The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-12-19

the land and Santa Claus found it safe to resume
his visits and make the distributions ne sun
met with a few frowns in New England Out IOE
the most part he vas welcomed in homes OF
varying degrees everywhere There were no
steam pipes or hot-air registers In those Gays ana
the chimneys were still hospitable The saint
had to increase the size of his pack and get a
new sleigh to accommodate the increased variety
and number of gifts for distribution, and whereas
two reindeer had been entirely adequate for draw
ing his load in the eighteenth century he now had
to add two at time every few years.
Another came along, but this time Santa
Claus decided that he did not need to go out of
business; but he found new kind Of toy appro-
pirate to the time which proved wonderfully &C
ceptable to the patriotic young Americans Enter
the wooden soldier in his painted uniform. Hap
Ply the boy who found a company Of these
Christmas morning. Sometimes he might even
get toy cannon a Warship something like
those that were used in the stirring engagements
of the The little girls of the period were
expert with the needle that they could make flags
and little uniforms for the toy soldiers.
In the hundred years since that time there has
been mighty development in the toy ornaments.
and all sorts of figures and implements have been
evolved until at the present time a fortunate boy
of the twentieth century may have a sufficient
military and naval equipment to carry on a real
with another boy whose fighting force is
equally impressive. The warships and torpedo
boats exact models of real ones, and OF
them float upon the water in all the majesty
of fighting vessels Their equipment is perfect,
too. to the wireless apparatus and devices
for saving well as for destroying life. Ashore
there are forts of the latest construction and
fighting of all nationalites
One of the latest achievements in the Christ
toys is in the aerial apparatus. From box
kites to real aeroplanes that win whiz through
the air there is everything that the boy who has
watched real airships and longed to fly one him
self can desire TO possess Some of them are al
most large enough to accommodate st. Nicholas
himself Even the railways accommodate them
selves to the exigencies of warfare. The railways
and their equipment are the last word in the up
to-date toys for fortunate children. With the
training they furnish there should be developed a
race of engineers, managers and presidents of
railroads In the future. The most complete sets
that Santa Claus brings in 1914 have tracks that
be laid straight away and in curves, going
through tunnels, having improved signals and up
to-date stations. There electric and steam
trains, coaches for several classes, baggage and
freight cars-indeed everything required for the
demands of travel and traffic.
If boy has taste for the details Of rail-
reading he may be interested in moving pictures
and Santa Claus has g fine assortment Of appara-
tus of that kind. some of it simple enough for
almost anyone to operate and splendid for uti1iz-
ing picture post cards the photographs made
with the camera, which is of the favoFite
articles in the Christmas pack
Some persons say that Santa Claus has dis
carded his reindeer and pack and taken to using