The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-03
The Fashion in Toys.


the view of the shop windows. and the
advertisements OF the dealers in toys in
dicate that there has been sensed on the
part OF the manufacturers OF toys for
children a great change in the tastes OF
the modern child. II was, perhaps. TO be
expeeted-such are the queer ramifica
tons of politics-that the popularity OF
the Teddy Bear should die away: ont
with the passing OF this, one OF the
most popular OF children's idols OF recent
years, seems 10 have passed also our
dear old friends Of childhood. the little
toy dos and the little tin soldier and the
Barlow knife that used 10 I'LL our hearts
with joy and shed our youthful blood
al over the parlor carpet. With these
has passed the joy with which. on Christ
mas morning. a lad would discover a shiny
red apple In the toe OF his stocking, the
delight in picture books and puzzles. and
other well-remembered playthings.
Many OF as can go back across the
9NGl . III AuiN9 u tllC lLiAo NHtA tiiSSS
simple toys delighted our souls. To-day
most OF US feel that Mr.. John Kendrick
Bangs is voicing our sentiments when he
writes;
MY little toy dog is covered with dust.
Like the dog in the dear poets song
Ny little steel ears are covered with rust
They've Jain in the garrett 80 long,
TIE marbles are there, and the soldiers Of tin.
Lie hid in the old oaken chest.
And there Is the drum, and the trumpets whose din
loved in the ages at rest
Much as we may regret the eneroach-
ments of modernity on our youthful Christ
mas Ideals We must acknowledge. perhaps.
that the manufacturers OF ehildren's toys
are wise in their generation. They believe
that children of to-day desire their play
things 10 be up-to-date. No more does
the stern tin soldier, with musket at
rest. the gallant trooper on his leaden
horse, or the toy dog with his senile smile
appeal In their place to-day is offered
for the delectatiQn Of the youngsters
miniature moying-picture outfits. toy
aeroplanes, marvellous mechanical auto
mobiles. imitation dirigble balloons, toy
. telephones. queer electric appliances
about which our distant childhood never
dreamed. and other purely material toys
that show how sadly the advance OF
science and invention has eneroached
upon the old, happy, unthinking days OF
childhood long ago.
For US, children OF a larger growth
there remains little but the regret voiced
by Mr.. Bangs. new childhood. ap.
parently. has come to pass. with new
joys, new aspirations. new ideals; and
with Mr.. Bangs We may say:
Each rare little toy As it comes to my hand
Ny hand that is witheFed with years
Brings back 10 my spirit that beautiful land
NOW yelled IN the mist Of my tears,
Tn beautiful land Of the long long ago.
The scenes Of the paytime Of yore.
When deep in my soul with its radiant glow
shons the sunlight Of days now no more.
II is after ALL the old. Somewhat sa,
Tennysonian cry OF the dear, dead day
that are no more. =" The sGlf that yawn
between the workaday present and III
DAYS Of our youth seems wider. an
deeper. and more impossible to brldg
about the Christmas season. Yet, W
must be careful, perhaps, that in re
GREETING that the tastes Of the youngster
OF to-day are more sophisticated thai
were the tastes OF the children of year
ago, that no longer do the simple JOY
delight them, there should be no trace o
bitterness. The change In the fashion 0
tho Christmas toys Is but another sig
that ''the world doth move:' and, per
haps. II is at the Christmas season tina
we, who are getting to be old fogies now
feel most out OF touch with our time.