The Toys of Peace | Page 3

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This etext was prepared from the 1919 John Lane edition by Jane Duff.
Second proofing David Price, email [email protected]

The Toys of Peace

Contents:
The Toys of Peace Louise Tea The Disappearance of Crispina
Umberleigh The Wolves of Cernogratz Louis The Guests The Penance
The Phantom Luncheon A Bread and Butter Miss Bertie's Christmas
Eve Forewarned The Interlopers Quail Seed Canossa The Threat
Excepting Mrs. Pentherby Mark The Hedgehog The Mappined Life
Fate The Bull Morlvera Shock Tactics The Seven Cream Jugs The
Occasional Garden The Sheep The Oversight Hyacinth The Image of
the Lost Soul The Purple of the Balkan Kings The Cupboard of the
Yesterdays For the Duration of the War

THE TOYS OF PEACE

"Harvey," said Eleanor Bope, handing her brother a cutting from a
London morning paper of the 19th of March, "just read this about
children's toys, please; it exactly carries out some of our ideas about
influence and upbringing."
"In the view of the National Peace Council," ran the extract, "there are
grave objections to presenting our boys with regiments of fighting men,
batteries of guns, and squadrons of 'Dreadnoughts.' Boys, the Council
admits, naturally love fighting and all the panoply of war . . . but that is
no reason for encouraging, and perhaps giving permanent form to, their
primitive instincts. At the Children's Welfare Exhibition, which opens
at Olympia in three weeks' time, the Peace Council will make an
alternative suggestion to parents in the shape of an exhibition of 'peace
toys.' In front of a specially-painted representation of the Peace Palace
at The Hague will be grouped, not miniature soldiers but miniature
civilians, not guns but ploughs and the tools of industry . . . It is hoped
that manufacturers may take a hint from the exhibit, which will bear
fruit in the toy shops."
"The idea is certainly an interesting and very well-meaning one," said
Harvey; "whether it would succeed well in practice--"
"We must try," interrupted his sister; "you are coming down to us at
Easter, and you always bring the boys some toys, so that will be an
excellent opportunity for you to inaugurate the new experiment. Go
about in the shops and buy any little toys and models that have special
bearing on civilian life in its more peaceful aspects. Of course you must
explain the toys to the children and interest them in the new idea. I
regret to say that the 'Siege of Adrianople' toy, that their Aunt Susan
sent them, didn't need any explanation; they knew all the uniforms and
flags, and even the names of the respective commanders, and when I
heard them one day using what seemed to be the most objectionable
language they said it was Bulgarian words of command; of course it
MAY have been, but at any rate I took the toy away from them. Now I
shall expect your Easter gifts to give quite a new impulse and direction
to the children's minds; Eric is not eleven yet, and Bertie is only
nine-and-a-half, so they are really at a most impressionable age."
"There is primitive instinct to be taken into consideration, you know,"

said Henry doubtfully, "and hereditary tendencies as well. One of their
great-uncles fought in the most intolerant fashion at Inkerman--he was
specially mentioned in dispatches, I believe--and their
great-grandfather smashed all his Whig neighbours' hot houses when
the great Reform Bill was passed. Still, as you say, they are at an
impressionable age. I will do my best."
On Easter Saturday Harvey Bope unpacked a large, promising-looking
red cardboard box under the expectant eyes of his nephews. "Your
uncle has brought you the newest thing in toys," Eleanor had said
impressively, and youthful anticipation had been anxiously divided
between Albanian