The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-01-15
THE EDUCATION OF TOYS.

GERMANS AND FRENCH DISCUSSING
THE QUESTION BARONESS BUR
= DETT-COUTTs ON THE SUBJECT.
Baroness Burdett- Coutts writes te
the London Daily Telegraph of No
vember 20: ssThe child Is father to the
man." This truth, formulated by the
poets mind, directs public attention,
through leading article in the Daily
Telegraph of Friday last, to the forth
coming toy show at the Alexandra Pal.
ace. 1t is even intensified in the child.
woman, who early wears upon her
baby brow the round and top of that
sovereignty which she must display
hereafter as queen of the household.
While the boy child yet happily and
unredectingly rolls about on the floor, in
uncontrolled delight at the use of legs
and arms, while his baby lips have
scarcely learnt to frame those wonder
full monosyllables which his fat fingers
pick out to spell in his A B C, the girl
has mastered her part, and is already
soothing her doll to sleep, planning its
wanf-sse, or considering the arrange
menf OF her kitchen range or dinner
table The mind of the infant house
mother, to use German phrase, is full
of thought for the wellbe..lg of the
toy home. On the other hand, the
boy rarely cares to nurse T tend imag-
mary things. While often very gentle
to real baby, he would rather pick a
fictitious one to pieces but none the
less important to him are the toys put
into his hands. And whether for bow
or girl, | venture to ask You to draw
further public attention to the toy
question.
At the jubilee meeting of the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, held in London last year.
the question of toys and the education
they convey, was discussed at one of
the sittings of the conference, and the
German delegates promised to bring it
under notice in Germany, whence
spring the Christmas trees, with their
magical fruits, so dear to children's
eyes. The French delegates also prom
lsed to consider the subject, and thew
seemed to confirm an opinion which
prevails, that French toys are specially
open to the charge of cruel teaching.
However, we have seldom to look
abroad to find out faults to correct.
and have seen in our own toy-shops
very ugly arrangements for shipping off
heads of cows and pigs, and various
mechanical toys whose chief amuse-
ment and merit seemed to be derived
from the fact that by pressing and
squeezing they made squeaks and moi, IS
suggestive of pain. / feel certain.
from the kindly countenances Given
to the proposed exhibition. that the
underlying lessons which NAV he con-
veyed through dear toyland will not
be forgotten; on the contrary. that
mothers true instinct has raised the
forthcoming exhibition into a prom.
Inence which may lead in the future
to many beneficial result. What i
first loved in life influences, lroba5ry
in no small degree, what is loved
throughout life; and ON the duct;le
brain Of childhood the first impress;ons
should be bright, sweet, gentle and
pure.
In connection with the dolls' mart of
the exhibition, in which dress and
taste must play no unimportant part l
cannot conclude without expressing a
most earnest hope that the pretty little
puppets shortly to become the darIines
OF so many small creatures and to
cheer their hours of sickness. NAV not
be made mediums to convey prediIec-
tons for feathers torn from BLEEDING
and Palpitakng hearts, and wings bro
ken instead Of cleaving the sky, and
that the fiaxen and darkhaired dollies
will not teach their curly-headed own,
ers selfish and stupid lessons of cru
city, such as a recently-published para
graph seems too clearly to indicate is
common enough ameng the older seek
ers after fashion and ornament. Even
in the case of these last 1 feel persuaded
that the evil arises from want of
thought rather than want of heart
LIDO not for moment think anv
one would deliberately consent to the
wholesale destruction of bird life If
the facts were set before them. 1t is
Tor fashion to direct the current of the
general taste. Wherever its impaIpa-
Die essence resides, whether with beat
~, rank or talent, within its limits il
rules with omnipotent power, and a
Hith all power, those with whom it re-
should use it seriously. Doubt
were are currents above and below
Ita subtle influence; and the fashion of
his world will pass away But while
of the world, it is the world for GOOD
or for evil, and cannot escape the com
mon lot of responsibility.