Toys of Peace and Other Papers

This is the last collection of short stories written by the witty British author, Hector Hugh Munro, better known by his pen names "e;Saki"e; or "e;H. H. Munro"e;, compiled posthumously by his friend, Rothay Reynolds.The title story is a humorous tale of trying to indoctrinate young boys with a culture of peace rather than war, by a mother and her brother, Harvey, who give her boys "e;peace toys"e; for Easter instead of toy guns, tin soldiers, and the like. Excerpt:"e;A quantity of crinkly paper shavings was the first thing that met the view when the lid was removed; the most exiting toys always began like that. Harvey pushed back the top layer and drew forth a square, rather featureless building."e;'It's a fort!' exclaimed Bertie. ..."e;'It's a municipal dust-bin,' said Harvey hurriedly; 'you see all the refuse and litter of a town is collected there, instead of lying about and injuring the health of the citizens.'"e;The boys were not impressed by such gifts as tin statues of economists, scientists, sanitary inspectors, and politicians, rather than soldiers and heroes; models of municipal buildings rather than forts; toy hoes instead of toy guns. Left to play with the new politically correct toys, the boys manage to completely thwart the plan, to the frustration of the well-meaning adults.There are 33 stories in all, plus an introduction about the life of the author written by Rothay Reynolds.