The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-21
Santa Claus WORKSHOP
TIE c6hdrsns Patron Saint One 81 tie Leygest
Employers Of Labor In World

Old Santa Claus is one Of the largest en-
ploycrs of labor In tho whole world. His
workshops are 20 be found in nearly every
country, and thousands Of men, women and
children are busy all tho year making mil
lions Of toys Of all kinds and sizes to all
the capaclous bag which their genial mas
ter carries about with him on Christmas
eve.
No sooner has be delivered the last toy
on Christmas eve. removed all traces OF
SCOT from bis smiling face, and turned his
bag inside out to make quito certain that
nothing has been left in the corners, than
he begins to busy himself with the manu-.
facturc OF toys for the next year
The most popular toy Is, OF course, the
doll; and when you consider the number of
girls who possess az least one. and some.
times n whole family Of dolls you will be
able 10 understand that many thousands OF
work people arc employed making this one
Kind OF toy There nre wax dolls aud rag
dolls made In England; chna-faced dolls
made in France. and Dutch dolls. witch are
not Dutch at all, hut only called so because
they are principally shipped from Dutch
ports
Then, OF course there is the old favorite.
the wax doll. Let us take peep into some
OF the rooms Of toy factory or workshop
and sec for ourselves how they arc made
on tho tables and counters are hundreds
OF wax heads, moro or lcss hnishcd In an
other part or the room iG pile Of bodies
legs and arms all heapcd together and II
you take glance into that bag In the
corner you will he somewhat surprised, for
II is full OF dolls eyes, looking up at you
with CLASSY stare.
number Of men and women arc busy,
large pan Of wax is placed in q still
larger pan containing water, heated by
means OF gas As the winter gets hot tho
wax, Of course. melts. Into the molten
wax workman now drops the coloriug
matter, generally rouge, TO give the dolls
that beautiful complexion which VIC all de
light to see.
The plaster molds for the heads, made in
three pioces. arc then firmly tied together.
and the mold thus formed is carefully Oiled
with the liquid wax. After a certain time
the greater part Of the wax ls poured back,
but portion coming into contact with the
cold plaster mold has already set.
Tho mold ia now united and removed. and
there wo have wax head nicely formed
and looking almost us natural, and some.
times as large. as life wax bodies, arms
aud legs are made IN similar manner.
Two holes are cut in the wax head for
the eyes, which In the case Of the more sx-
pensyc dolls have to be placed into their
sockets very carefully In the cheaper
kinds the eyes are FIRST warmed. and then
forced Into their place. being finally
ccmentcd with little wax
Although our doll is now POSSESSED OF a
pair Of eyes. much Sun remains to be done,
Eyebrows are required, ana these are gen.
efully painted on, but sometimes real hair
IS stuck into the wax carefully and slowly
few hairs at tune, until the whole Is
completed
Then Dollys face is lroned With
specially constructed iron tool the work
mum ubs at The wax until the facc IS quite
smooth and polished
Tho lips aud nostclls are painted the
teeth hut in without the aid OF q dentist,
aud finally the head Is carried to another
pnrt Of the factory TO have the hair nut on
I 10y women, who, y they do not use real
OSSoeeOossssssse