The new era., 1910-12-22

greater number of all the toys manufactured
come from Nuremberg.
The ancient feudal city. around which cluster
the grim traditions of the inquisition and the
thrilling epic of the times of Charles ". has for
four hundred years more been the center OF
the childrens fairyland. 1t has been and Is the
nucleus of Christmas happiness for the youth
of every place In the Occident and Its charm
Is the perpetual one of joyous creation which de-
lights in planning the amusement of little people
In the factories they will tell you that 72000,-
900 marks ($1S.O00000) worth of pleasure is
sent out from Nuremberg every year. and that
81, 100000 of this export is for the benefit OF
Young America. Only few years ago all OF the
necessary labor for this immense production was
done by hand, and much Of the finishing and hne
last touches are performed by special artists
Even In the factories the old spirit OF an
almost consecrated enthusiasm lives and is evil
dent In the interest of the village artisans Tor
their craft. Not merely the reason Of bread and
butter goes toward the making of those marvel
GUS walking dolls. those phenomenal speaking
picture books, those thousand and one games that
have called for all the imaginative as well as
practical genius Of these honest German peasant
folk. Rather has their unique industry called for
and developed in them romance. sensitiveness
of perception which is remarkable.
Follow the lurching. curves of the Al
brecht ht-Durerstrasse. and you come to one OF the
many homes of this Nuremberg spirit. In min
iature redroofed house. wedged In among hun
dred squat brown huts. live two old men-broth
ers, OF sixty-five and seventy-whose white
heads are constantly bent over small circles of
wood-shaping. pairing. carving. painting.
All day they sit there. sometimes all night,
toiling over the delicately ornamented dolls
dishes which perhaps you have bought. as small
insignificant thing just. this afternoon for your
small daughters tree.
You looked at them carelessly; they were not
especially original or attractive and you showed
them into your bag with half-hesitating accept
ance. thinking that maybe they would please ca
PRECIOUS Dorothy. How could you know that back
in the village of Always Christmas old hands had
fashioned those trivial plates and pitchers. old
eyes had strained with loving anxiety those
fine traceries Of columbine and old hearts had
warmed those completed trifes with the
same thrill of the master painter his best?
But this true. Indeed, nearly all of the
simple wooden toys are constructed by hand in
some humble volkshause which goes to make up
the aggregate creative force of Santa Claus
workshop. Take the tiny sets of soldiers. the
dolls chairs and tables, the painted wooden anil
mails whose realism Is delight to all children
actual or grown up. These are fashioned in
homes. sometimes by the efforts of whole fam
iies. but most often by children themselves.
Sixteen is the age limit for child labor in the
factories. but no young person 10 prohibited from
assisting his parents at home. provided he spends
the required period Of time at school. So that
many Of those playthings which give most hap
piness to the children Of America have been
made By the children Of Nuremberg And II
babies must work. what work could one ind for
them more Appropriate or more pleasurable than