Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-12-11

| AEfa. Il grandfatherS would nave gaSped at
L. 9gHJ the idea! In their time Christmas
a spontaneous holiday. Christ
mas eve they hung their stockings on the mantel
piece in full confidence that Santa Claus could
find his way through six-inch stovepipe. Then
there was the Christmas tree with grandfather
to distribute the gifts and strong force of uncles
and aunts to maintain peace among the cousins
And there was skating in the afternoon with the
choicest sort of melee to give the finishing touch
to the day.
There need of science there 1t would
in fact, have spoiled the whole thing. But
the spirit of Christmas has changed. We still
have our Christmas trees, subject to the regula-
tions of the fire department. but really
slaves OF our Christmas shopping list. From
Thanksgiving to Christmas most of us live in an
atmosphere of deepening gloom. We have con-
tinually hanging over us that dreadful problem
of what would be the best thing to give Soand-
so. and when we have made selection our hearts
sink at the awful thought that, perhaps What's
hisname may give the same thing.
1t is to relieve this situation as much as possi-
BILE that science has been called in to our aid. or
course, even science has not yet been able to
prevent two people from sending the same gift
to person. But 1t has been able to display
unusual gifts and a larger number Of them for
our consideration, SO that 1t will be easier to Sc
lect present which may be quite sure anoth-
person would not think Of. And the greatest
advantage of scientific Christmas shopping is the
Increased speed with which the ordeal may be
zone through. rsrs
There are two things which have brought about
this result. The first is the establishment Of ex
hibits of gifts for children in the schools OF the
large cities of the country. And the second is
the scientific arrangement OF gifts for sale In the
shops and department stores. On one floor we
have a department devoted entirely to toys and
other gifts children; in another place presents
particularly suited to men; and elsewhere sec
lions for women and boys and girls. II Is all the
direct result Of the card index and the filing cabi-
net You look under the particular heading you
wish and you find displayed before you vast
quantity Of suitable gifts to choose from.
The object Of the school exhibits is not SO much
to save mothers labor. worthy object though that
might be- Nor is 1t to display the latest and
most ingenious products OF the toy market. Child
welfare is the primary purpose. and there We
have another side OF the scientihc Christmas: IL
is to save the children from being deluged at
the Christmas season with inartistic, unhygienic
and useless gifts. Esthetic and hygienic are
words that loom up larger in the vocabulary OF
the present than that of the past
And So although Noah's ark will remain Noah's
ark TO the end of the world no twentieth century
voungster whose family attends one OF these ex-
hibts will feel constrained to suck the paint on
shem, Ham or Japhet For. 10 and behold. they
are entirely innocent OF the familiar red and
green and blue of that unsantary century We
have left behind. The sons OF the patriarch and
al: the animals that went in two by two are OF
reasonably hygienic white wood.
By the same TOKEN dolls will be dolls. For here
gain the scientific Christmas has produced a
change to a more esthetic and hygienic product
instead Of the big rag doll, whose features have
.eep kissed into obliteration by several genera
lions of children. there is stockinet successor
eauaily unbeatable. far more beautiful. and alb
soIutely mpervious to washing
For older children finds marvellous all,
wood dolls. again embodying the three important
virtues They are unbreakabe. washable and ar.
.istic Their naturalness is evident at glance.
and the visitor is not surprised to learn that they
are reproductions OF American chiidren modeied
by American artists.
And yet, the thought rises. will modern Dorothys
and Nancys love these charming creations one
whit more than their mothers and grandmothers
loved the china and wax doies who preceded
them. There Henrietta gorgeous Partisan.
you may remember whose pink and white lowell
ness Is still happy memory. Poor Henrietta!
She died the victim of bad small brother VINO
tried the effect OF midsummer heat upon her
waxen complexion. Then there was Juliet, she
Of real brown hair that combed and warm
brunette complexion, and host of others who
NAV have had untold attractions. But you must
put them out OF your mind in this scientific age.
Real hair harbors horrible microbes and complex
ions do not digest well in small stomachs.
Then there are other suggestions which are the
result OF the practcality of our time Housekeep-
ius furnishings, for example such as tea sets in
pewter cooking utensils in granite and metal an
ironing board and iron which can really be used.
and iron cookstove upon which things can be
cooked. In the matter OF musical toys, science
has gone even further. The pianos for the child
Of today are marvellous Instruments Alas for
the prestige OF the tinkly toy of generation gone
by These have from two to three octaves of the
rhromatc scale and are accurately tuned to
concert pitch
But all such marves cost money and are not
likely to avail much for the household where
I've six must live small income So 1t is
GOOD TO discover case containing number of
TOYS at a minimum price. Not one exceeds ten