Christmas, coming to fertile Callendar, Ont., this years found the famous Dionne Quintuplets growing up. Now they are 7 and if some of the babyish charm has rubbed off, each of the Quins is acquiring personality and character. Because of the usages of publicity, Christmas also came early, on Dec. 1, to allow time for the owners of the exclusive picture rights to get their material distributed. The Quins, who are wards of the Canadian Government, never leave their special scientific nursery. On this occassion Father Oliva, Mother Elzire and four brothers and sisters joined them there.

Since the day Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe performed his prodigious feat of delivery at the humble French-Canadian Dionne home, the Quins have become a tremendously profitable property. Curious tourists, in peacetime and wartime, have brought thousands of dollars to this part of Canada. The little girls have been the subject of endless litigation, of books, movies and political discussion. They contributed $20.000 to the Canadian War Loan and became honorary members of the Canadian Navy. Now they are old enough to have opinions and want to know why "somebody hasn't told Hitler and the other bad men about Ferdinand, and how he would rather just sit and smell flowers than fight."

LIFE - December 29, 1941