The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-23

ttcle Is put In the best possible place To
catch the eye and to appeal to the hearts
OF the young folks who are ever on the
lookout to see what they would like for
Christmas.
Table. after table is piled high with TOYS.
Respondent In bright paint, shining brass
ana glittering tinsel. Toys of long ago
Wnich Delighted the man of today in his
youth are seldom to be seen. A few Of the
time-honored games and puzzles are vet
to be seen, but the juvenile mind is always
seeking something new and many of the
OLD games dressed in a modern name an
swer the purpose. Even the toys that are
operated by string are passed over. Chill
dren keep pace with mechanical discoy-
cries. They want engines with steam boil
ers, even though the furnace is nothing
more than a spirit lamp. An engine is no
good which cannot be started and stopped
by valve or shut-off like large engine.
So locomotive will not do unless there is
track with switches, and all complete.
The locomotive must also run under its
own steam.
Again, there are numbers of electrical
toys. and 1t Is true that these are super.
seding the steam toys to great extent,
as they are farther advanced along the line
of scientific development. Juvenile Amer
lea has great desire to be his own cleo
trician, his own fireman or engineer, as the
case may be- Frequently the ownership OF
small engine of this kind develops the in
ventive faculties of the boys They will
figure and whittle away until they make
some pulleys, then with an arrangement of
belts made usually of strings, other ma
chinery is put into gear Some boys have
been known to contrive little sawmills with
movable carriages, which would saw "a log
(of papeD in satisfactory manner. 9th
ers have been known to manufacture
pumps lathes, derricks and piledrlvers.
Then there are steamers with real propel-
lers and rudders that will go bravely from
The old-fashoned walking-beam steamer
is popular, because some part Of the ma
chinery is visible.
Toy makers In modern DAYS are as
watchful as politicians and scientists to
keep abreast of the events of the day and
In their business use various happenings
of national Importance or interest to their
own advantage. This year and last the
events of the Spanish war have been cum
ningly wrought into games which. prove
most popular with ultra-patriotic young
Americans. Cervera's memorable attempt
to escape from Santiago is one of the chief
themes. Buttons are used to represent the
different commanders and ships. OF course,
the Spanish side here stands an equal
chance of success with the American side,
and a skillful manipulation will often re-
sui in Admiral Cervera's escaping un-
touched and leaving Sampson and Schley
in sore straits. This may not be exactly
according 10 HiSIOrys Dut IL answers the
purpose of the toy-maker. Hobson and
the Merrimac Is another subject which is
woven into many and varied forms. Per-
haps the Merrimac is represented by
piece of quicksilver that requires a steady
hand to successfully run 1t through the
straits to the coveted haven of Santiago
de Cuba. This game also sometimes turns
out rather differently from the reality
Roosevelt and the Rough Riders is one Of
the favorite subjects. Names of men, regi-
ments and places are used all the way
along the board the charge up San Juan
hill being the winning point in the game.
OF course the possession of Roosevelt Is
another strong point.
No subject IS dealt with so fully as
Dewey and the battle of Manila bay.
There are Dewey card games, Dewey puz-
xles and Dewey blocks. The Olympia Is
a prominent figure in these games. and
Dewey with HIS ships makes some mar
velous flights past batteries, torpedoes
and mines set out on the board The
former games of Indian fights, parcheesi.
etc. have given. place to Manila bay
games. In the illustrated books pictures
of Dewey and the Olympia are frequent.
One toymaker. in order not 10 be behind.
has game called "Dewey's Entry Into
New York" and another the great naval
parade. The game may not amount to
much. but It IL the name which catches
ths ere and az Of TIA xaung AakxiakA,