Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1915 — MAKING OUR OWN TOYS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAKING OUR OWN TOYS

JNb Scarcity gi of Gifts IL Because Bk ofWar

B - iIECAUSE of the Eurofl pean war there has I been considerable comfl ment to the effect that fl there will be a dearth of Christmas toys this year, since the toy IV sources of France and » ® €rmany n °t y available to American children. French dolls r jEtas- have been the standard during at least two genrr Z’wff erations, and Nurem-

berg, Germany, Is famed throughout the world as a toy center. It must not be supposed, however, that little girls will have to go without dolls this year. Several manufacturer? in the United States are turning out dolls by the thousands and they are of the very best type. One large factory in Philadelphia is making, under special processes, a type of indestructible doll from basswood, which is a light and easily worked material and is not likely to split or break. Those who have made a study of this manufacture, in connection with the study of the wood-us-ing Industries of the state of Pennsylvania, predict that dolls of the type made by this and other similar factories can gain first place for America in this branch of manufacture. Thus,

the new trade slogan, "Made in the U. S. A.,” will have a direct bearing i in shifting the center of doll manufao Iture from Europe to America. The following toys are now made in this country from American woods: Toy animals, blocks, cannon and forts, children’s chair, circus sets, dolls, doll furniture, games, Christmas tree holders, swing jumpers, children’s pianos, pastry sets, babies’ play yards, toy shooting galleries, hobby horses, pop guns, toy wagons, toy autos and wheelbarrows. Basswood is the principal material for wooden toys and for wooden parts of metal toys. The basswood doll, in particular, is unique and ingenious. All parts of it are made of wood and are artistically carved and enameled in color. It is difficult to tell that it is made of wood when it is finished. The various parts of the body are joined with steel bands which not only give great flexibility and freedom of movement, but together with the wood make the doll practically indestructible. Next to basswood, sugar maple, beech, birch and white pine are the principal woods used for toys, although elm, oak, chestnut, ash, yellow poplar and others enter into toy manufacture. Pennsylvania, which stands first among the states in toy manufacture, alone uses the equivalent of nearly 6,500,000 board feet of timber for toys, with a total value of 1182,000 each year. The total amount of wood used annually in the United States for toy manufacture is nearly 29,000,000 feet, and the principal toy manufacturing states after Pennsylvania are, in order, Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan, New. York, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Basswood is the favorite for such toys as toy animals, boats, dolls, circus sets aud children’s pianos. Blocks and dolls* furniture and toy vehicles are generally made of white pine. Stick horses, with a horse’s head and a stick to ride upon, S more pretentious variation of the old-tashioned broom horse, are likelyto be made of white pine, although the stick head may be

made of different material. Rocking horses are usually made of white ash. In the native forests, basswood occurs sparingly and very seldom in groups or in solid stands. In the lake states in particular it is sawed incidentally with other timber, but the logs are usually kept separate and generally sawed in accordance with standing orders from special industries. It is utilized for many other products besides toys, because it has qualities which fit it for a wide range of uses. It is one of the softest of the so-called hardwoods, it lacks taste and odor, is very easily worked, does not warp or check badly, is tough and takes paint very well. It is one of the woods preferred ror boxes to contain food products likely to be contaminated by the tastes or odors which might be derived from other woods. For the same reasons it finds considerable use in the manufacture of kitchen woodenware. It is in some demand as a material for house finish and a great deal ot it goes into the unseen parts of furniture and musical Instruments. Other important uses are for trunks, picture frames and excelsior. /•.. ’ ' In farmers’ woodlots, in particular, it is a tree which should be favored, because it is a fairly rapid grower, is free from defects, and is usually

salable. In selling this tree from a woodlot, the department of agriculture advises that it should be held for special prices and not sold in a lump with others. Basswood has several advantages as a standing tree in the woodlot. In the first place, its blossoms furnish a considerable source of honey which is always in good demand, and when the tree is cut it readily regenerates itself from sprouts, the best of which should be favored in reproducing the stand.

Most of the Christmas customs in America have been transplanted from Europe: Our Christmas tree comes from Germany, our Santa Claus from Holland, the Christmas stocking from Belgium or France, while “Merry Christmas" was the old English greeting shouted from window to street on Christmas morning.

- It is a time for joy and gladness and good cheer, for this old world., with all its faults, is on its way towards the kingdom of heaven, and th» , omnipotence of love assures its getting there. Some time every day will! be the best of Christmas, every place its altar of observance, and every soul be transformed into the Christ of his environment—Universalist Leader. •

Remember the days when you ’ were little, and Plata your j Christmas accordingly. ’

Painting the Features.

Our Christmas Customs.

The Optimistic Note.