1935-12-17 — Page 24

PRE

RE-CHRISTMAS pictures in the local shops are all mingled with thoughts of Christ- mases far back. The reminis cence is a sentimental one, and quite in order at this time of the year. You watch a tiny tot approach a Santa Claus with a wonderment expressed on her face that is a delight to see, and then you watch her making her choice from many dolls quite content to leave it in the shop until Christmas morning, believ ing that Santa Claus will re serve it for ber. So great is the faith of children that it is little wonder they get, just for the wishing, all these wonderful toys that they have set their hear's spo

Remarkable Development There are mothers and fond aunts and grown-up sisters who consider that toys are just-some-.. thing to keep children quiet, bat if they were to take an intelli- gent peep around the stores where the toys are on display, they would soon see that a child's education begins with its first toy-a colourful ball intended to catch its eye as it lies in the cradle, or a rubber toy-that squeaks. Any toy that does something is an object-lesson.

Though toys made to interest boys have always been of a mechanical nature, such 23 trains that run on: lines and motor boats that wind up with a key, it is amazing the develop ment that toy makers have brought about. First came the Meccano sets that were consider- ed a revolution in instructive toys, and now, following on this line of intelligent inquisitiveness, there are replicas of practically every type of aeroplane, includ- ing the autogyro, correct to the detail; there are complete little railway stations, with signal box. station lamps, ticket office, and platform; there are steam rollers, with heavy rubber rollers that function perfectly; there zre motor bicycles and sidecars, and miniature cars that are copies of the latest airflow models; there are ships brilt on the lines of the newest mam- moth liners; there are perfect steam working models of donkey engines; there are chemistry outfits with which the young would-be scientist

make genuine experiments; and there are farmyard sets, comprising a dog, goat, cow, horse, rural set- ting, and farmyard implements.

exact

No doubt a keen commercial instinct in the first place induced toymakers to produce this type" of toy, for in captivating a boy's Interests they were assured of sales; but for all this the toys remain as instructive as they are

A

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT

Toyland

WHERE LITTLE FOLKS HOPES-

· BECOME BIG THRILLS

Toys for Christmas! That is all the children think of. Toys that come as if by magic from a world where only the desires and lores of little children are thought of. Who, but one with a heart ca mighty as that of Santa Claus, cordd make a cat-at least a sort of a cat out of immobs and knobs of celluloid, and not just a cat either, but a cat called Simon or Pip; a cat with a-personality that you can talk to and tell secrets? Oh, the lovely things of Christmas! Surely toys have never been more lovelyTM before though last Christ- mas they were lovely, and the Christmas before..

"Abover The Shir-

ley Temple Village

at

Whiteaway's.

Left: The faith- ful puppy guard- ing the house-

A magnificent castle with draw - bridge and all, and the snow man does some travelling at Lane, Crawford Ltd.

entertaining.

War Toys

It is a great pity that this same perception which has led toymakers to produce these mechanical toys, has led them to make replicas of the implements of warfare, which, it must be confessed, supply a demand, and are welcomed with great delight by many boye

It seems absurd that so much

trouble should be gone to teach our youngsters the horror of war when these toy etceteras of war are permitted to be market- ed. Giving the matter a thought, there is no doubt that every parent would agree that these. toys should not be made, even though they themselves may be guilty of having purchased some to appease the desires of boys. who see them displayed in the

shops. It must be admitted that. these toys, which are replicas of existing things, are just as in- structive as other mechanical toys, but at the same time they pander to a desire that the efforts of all thinking people of the world are trying to carb.

盘

The trend of domesticity in toys made for little girl is most amusing. Dolly's washing day has, of course, always been source of great delight to little girls, and playing school and playing mothers another. It is the little girls and the very little boys who most enter into the land of make-believe with their toys, and it would almos seem that the toymakers' aim now is to train their young cus- - tomers for efficient motherhood and wifehood.

Made up on cards are complete. little outfits of various domestic duties. There is a scrubbing set, which comprises a backet, mop, scap, cloth. and scrubbing brush. Other cards hold com- plete washing sets, ironing sets, and school sets of easel and blackboard. duster, pointer, two sticks of chalk, a chart of letters and numbers, a school form, and two little celluloid doll pupils - There are some most elaborate cooking stoves, equipped with pans, kettle, and cooking uten-- ails, all made of aluminium. They have an oven fitted with trays and a fire-box, in which there is a safety spirit lamp. Teasets that were in demand even in the days when grandma hung up her stocking, are still very much to the fore, but they are surpassed in novelty by the complete kitchen sets of cake tins, cutters, and the like, each most carefully made in alumi-

MATINA

Play Animals

Toys made purely for, the ex- pression of affection really illus- trate the charm of Christmas, and this year, as ever, they are delightful Dolls, which are not quite so elaborate as those we used to play with, are none the less endearing. Animals of lovable dispositions are. legion Mickey Mouse, the adored of ally. appears in every shape and form;" sometimes he is a soft cuddly person, sometimes he is a cheeky little wooden animal riding a tricycle. Dismal Desmond this year has overcome his depres- sion, and is actually smiling în anticipation of Christmas. AŽ- ditions to the toy personalities are the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, and the little pigs have proved themselves 80 charming that pigs are having a tremendous vogue, and their huumorous fat faces bring thezi- in much adoration.