CHILDREN'S CORNER By Clare Simon

DEAR CHILDREN: Do you remember last week we were talking about holidays? I said I would tell you all the different ways we are going on holiday. If you are old enough to plan your own holiday, you might like to try one of them.
One of my brothers who is nearly grown-up is going on a youthhostelling holiday around Scotland. You have to be 17 or over to do this; he did it one year and found it great fun. Imagine wandering from place to place and sleeping each night for only a few shillings (including breakfast and supper). It comes to well under five shillings a night.
The Youth Hostels, of which there is one near most towns. are fairly comfortable and, in any case. after a hard day's hiking you don't mind how hard your bed is. Everyone is very friendly, comparing notes and working out routes.
There are not many rules about Youth Hostelling hut two of them are; hostels are only for people on foot, or on bicycle or hitch-hiking, and everyone who stays at a Youth Hostel has to help with the work, which means helping wash up or tidy the dormitories., There arc Youth Hostels all over the continent. You have to join the Youth Hostel Association. though, to go to hostels. A stamped. addressed envelope to the Youth Hostels Association. Welws n Garden Ors. Herts. will bring you all the information you need and details of how to join.
-LIMA of us are planning to go and stay in North Wales, We all think we can climb mountains very well (without ropes), and on even the big, famous mountains like Snowdon you can find paths which mountaineers of any age can climb. Our youngest mountaineer was nine when he first climbed Snowdon. so you sec how easy it is. And if you want to go up Snowdon hut are sure sou can't climb. there is a very nice train all the way up.
By the way. St. Bernard of Menthon is the patron of mow& taineers.
ITIWO more of us (we are a very large family1 are thinking about caravanning.
I don't suppose we shall do more than think about it because there are already arguments about which way to go in the caravan when we have it. But it is nice to know that caravans can be hired very cheaply and for a family of four it would be a lovely holiday, unless you happen to he very untidy. when it would he horrid.
As for Sly-boots and me. I am going to work at fruit-picking in an agricultural camp. This is more of a grown-up holiday. but if you have a brother or sister of 17 or over who wants a money-earning holiday., thee might like to know that the Ministo of Agriculture will send details of farming camps in different places in England (they are not run by them, but they know all ahout theme Ms holiday will cost me very little as. although I will pay 50s. a week for hoard and lodging. I shall he earning money at the rate of about 2s. 6d. an 'hour picking gooseberries and strawberries.
The more of them I eat, the less money I will earn. of course. so this is onls a holiday for strongminded people.
QLYBOOTS has planned his own
holidas. The other day helped him look up in the handbook of the Automobile Associa• tion a nice hotel in a place he wanted to go to. Presently we found one which said " Dogs allowed at the manager's discretion." If you have a Slyhoots of ynur own and want to take him on holiday. this is a good wax' to find Out whether your hotel will have him.
P.S.—Of course. Slyboots is not going on his holiday by himself. lie will he staying with one of my friends at the hotel. Perhaps I shall get a postcard signed " Slyhoots," and if I do I will tell you about it next week.