Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-04-10
TOYS AS EDUCATORS.
The American hoy of Today Has a Dis
tinct Advautag".

The American Roy of Today Has Dis-
tinct Advantag".
In his training for life the American
boy of today has one distinct advan-
tage which his father lacked. The me-
chanical toys of the time. cannot come
into a boys possession without giving
him a certain acquisition of mechani-
cal ideas which may be of value to him
in his future career. The present de-
velopment in electricity has been
made by men who knew practically
nothing of electrical appliances in boy
hood. With the multiplication of
electrical toys, the work of the next
generation will be taken uD by men
to whom many Of the devices OF today
have been familiar since early youth.
The goth century boy of 10 years is
in fair way to know more about the
possibilities of electricity than the pro-
fessor of natural philosophy under
stood so years ago.
The principles on which the modern
toys operate are practically the same
as those used in complicated machin-
cry. The toy electric railway is now
equipped down to the slightest detail.
The power may be supplied from a
battery or from a generator driving
a small turbine connected with run
ming water faucet. Steel rails are
laid about the room from which the
motor in the toy engine receives its
supply of power. There are passenger
and freight cars, signal towers and
sidetracks from which the boy may
learn about the operation of railroads.
He is taught the use of positive and
negative currents; how to connect
electric light how to manage dyna-
mo. In fact if he knew how much
he was learning he would probably
rebel at the thought.
There are other devices besides toy
railroads to instill knowledge into
youthful minds under the guise Of
play. Battleships and torpedo boats
supplied with a wet-cell battery for
motive power will cut through the
waves of an ordinary pond with decks
awash. Then there are automobiles
operated by electricity and manifold
5uiAl1S vi Sllllltil SUIT He Sltdil ell
gine has been in the toy department
for years. It's principles have become
familiar to children who have played
with it in their homes. The possession
of such toy is a stimulus to the
boys inventive capacity. He is Con-
stantly tempted to build something for
the engine to run.
No intelligent young American
owns machine that goes" without
trying to find out the principles on
which it is built. His curiosity is
stimulated and must be satisfied.
Here is where his elders may find
their opportunity. They may not care
to bother with his questions. in which
case they may be able to stihe his
curiosity with evasive answers Or
they may encourage an intelligent
study of the principles involved.
There are plenty of good books on
mechanics and electricity which boys
can understand with little explana-
ton. These may be referred to in
connection with the toys. Then, when
the boy has become somewhat famil-
lar with the habits of electricity, he
may be encouraged to make various
simple devices such as are described
in any elementary book on the sub
ject. In this way Christmas toys may
prove a valuable factor in educating
the rising generation in the field in
which the Goth century is expected to
show marvellous development.-Ka
sas City Star.