NEWS LITE : FORBES' TOY SOLDIERS SET TO DEPLOY AT AUCTION.

Malcolm Forbes was so wealthy, he built his own army - in miniature. The tiny infantry riflemen, soldiers on horseback, Zulu warriors, English Beefeaters, Confederate troops and doughboys the late millionaire assembled over the years are getting their walking papers, however. They'll be up for auction at Christie's on Thursday.

``This is the biggest toy soldier collection that's ever been offered - and the most famous,'' said Hugo Marsh, head of Christie's toy department.

Among the collection are hundreds of lead soldiers manufactured by the British craftsman William Britain Jr., who began making fighting men in 1893.

One of the rarest lots - still in its original box - is the five British-made Boy Scouts holding signal flags spelling out ``Scout.''

The publisher and editor, who died in 1990, began his collection in the late 1960s when he had gone to a London auction to buy furniture.

He ended up buying several toy soldiers on impulse, said Peter Johnson, who with his wife, Anne, was curator of Forbes' collection. From there the platoon grew to a virtual division, eventually numbering more than 60,000.

`Candle' to aid area hospital

The handwritten lyrics to ``Candle in the Wind 1997,'' Elton John's funeral tribute to Princess Diana, will be sold at auction to benefit Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

The lyrics, along with the final typed version, are signed by the creators of the song, Bernie Taupin and John.

Proceeds from the Feb. 11 sale at Christie's in Los Angeles will be donated to Childrens Hospital.

``Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is close to my heart, as are the lyrics to `Candle in the Wind,' '' said Taupin, who lives in Los Angeles. ``I am amazed and astounded by what this song has achieved.''

John sang the reworked version of the 1973 hit at Diana's funeral Sept. 6. The song has sold a record 35 million copies. John plans this week to give more than $33 million in proceeds to the Diana memorial fund.

From White House to Congress?

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton? Of New York?

According to Monday's New York Post, state Democratic Chairwoman Judith Hope raised the possibility with the first lady at a White House party last week.

``I was talking to the first lady and said to her that if she ever had any thoughts about electoral politics, she should consider moving to New York and running for the Senate in 2000,'' Hope, a friend of the president, was quoted as saying.

``Mrs. Clinton laughed and said, `You're kidding?' She raised her eyebrows in her usual charming way at the suggestion, but she didn't rule it out.''

Marcia Berry, a spokeswoman for Clinton, said Monday the first lady is ``obviously flattered'' by the suggestion but ``she doesn't have any interest in running for public office.''

Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., has said he expects to seek re-election in 2000, but some New York Democrats think he will retire.

Next time, just ask for

ladyfingers

A woman who brought breakfast to some co-workers is suing a doughnut shop, claiming her box of goodies contained about a dozen shaped to look like male genitalia.

``I was very embarrassed. There was no doubt about what it was,'' Sandra McRae said in Nashua, N.H.

She filed a lawsuit Nov. 3 against Merrimack Donuts Inc., the owner of the Dunkin' Donuts shop, seeking unspecified damages for negligence and emotional distress.

McRae, 55, was a customer service representative for Oxford Health Care in Nashua when she bought the fried doughnut holes in January 1996 for a group of temporary workers on their last day on the job.

``I just thought it would be a nice gesture,'' she said last week. ``I was just doing it to say goodbye to the girls.''

Peering up at them were a bunch of doughnuts shaped to form ``a male sexual organ,'' McRae said.

Kemper Insurance Co., which is defending Merrimack Donuts, wouldn't comment.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1) Girl comes through

Jurgen and Ita Schuttke of Dublin, Ireland, and their daughter, Aodhbha, hold Baebhen, who at 5 days old became the world's youngest transplant patient with a liver operation Monday.

(2) Clinton

(3) The handwritten lyrics to ``Candle in the Wind 1997'' will be sold at auction.