New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
TOO MANY TOYS.
Naturalist Says Christmas rs Be-
coming a Curse.
BY John Burroughs

One Of the most familiar practices OF our modem,
American democratic life IS the way we load orr
children up with toys. A modern housa whers
there are several children Is perfect chaos OF to
from picture books Of every description 20 ali tySs,
and sizes Of dolls In all stages OF Recommendation
and all manner OF mechanical deV1ceX And stin
they come new and ingenious contrfvances 20 cates
and hold the Jaded attention OF our offspring ana
make them forget for moment the tedtum OF LIE
II is the crime OF the age: Il is sn against our
children It corrupts their simplicity: II stinuate,
thsir destructiveness; Il safes and blUuts their
curiosity and hasteIs the dne OF their general dis
content with life. We try at the outset to destroy
their interest IN the plain and wholesome things OF
life by the multitude OF strange and startling d.
vices we shower upon them We would have then,
believe that the world IS one great toy shop Taads
simply for their amusement. We create a ralss
TASTE a craving for ceaseless novelty. everything
new every day, every hour. The last surprise
only sharpens their appetite for greater. TIL they
go from blond dolls to brunette dolls. or 70 jap
anese or Negro dolls. and from jumpfng-tack 70
jumping-jack with utter WEAKNESS and disQUiet II
is like feeding child Only condiments and sweet
meats. and joyous interest IN simple thing,
IS killed We give them milk to drink and bread
to eat Why not provide as few and common
things for their amusement? Why sophisticats
the II? Why foster d craving for novelty and
variety that life cannot satisfy BY and by they
will cry for the moon or the stars. What are We
going to do then?
'Tis a pity the whole army OF toy inventors and
toy makers cannot be banshed from the land
Lucky is the child that mas but few toys and
those home made. Let it have such things as viii
shep educate its senses and prepare It for life. Let
The boy have his blocks and h!s ball and his cart
and let the girl have her home made rag doll
Christmas is fast becoming d positive curse-
What between gorging ourselves with rich foods.
beSJOWns upon other useless and Sensesss
gifts and cOrrupting children with multitude
of toys the day IS of evil omen 1t IS q day or
OvcrndulgtnCe all around The Christmas tree De-
ONES a deadly updS IL yve are not careful NOLl-
ing is SaluJaTy with children dS 10 keep them
living a low key and close 10 common things
Let them find Joy and entertainment as tley sure
" will II you give .hem a chance. ia the simple
and hand Do not seek 10 excite ana IN
tOXicate them with the the bizarre the ex-
traOTdnary. Let them alone. II their craving Ior
novelty is stimulated there Is danger tHilI Ihey VII
find life hat stale and Improbable -,
I doubt If / had one bOughten 10Y Wnen q child
] had a ball when got old enough 70 90 70 sclOoi
but / made il myself l made many oa!IS OUT 0I
the yarn OF old stockings and covered them VIII
leather. l had kites. Uut made them myself a
boy learns many things in making a kite hac
sledS carts, stills, strings pin boxes Darts CIOs
bows, tops puzzle blocks, etc. but MADE tleiu az
myself / made most OF my own slate pencAS ~
cutting them out Of soft pieces OF slate thaI "g
used to get and half miles rrem scnooL !
earned my playthngs. and they never sur1el1eu H7'
They each meant something. -, 80.
Look into any OF wealthy homes al Ohrlstlltas
time where there several children. ana see ts
vi ,ed extravagance in the bestOwal OF toys II IS
a regular tOv debauch. The children become sateu
lose their interest before half tle presents ~
distributed. In a few davs most Or them AIg Us u-S
Cartlcd the bOv contents himself with some
thing like a wagon a cart and the glri VII.
us stop this wicked corrTptng ot the ianoNeh's-
independent.