The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-25
Chtl,i-wOrship.

Perhaps in no respect does the Christmas
of to-day contrast more strongly with the
Christmas Of the last generation, than in the
Increased elaboration bestowed upon every
thing intended for the dclectaton of the
young. A writer ip the London Spectator
discusses this circumstance at some length,
and deplores the growing tcnlonc: towards
what he terms child-worsh.p. He cites the
Christmas books for children that are now
being poured out of the prcss-rhymcs, pic
lures, fairy tales hooks Of games, books OF
adventures, hoys' magazines, girls maga-
zines, SCIENCE made easy, poetry made child
like, the grotcsquc old ballads revived with
humorous caricaturcs, trauslations from the
German, claborately illustrated by French
artists, &c, &c. He says: Everything that
"tlic highest anu subtlcst refinement car
Invent is prepared Mt the demand of elderly
relatives anxious and ready to purchase all
those inventions in large auantitir; at law
"ish expense, and pour them into the laps of
"thc children WHOM they most do propi-
"tiate." While hc grimly criticscs 1.-the
horrible and prolgatc profusion of energy
children; and while he almost cruelty declares
that "thcr pleasures are far too numerous
land elaborate, and that there should hc Il
''stcrncr and more healthy frugality VIC in
nlnstcring to thcm, he yet manifests
through all his TRUSTS Il real sympathy with
the young He doubts if the Asiatic luxury
OF their modern playrUoms and playthings
Is as satisfactory TO them IA simplicity would
he. He has seen ga wooden doll with one
EARN give vast deal more pleasure than Il
"winking wax creature that runs on wheels
"and emits u sort OF sQueaking apology for
'thc word mamma" He has no faith in
"thc voluptuous era for children" lie says:
IA few nursery rhymes, n few good old fairy
tales, wooden donkey with nanniers to take to
bed, box of bricks, whip, and, In good time,
ball OF string and Il knife, are all the play
things child needs, and quite enough II his
| invention Is to have the least play. Load him
with elaborate ingenuities, with pictures so good
Tint you feel bound TO explain their finer
touches, with tales Of character where oil the
| illnesses Of nature and circumstance are care
fully attended to, with ballads of humor n hum
drcd times as fine and elaborate rs lie can take
in, and you overload him and leave no room for
the elastic power of Invention and imagination,
which is the best OF all amuscmcnts for him."
lie continues:
50 bare, rugged and almost grotcsquc SIM
pllcity OF material ls. We are dirposcd TO main
tain, the best possible food for ninety y-nlnc
children ont Of hundred"
| lie doubts If 1.-The children Of to-day will
"cvcr feel towards the elaborate and admi-
"rablc works for their amusenlcnts half the
"ycarnings of tender remembrance which we
"lavsh on the wooden moral tales, gro
''tes1ue as gargoylrs, which We so eagerly
consumed III our childish days.' He con-
| clutlcs:
"Thc era Of elaborate sugar-rums and high
| art for children is certainly not one that pro-
duccs the most vigorous and eager minds.
The worship OF children is throwing lis all into
the shade. Let us put them down for the FL
turc. II will do both us and them good"