Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-20
Commission Children as Pur-
chasing Agents of Gifts
for Foreign Children.
CH'LDREN's RuMMAGE DAY
FOR HUNTING OUT TOYS
ideas for Filling Stockings Ad-
vanced by a Lone Woman and
Youngster.
To the Mothers of Washington:

To the Mothers of Washington:
Many are the plans being made in
Washington homes to help fill up the
big Christmas ship which is to carry
toys from the children OF America to
the children Of Europe. whose homes
will not be visited, this year, by Santa
Claus. because of the European war.
The Star has begun already to receive
toys which are to be loaded on that
vessel and is preparing to receive
many more, and to make sure they are
safely put aboard the Santa Claus ship.
The Christmas ship has given one wom-
an a good idea. and good idea is al
ways worth passing on. Every year this
woman surprises herself with Christmas
gift that costs exactly $5 some friend
having been commissioned to make the
selection.
Sounds rather childish and even a bit
selfish. But, you see, spinster person
who near-bankrupts herself buying gifts
for small relations and big may feel
sort of lonesome all to herself with only
a lot of hit-and-miss cards from people
who take it for granted that she dosent
want anything else.
Children to Buy Her Gifts.
Well, anyhow, she is going to spend
that five dollars this year for the war
orphans. And here is where the idea
really starts. Being too busy during
shopping hours to hunt up toys, though
she has had more experience along
that line than the average mother. she
has provided five girls and boys with
a dollar each and commissioned them
to buy playthings. knowing that what
ever pleases the buyers will also de-
light those other children across the
sea-
And the goodness of this idea lies in
the fact that it is not only nne
scheme for other grown ups who
want to chip in with the toy. yet are
too busy to go shopping, but also 1t
will give to each small purchaser a
practical experience of the Importance
OF fulnlling a commission o. trust.
Also, again. it will be a lot of fun.
Don't fool yourself with the conceit
that you could spsad you. uu-s:. :.
judicially than any child you know. In
the matter of prosaic needs oh, yes,
certainly-but when it comes to toys,
you are simply not n 1t with the young
sters. For both purchasers and recip-
tents live together in the kingdom of
childhood, while we-Well, there is
wall, and we are on the outside. And
the wall is high.
Besides, for mere practical proof.
look at any girl child you know as
she switches along her front pavement
in a grown-up skirt, playing at being"
Mamma. Don't you suppose she could
play as well at being" Santa? As
trusted with so cents or a dollar to
buy a toy for that Christmas ship
could put our Mr.. Claus way back into
the shade, the shade called Difference
selfish wisdom that comes with the
years, that Santa divides his pack only
among the children who have parents
with money or jobs while these young
sters of ours will be buying for poor
and sorrowful kfddies who would other
wise go without sunbeam on the day
that belongs to children because it Is
the birthday of the Child.
1t is the difference between myth and
the real thing.
Idea of Youngster.
And here is what a boy said yester-
day afternoon:
IT asked mamma if I could send my
skates, and she, said yes. Only she was
too busy now to go up in the attic
after them, but some Saturday I could
rummage around for myself. and may
be l could find a lot of other play
things / could spare.
"Wouldn't it be nice If all the moth
ers would let all the children hit on the
same day for a regular hunt for all
the toys they could spare? 1t would
be loads of fun. But, mind you, we
mustn't send books, because papa
says foreign children would be unable
to read them"
II you think a children's rummage
day will be all right that will maze
two good ideas in just this one story
And so many stories haven't even one.
Wanted-More good ideas for the
Christmas ship. The more the better.
CHRISTMAS SHIP EDITOR.