Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1905 — MAKING CHRISTMAS TOYS. [ARTICLE]

MAKING CHRISTMAS TOYS.

A Thriving Industry In Germany, France and Switzerland. In parts of Germany, France and Switzerland every bumble householder takes more Interest in Christmas than the average American boy. This seems like a strong statement, for Christmas is pretty thoroughly appreciated by the young of America. But, great as the festival is to them, it is not essential to their existence. They could get along without Christmas, but the toymakers in Switzerland, the Tyrol and south Germany would starve without this midwinter holiday which makes a market for their goods. There are wood carvers, doll dressers and toymakers in every hamlet and home of the Tyrol. They depend upon the small wages they make from these toys to put bread and butter in their mouths. All through the winter season every boy and man carves out wood animals and toys for the factories. Everything is handmade. A Noah’s ark of twenty or thirty wooden animals that retails for a quarter in this country does not pay the carver more than a few pennies. The boys are taught to handle the knife early, and they learn to cut out wooden ducks, hens, horses, cows and other toys before they have reached their teens. Working all through the early winter days and nights in their little homes, they make the wooden toys that delight so many children throughout the world.—New York Mail and Express.