to the purchaser whose-name •is-on it. The eggs then go to the hospital. This year the goose was won by a man who was out of work and who had'never before tasted goose.

Another man was invited to look at the things on the produce stall. He said that he was out of work and had no money to buy anything—but he had bought and was wearing his life- boat flag..