Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-13

SANS nghting dreadnoughts In remaining
invisible on the sea-
\
is now complete. 1t is ready to be
launched. With the Stars and Stripes
at the stern and the Union Jack at the
bow. the little craft is placed upon two
stands and set UP in a wavy sea Of
carved wood and inclosed in glass case.
Uncle Sam, like the Christmas time
Santa Claus, spares neither time nor
money in the manufacture OF his in
structive playthings. The model Of the
dreadnought Florida required nearly eight
months to build. 1t cost something like
$1,000. The model Of the collier Neptune,
the most complicated ever turned out.
took half again long to build. The
many cranes and the thousands of crossed
ropes caused Uncle Sans woykmen many
sore fingers. This little craft, hardly
dozen feet long. stood Uncle Sam just
$4,000. or the approximate cost of $50
ton schooner.
The toys are taken to all parts OF the
country. They are exhibited at fairs
where men possessing long whiskers and
boots and strong Discrimination for
federal taxation wax enthusiastic.
4 reckon Japan amt goin' tew bother
US while We got lot OF thcm things
a
mark of the bewhiskered enthusiast
Ultimately the little ships return t. the
Navy Department where they are placed
upon exhibition in the corridors 10 the
und ying envy of children.
x X
Painstaking experts in the War Depart
ment. using as their head quarters a por-
ton Of the Signal Corps building, turn
ir;a
ments Of land warfare; copies that any
boy in America would give his soul TO
own. There is. for instance pack train
drawn by little mules eight inches high,
each possessing the portion OF a hide
which adorned one Of his originals ia
happier days. Not a detail Of army equip
ment is missing from the tiny canvas
covered, big-wheeled wagon which is be-
ing drawn across an imaginary desert.
No less fascinating is field piece
with the horses attached. and doh
soldiers. in regulation uniform. going
into action at fun tilt. The cannon
caisson, arrangement OF the harness
and other details are il perfect scale
regulations. The little doll soldiers
are complete even TO their tiny leather
puttees. In the hand of the man astrice
the lead horse is a small black-snake
required 10 put this single bit OF
realism under a glass case.
At the entrance OF the War Depart
ment there is a brass fed piece which
went out Of existence shortly after the
civil war This is made exactly as one
OF the battle guns OF the time were
made. II IS capable OF firing a bullet
three quarters of an inch in diameter,
and could be used without danger in
spite of its age. More than one
youngster has placed his liberty in
jeopardy by trying to sneak this gun
from under the very nose OF watchful
guards who sit beside 1t.
Near the surgeon generals Office in
the War Department there is field
hospital, sufficiently gruesome TO please
the most bloodthirsty. A canvas tent
ten inches high. with the sides rolled
up so that the interior may be seen. Is
the center Of the scene. Within the tent
are seen three tiny cots equipped with
sheets and blankets. In two OF the cots
are dolls. four inches long, lying with
their heads swathed in bandages. Near
one doll, and pleasantly suggestive OF
what he may expect. Is neat operat-
ing table modelled after the style now
in use. Another table holds a case OF
Instruments represented by small
discs OF steel singularly saturnine
physician, four inches tall, is directing
the movements OF two Red Cross
nurses, while a pair OF orderlies are
bringing another wounded doll upon
stretcher.