These are boys from the National Children's Homes, the Methodist children's agency founded by Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephenson. The Homes' Canadian branch was in Hamilton, Ontario. Dinner is served on white table cloths by frock-coated waiters with trays, surely an unlikely circumstance for young travellers sponsored by a charitable institution. Perhaps The drawing was used to convince Canadians that the Home's children were properly reared young people who would integrate easily into their households.
Courtesy: Sigmund Samuel Canadian Collection, Royal Ontario Museum
