Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15
TlE"CERIsrNAaBoAT'

sales is received as a part of the daily
report from each storekeeper. From the
managers office a man is then sent to
recheck the coupons twice more, SO that
in case of error the coupons are counted
five times after leaving the commissary
from which they were turned In.
These commissary department shops in
Panama undertake to outfit, clothe, feed
and in every way maintain the govern
ment employees, and they are run upon
the plan of charging for supplies such
sums as shall cover the actual cost. trans
portation and handling OF the goods This
results in saving OF 10 per cent to all
government employees.
The small boys are by no means forgot
ten by Uncle Sam in his Christmas prepa-
rations. They play a very prominent part
in all his considerations. for living, as
they do, in the midst Of dress parades.
with the sound Of military music of bu-
gle and drum, with helmets and flags
and gorgeous uniforms and legions of
prancing horses Of the 10th Cavalry.
which is now stationed there, as their
daily sights, all such things naturally
get in the blood.
For the extremely diminutive cavalry
men there are hobby horses on which to
ride around the world of the nursery
Gray Beauties arrive at Christmas
time by the hundred. and with their
names so brightly painted on the har-
ness there can be no possibility Of mis-
take on the part OF shOpkeepers or fond
parents.
And drums! All, such drums! BY the doZ-
en- dozens they go down Grated in such
brave array the fingers fairly twitch to
grasp the sticks and thunder out an in
spiriting call to arms For the oder boys
there are rifles. as otherwise of what
earthly use would there be Of a shooting
gallery? And there are rapid-1re guns.
educative toys. which insensibly teach the
boys to initiate the tactics Of war as
they see them on exhibition drills on me
isthmus. For the youngsters there are
gross after gross of popguns to accom-
pany the shooting Of the gallery outfits.
Along with the hundreds Of seesaws
there have gone down to the isthmus ten
gross Of fire engines and hooks and lad
ders together with stokers' and firemen's
outfits to complete the enjoyment. More
than any other one item Of Christmas
presents are the books. There are a
greater number of these, even. than there
are of the dolls. Between 5000 and 600
books will Santa Claus distribute among
young and old this Christmas in Panama
books of travel and history. story BOOKS
for boys and girls and linen books OF pic
torial alphabets for the yet wholly I'm
lettered future bookworms. OF buckets
and shovels there is such an array as
might well cause one at first sight 10
wonder II the children in Panama have
any concerted idea Of taking part In the
work of excavation on the canal.
Why anything plush should be desired
or tolerated in the tropics Is mystery.
But that they are not only tolerated pu.
adored by the youngsters is eVioent from
mails Of all kinds sent down this season
by Santa Claus is greatly In excess OF
that Of 1911. Plush dogs are Wen IN the
lead of popular favor, for they nave oeeh
Skinned nv the dozen gross After these,
ranrine in the order of their popularity,
are horses. zebras, lions. camels. deer.
donkeys. bears. cats. sheep.
pigs. giraffes, rabbits. kangaroos. SOUR,
rels. mice. rats ducks; ateyar t se latter
animal NAV be- OF these things there are
in all several thousands
There are mechanical trains which, be-
ing wound up. start on on tneir eleannns
tracks with q boot and rush and commo-
tion sufficient TO surfeit with pleasure the
worst noise-loving children in creation.
There are autos that the boy or girl pos
SCISSORS may crank up or blow up to their
hearts content, and supply or auto
buses that could transport the entire
cargo of Christmas dolls all over Pana-
ma without once stopping for supply
Of gasoline. Possibly to supplement these
are balky mules. constructed upon the
most incredibly frequent surprise lines.
And blow accordions with comets and
enough to sustain mfantile
symphony concerts from end to end OF
the great Culebra cut
Paint boxes in all sizes are provided
oy the hundreds for children OF artistic
who desire to try their skill at ,
,ortraying any bird. beast. tree or flower
n their tropical surroundings. or to pass ]