Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-01-22

Imaginauon. to WHICH W. haN' "i""cui
there are many whirh call into activity
what might bc called the practical sppli-
cation of imagination--ingenuiiy. inven'
Sveness, etc. For girls, no dolls are so
instructive. and amusing too, - piper
dolls. When girls can sew, Il !. almost
a wicked waste oftheir time to have them
sewing clothes for those great monstrosi.
ties Of dolls which require IA much labor
and care rs real babies. and are horribly
ugly after all But paper dolls give larger
dividends of entertainment. beauty. and
education. both in taste and deNtcrity.
than any others.
Let me say just here, that We do not
believe arbitrary distinctions should be
made between boys and girls. Nature
causes their tastes 10 divrrge qEite easily
enough; and while they are unconcious
of such difference. IL j. unwise To force
il upon them. For girls to engage in
outdoor sports. and for boys Ia find pleas
ure in quict play. even with dolls. is bene
fetal to both. Beside. the only way 10
discover whit may bc the bent Of ANY
mind !, tn open all the avenues ofac,ivity
10 the child. and see into which il natur-
ally enters.
Marbles tops, kitc-. and AL games oi
dcNtcrity, especially when accompanied
with healthy exercise. ARE admirable. Bat
children should bc allowed to assist NJ
/ least in making their own kii"s and balls.
( Pine wood and jacS-kniir are better
than all manufactured toy, put together;
and even before the agc when these may
bc employed. it j. possible 10 begin Ia
educate children in tn direction OF max
iag things"
But still more import ant and easy l. it
to pro, idc entertainment which trains the
( powers of observation Lead-pencil' and
paper. slate, and pencils. gi,e pleasure
90 very young children, and ,hould hc
/ furnished them freely Ii n child scrIwis
on the leaves of book. the remedy j. 10
provide it with plenty of flir white paper,
or with a pretty blank book, aud to praise
i's free use OF thr penci. there. \ small
mignifying cla., i a wonderful pleasure
Ia child Nor !, il diGicul' ~ interest
very Young children in IN" yari'u natural
objects around them. tn" young'' who
is painfully taught, NJ three Ncar., the
diacrrncc between \ auI B. .holld rather
h. learning how 10 di,linsai,f ~ "ak
from an elm. ora cricket from gr.,~>-
hopper. In those eases s(uuhlppily rarc, -
VT, among u-) whcre the parent them.
selves arr familiar with nlturr ani natural
,cicncc. il is astonishing how rapidly the
children imhibc the Auowlclgc aud the
love uf H.
Philosophical toys. -o-callcd. are of no
great benefit, Either they Ar quite IL
comprehensive 70 TIE Young. or they de-
mand reflection, without particularly
stimulating observation Their proper
function i in thc -choolruom.
To rccapiiulatc in better orlrr the hints
.hut si.cn. ~ -ubioin IL; oft'y- which
w. would recommend n 1t once the most
agrrc .nle and the most profitable %
children. Tn, lit &, arran yed in the or
der or advancing AZ. beginning with the
time when the child i. iir>t abb Ia play
hy itself NJ account is made II sex but
II i cy idcnt that thc articles mentioned
arc not equally appropriate t" both sexes.
\ proper choice should be- made. Here
i. our catalogue son ball, nf bright color /;
block, not all Of one size. but OF various
shapes and sizes. AMI with pictures books
containing picture IT animals, trees, and
other familiar objects 4 little toy cart,
which can be- loaded and unloaled pair
Of rein. for playing horse; rocking
horse: paper dolls; lcad-p,ncils; slate
and pencil, magnify sll,~ marbles
and tops; nincpin, mineral spccimen@,
and other objects Illustrating natural his
tory. All these may be given before =
child learns to read. ~ soon a possible
the ali-imprrtant JACK knife should be ad.
dcd. and after that Is done. the question
of TOYS will take care Of itself
The prevailing cyi at present l., that
too many toys are given 10 children. y
few well-ch,sen ones, susceptible oI
varied use. are better than many costly
but cambrous and unfruitful ,oltri' ances.
The children Of the last generation, who
grew up on one pictare-book AMI basket
ful of chips. got "A, much amusement. and
more profit. than do the pampered little
innocent. of to-day From the Manu-
facturer and Builder.