The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-04
CHRISTMAS JOYS OF 1898.
ro1s ARE INSTRUCTIVE TINS Yr4R
As WE'LL As LMUSKN0

xoads and other Deviccs-Battioahipe
md soldiers In Great Demand-Lovo Of
DolIs Not Failing of--UnexPected Toys.
santa Claus Is In a scientific mood this year
,s well az In an unusually jolly humor, even
bor him. Last Christmas he saw how things
were going when he came down from his big
factories UP In the NOV clouds. and heard a
,reat deal about this child study business and
The scientific training OF children.
Gee whizl" he said to himself. laying his
anger on his nose. do these parents and
soboolteachers think that they know more
,hout the needs OF childhood than old Santa
raus2 Well. l guess not. III Just get q move
m me next year and show them that Pm not a
Whit behind the times. Ill set my fairy factory
operatives at work. and next year I'll bring
down a layout OF toys for good little boys end
girls that will make the eyes Of their scientific
pAnas and mammas pop out OF thsir heads"
santa Claus never breaks his word. and, sure
enough. he landed here on the night OF the big
,nowstorm with a finer lot OF toys than he had
eve, brought before. Traflo wasn't blocked
NJ his way. He consigned q very large share
Of his huest wares 10 q certain shop uptown.
and thlther the good little boys and girls are
docking by the hundred-and 30 are Just as
many very bad ones-to see.them and to select
what they want. City children have this
great advantage over those living in the coun-
try. Country children. no matter II they are
aver so good. are Obliged to take just what
Santa Claus brings down the chimney and
leaves for them. And Santa Claus's Judgment
Is not always infalllble. even II his intentions
are forever good. Not SO with city children.
Santa Claus has shops and AGENCIES and ware
rooms established all over the city. and they
can 90 there. from the poorest to the richest.
look at the beautiful toys. and say what they
want.
Fathers and mothers and teachers can
make children eat and drink and sleep and
learn their lessons scientifically. but. after all.
eanta Claus Is the fellow who directs their
amusement. He might have said science be
banged and gone ahead and turned out a lot
OF toys that merely made fun for tho little
folks and taught them nothing. but he didn't.
Al a result all the new toys this Christmas
teach the children who play with them very
valuable things.
Wherein do the toys Of 1898 differ from
other toysH" asked n SUN reporter OF the man
ager Of the big toy shop.
TOYS this year." he answered. ARE de-
signed to bring out the natural bent of a child.
10 develop his best talent. What little girl
could play with this completely furnished doll
house and not acquire o taste for housekeep-
Ing. home furnishing. and deoorutionG"
Tho house in question had a drawing room
hall with winding stairway, dining room and
kitchen on the first floor: music room. bed
bedrooms on the third, all completely fur
pished and hEhted by electricity. There
wasn't one thing lacking in that home, not
self to be fed from a bottle in the nurses
arms while she sat in a rocking chair in the
Presumably the happy father was banging
away on 4 MECHANICAL toy piano in the music
hDpareutly awaited some 0uaStG for 6tnnar
watched over the dining table. which was
flowers, and the cook was in the kitchen hang
ing over her pots and pans. There was an air
md In many homes on the eve Of a / Biz dinner
party. Such q doll house costs $125.. and not
dozens Of other things out Of which Just as
much fun can be had.
as What f., SG Sas lo1 Iiyes f Hh g tim in d her ehil s,hSS !
Once only tin stoves were, to be had. Later
iron stoves were put on the market. and this
cam mint COOK. One q 5Ap these . Ga ws' costs s' Us et bas
allowed to do practical cooking K aa on foH Would i
perhaps save the cost OF a course in a cooking
a. som time In her life also has the tea Sc.
she got a little box Of dishes made Of pew
ter. Her little, girl didn't play with a pewter
bSobCtr put hau Oilc vi CIltld. anu llJIle RlTlS
this Christmas don't care for tea sets at all, but
are begging for dinner sets. some of which
would be Of no earthly good without tabies and
been provided. and any smart child can soon
mother visions OF dismissinG the waitress.
Mechanical toys always interest little folks.
fore. Aclown magician who cuts his own head
t I'm sG Ewes ys1 q jad i I'm I'm .t fsat box and sSdw at ,b the same ne
youngsters into fits of laughter. A Japanese
InGGler Is no less funny. and g ballet girl who
nisfes the daneer's power. AfsmaIe tightrope
walker comes IN for q great share OF attention.
wire nerch, vies with u man rope walker for
first place 10 the hearts Of the children. Such
Playthings vary in price from $25 to $50,
but all sorts Of mechanical animals and birds
and people are to be had for comparatively
Children like unexpected toys. At a very
early age they show signs OF what later In life
ttSS sR out to be 9 eapscity for wanting what
ing q very, poor child one q, these expensive
mechanical toys. and the children OF the poor
eyes and mouth. while rich little boys and girls
are apt 70 pass them by with an impatient
elpEcs AID seiss on some little continuance that
shanical line Is a chicken that walks along and
laSs eggs as she goes. .
many q housekeeDer remarks as she. wa tches
them. On for a real hen that would lay real
niiIISS in the regulation way SG find as1 iirs EiT Slsc ee Ia
the hearts OF boys and girls who have ever spent
summer. on a farm. True, IL Is somewhat
disllqslonizing to see some one lift up a trap
aoor in.the cows back and pour the milk in.
out when the trap door is shut and tiny fingers
mix the cow one forgets how the milk has
gone In and thinks only Of how IL comes out.
dhese cows would be lonely. II they had no
other b%arnyard animals TO keep them com
pam, but they have plenty Of society. There
are pigs that Grunt as they walk. sheep that
peat brayinG donkeys. and billy goats. and
then there are performing monkeys. dancing
pears and eats. A musical rabbit which hides
Nset In a big pink rose. green cabbage or
ysnow chrysanthemum is also very attrac-
i've. and so are a lot of peacocks that strut
s3oat closing up and spread out their beautt-
" talis as they go; or course. the craze for
olcycilng has invaded dolldom, and both boy
and girl dolls ride single wheels. tandems.
and ~tricycles.
Military toys are all the rage. Boys like
mem better than mechanical toys. and
Ihought'ul old Santa Claus must have made a
very thorough study oi.the army and navy. Bat
SSsSnlps are in great demand. and SO are, sol
eIers Of every sort. There is always a large
crowd OF patriotic youngsters around a fort