Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22
IN OLD WASHINGTON
Shops That Supplied the Toys
of the FiftieS.
ODD CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
Names of Toy Sellers Remembered
by Parents.
BOYS LOVE TO BE NOISY
Hospitality in the Government Serv-
ice When Washington Numbered
Forty Thousand.
ODD CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
BOYS LOVE TO BE NOISY

rN the midst of the preparations for the
holiday season in the stores and
homes of Washington one who can
recall the Christmas times of fifty or
sixty years ago is apt to note the
stupendous changes which have taken
place. Then Washington had a popula-
ton of less than forty thousand. about
one-third colored. and houses so located
as to suggest villages. A dozen or so of
churches. four public schools and few
private schools had we, with five market
houses. In the toy shops indications of
the approaching Christmas season were
seen few weeks before those at the mar
ket where were to he found evergreens.
brought in baskets from the country. and
more varied display of cake. candy and
toys, while the poultrymen displayed tur-
keys. In the shops the Christmas display
was not made but week or so before
time, and sightseeing by the younger peo-
pie was mostly at night For the rule as
10 school days and hours then was holi-
days on the Fourth of July. Christmas
New Year and the 22d of February, and
the hours in winter o to 4 O'Clock, in sum-
mer 8 to > o clock.
While the day the greatest in Christian
Episcopal and other churches and in fami-
lies by reunions around the roasted tur-
key. Santa Claus reigned supreme wher-
ever there were children. At many
Christmas eve parties was this individual
in evidence. In the west end and on
English Hill were such parties customary.
1t is related that at one party at the
corner of Sd and G. streets stockings with
the names of the guests were hung up
and filed. one having been made for the
purDoSe nv girl The name attached
was that of the girls affianced. SO the
beau accepted the hint of the crowd and a
wedding day was set To make merry
and be happy was the order of the day.
some by drinking and others by making
Others happy in distributing gifts, and
this was not always to relatives and ac-
quaintances. The writer knows of one in
stance where an old gentleman a long
ways from his home and kindred was re-
Earded a Vegetable Santa Claus. 1t
was his custom to provide himself the
day before Christmas with new coin. from
the cent to half-dollar. and early in the
morning 10 look up boys and girls whose
appearance and actions indicated that for
a small sum they would be happy as
their more favored companions. These he
would call and question, hand them money
and enjoy their surprise. To the father
of some of them he stated that he would
like to enjoy the holidays at his old home
were it not that his family and children
had passed away. and to do as he was do
ing was an investment which made the
child, as we'll as himself, happy.
Departmental Gifts.
In the departments some time during the
week the gifts of Uncle Sam We're handed
employees. each receiving a four-bladed
Congress knife and silver pencil. 1t is
not necessary to state that this is net Gus
tomary now.
Christmas morning did not come. too
early for the youngsters for the presents.
The boys despite the weather were soon
in the streets and with pistols. fire crack
ers and toy cannon rendered sleep impos-
sible. The fore part O. the day was SO
, industYously spent IN the streets that
reSa<r, breakfasts were fj-gotten, tuf
with NJ refreshments served at many
housesA ,hsre was nb need of regular
meal OSough but/a few .'ears before
much temperance work had been accom-
plishe1 Washington was not a dry city.
tavefns| ID residences served eggnog,
Tom Is+--f Jerry. hot Scotch. etc, and
Frrivate families served the same with
etraiGht drinks from the decanter-graced
sdeboards,. Waite and coIored tecame
merry early IN the day and rule
good huma( Prevailed with little disorder
The police, a mere handful of men. had
comparatively little to do other L show
thenIselves. Though the relations between
theFaces were amicable through the year.
at ChFstmas times the white and colored
boys-&ere on intimate terms. There We're
laws against the sale of fre-crackers, but
as the oath OF colored person against
a white man, uncorroborated, was not
taken il was. easy to obtain Ich by
serIding a colored boy to the stores.
Toys, OF course, played their part in
the festivities. but bore no comparison to
those e the present age There were no
electrical For steam contrivances then.
The toys. In the main. were painted wood.
tin and paper, Of foreign make including,
Of course. dolls. wagons. jacks-in-tEe-boX
and cannon. \ few books for children
were just then coming into vogue.
This was ABOUT the time of the Mexican
war and soldiers. cannon. horses ana
other insignia of war were in demand.
Even the conventional horse Gaze was
changed in shape TO the mounted soldier
and the cavalryman was comm made
OF candy.
Toy Telegraphers.
The telegraph was in its infancy and
source OF wonder to the boys. and from
it was learned that signals could be used
in play as well as service It was not I'M
common to see boys engaged in com
munication with one another for long
and short distances by improvised signals
1t was not long before some discovered
that wet cord was conductor of sound
and the prototype of the telephone-a
wet cord attached to tin cans at either
end-took the place of signals.
As rule what few mechanical toys
there We're had springs for their motive
power. for even dolls with moving ewes
were not then known. Indeed. il may b
said that Toyland was crude and limit I'd
in variety. While most of the TOYS wera
of foreign make, there We're some made
in this country. About this time there
appeared a device made by a barber-a
figure worked like a whirligig-and one
invented by timers apprentice. called
the hawk" which. though not on sale
was made in hundreds. and seemingly in
less than a week every boy in the city
had been provided. II was a continuance
Of tin and thin piece of wood some
thing like the mouthpiece OF a clarinet by
which a most disCordant sound could be
made. 4 speak performer instead
OF being Kissed or hooted. would be greet
ed by the coarse note of the hawk. and
it's indiscriminate use soon caused COM
plant. The mayor. councils and police
were appea'ed to- but whenever a hundred
or 80 boys gathered To show their dislike
10 a local politician the hawk would be
blown. Capt. Goddard and his force tried
Kindness on the boys by quie,ly advising
them TO consider how they would feel if
the crowd gathered at one of their doors
and in little time the hawk was dis
carded.
Original Toy SHOPS
Tbere were few places In wosb;ra,os