Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

pined to keep her darling's playthings in
remembrance, but gave them up that the
little one might have something to bear 1t
company on the long journey that even tiny
feet must travel alone.
] These findings In tiny graves of the past
show that children of the Pharaohs had
pretty good time of it, in the matter of toys
There were dolls, of course, for the girls,
and quite elaborate ones, painted gaily,
with movable joints and bright clothing.
They could not make the few pithy remarks
which are the stock in trade of expensive
dolls of this age, but they were fine ladies
for all that.
very complete They had chairs and mir
rors. such as they were, and bedsteads of
elaborate pattern. and sedan chairs y take
the air in, and. browning glory, lackeys to
carry them on their excursions This is
doing pretty well for any age, and there is
no doubt that the children of the Pharaohs
were better off than most children of only a
few hundred years ago so far as toys went.
Little boys played with boats and me-
chanical toys, thousands of years past, just
as they 80 now. The boats were cut out of
wood or stone, and often were large and
elaborate.
The mechanical toys are thrown into deep
shadow by those of the present day, but
they served their purpose very well. AMI
mails on wheels could be pulled around then
as now, and were trailed in the wake of
little Egyptians who ran to see Moses when
he passed down the street with his kind
princess
They were well made. the crocodiles and
lions and birds. and still hold UP their heads
bravely, inviting comparison with the pro-
duct of modern toy shops.
In the time of Aristotle there were many
mechanical toys, and one Herod of Alex
toys that danced through some contrivance
of steam. This was deemed worthy of
mention at the time. not because there was
anything strange about mechanical toys.
but by reason of its exceptional ingenuity.
There are many sets Of checker men In
ancient tombs. and the game was favorite
in ancient Egypt odd and Even" and
Jacks were played on every side, and
marbles, too, of course. All these were the
delight of some children and found place
in some graves Inscriptions show how IA
miliar were the games that were played
without toys
parenty considered great sport to play a
game of ball, each boy sitting the Shout
der of scme other boy. This combination
Of ball and leap frog would be rather siren
day.
So many toys are dug DIP that one might
be tempted to think that time had not dealt
kindly with children in building school
houses and printing books. il it were not for
a pile of copy books as high as that of play
things. If dead child must have his toys.
in order not to be lonely in the unknown
bourne 1t was equally important that he
should carry with him his credentials to
show that in this world he was a good
scholar and carefully taught So his papy-
rus school books went into the grave, too.
They are imposing even today
In ancient Egypt boys of good families
had much to learn. There were two lam
guages to begin with, the common and the
literary. and then all sorts of mathematical
problems had to be solved. The Nile. in
overlooking its banks. obliterated land
marks, and land surveying was a very
necessary part of a boys schooling.
Geometry and astronomy were taught to
every boy at an early age. and If he did not
learn there was a supple rod in waiting for
him.
In learning to write then as now, the chill
dren copied wise sayings and stories. One
Of the maximS to copy which must have
been a great joy runs: Let no day pass in
idleneSS, for then thou wilt be logged
boys ears are on his back, and a fogging
makes him hear" Even these terrible warn
irgs. however. did not prevent boys from
scribbling all over their copy books.
Sketches of animals and what may be carl
catures CT teachers appear on many copy
book.
Scholars did not always have to copy
maxims, however. Fairy tales were much
in evidence, too. They have a singularly
familiar sound One Of the most popular
begins in this way:
There was once king who had no son.
He desired a son and prayed the gods to
give him one, which was ordered by them.
The Hathors. or Fates, consult at his birth
and decide that he shall die by the bite of
snake, crocodile or dog. The king
was greatly trOuDieu Wnen ne nearQ tnlS-
He built a great castle in the midst Of
wood and furnished 1t with all that was
best in the palace. and set keepers over it,
and forbade the child to go beyond it,
Does not this sound like the opening of
many fairy tale of today, especially that
of the Sleeping Beauty? The story goes
on to relate how the prince, grown to man.
hood, saw and loved beautiful girl, whom
he married. They loved each other dearly,
and when the prince went beyond the pal
ace in the wood the faithful wife kept
watch over him: He is nearly bitten by a
serpent, but she saves him. Then the story
breaks off.
1t would be pleasant to know If the wife
saved him from all dangers, but, unfor-
tunately. the Egyptians reverence for the
word of the Fates probably gave a differ
ent ending. Besides, before the story ends,
the prince had also seen and loved dog
which had followed him faithfully for
years. The love between them was SO
great that the prince would not part from
his four-footed friend. even though he knew
that death might result. 1t would be too
bad to have him die from his faithful dogs
bite, as perhaps he did, so 1t is just as well
long ago.
Even bit of 1t goes to prove that civil
izations may come and civilizations may CO.
but childhood will remain the same until
the big ball called earth shrivels up and
goes wandering a pale old ghost among
the warm young worlds.
ENTERS VTGNR0US pR0TEsT