The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-27
The Street Toy-Sellers Of London.
ONE PHASE OF LIFE IN ENGLAND

Under the title Of "Pickingupa Living,
Mr. James Greenwood, the Amateur Ca
sual," writes to tie London Star the fol
lowing account of scene in the English
capital:
The manufacture of toys in modcrntimet
became an important branch of trade.-
Whole Districts in Germany and Switzer
land are employed in the production O,
Noahs arks. and dolls "tea-thines." and
such like goods, and according to the last
Postoffice Directory" returns, goodness
knows how many persons are returned as
dolls "eye" and wig" makers. But these
are toys unknown in Leather lane. It is
mllasket-place for struggling poverty, and
~ toys are expressly contrived to suit the
taste ana means OF the population Miss
Spangledille, with her wonderful trim
mlngs and laces, and marvellous ,nechan
lcal continuance in tho region Of her sto
mach that causes her to emit unearthly
sounds when pressed to do 80, may be ali
very well for, the West End market. bnt
the industrious washeroman," as the sell
Ter persists in calling her, better suits
Leather lane, because the contemplation
OF that ingenious toy, besides amusing
teaches practical lesson against idlenesss
1t -ismade out Of splintwood, and the limbs
OF the "Washerwoman" are jointed with
tags Of strings, and her arms are made "a
appear as though immersed in a tub and
when bobbin at the back is agitated. She
at once commences to wash in the most
energetic manner. This, it may be assum
ed, Is for the little girls of Leather lane
since for little boys there is companion
toy known as 'Fthe hard working cobbler.,
contrived on the same principles. and de
plcting an operative of the cordwainine
persuasion, straining till he squints in q
very horrible manner as he stretches Out
his arms over sewing a shoesole.
The Woodworking cobbler and the wash
erwoman may be bought at the low price
of a half-penny each, and there are eigh,
joints in each figure, which is painted in
various colors. O. make 'em myself-
leastways me and my old woman do" the
cobbler-lnan informed me, with q rueful
face because of the slackness of trade. and
without desisting from jerking the string
attached to the figure in his hand. "Some.
times she sells and makes, and sometimes
I sells and she makes" '.How MANY can
you make in a dayg" 'sWhat, sticking
hard at its Why, I'd warrant to make
five dozen; and out Of that you NAV safely
set the wood down at sixpense." (Which
leaves two shillings for your days work e.
when they're sold il do" replied he, jerk
ing the washerwoman spitefally, and com
polling her to duck her head in an aconiz
ed manner. "Thay won't 90 off tonight
me and my old woman sat up all last night
Misunderstanding a shilling extry, it being
Christmas time, and she's out selling too
If she amt got no better luck than have
there'n be no fear of our plum-pudden BIZ
ling over and putting tho fire out" A sor
ry manner Of picking up living this, my
friends!
But here, alas! is a sorrier. "Dolls
houses farden each! only farden! with
a regler winder. and door what'll oper
and shut" This time an old woman, will
as many dolls houses as made o beap. a,
they stood before her, at least three fee
long and as high as her waist. The houses
were bnilt Of pasteboard and brushed owe,
with some sort Of gum, and then sprinklei
with red sand, which gave them quite 3
pretty appearance; and besides this, eael
had two chinlney-pots and window and
a street door, with a knocker and knoll
painted on it, and yet they were only far
thing each. | inquired how many hel
stock numbered, and she told me that sht
had fifty when she came out at dinner time
(it was now about seven in the evening,
and she supposed she had about thirty,sis
left so that when you have sold oui
you Will have taken shilling and q half
penny IN alle" when I've sold out YES .
And what does the material cost YOU ?"
Nothing-my gals go round to the paper
warehouses of mornings at sweeping time,
and haves the old cardboard give 'em.-
Leastways, there's the gum and the sand
to buy; but that amt much" "But who
makes them while you are out selling ?"
My gals and the old man; he can't do
much q laying on his back, eat up with
rheumatics, but he generally puts in the
windows" "But do You mean to say that
what you can earn out of dolls houses is
all you have to support the family 2" "Oh
no, sir; thank God. it's not SO bad as that.
I've got "a boy, sir, as good chap as here
and there one, and he brings homo his six
shillings as regler as clock work So you
see, sir, we makes a do of it somehow, and
thank God it's no WORSE"
The dolls house woman provided me
with SO much to think about, that all the
way home l had no eyes for any unfortu-
nate engaged in picking IN 4 liyjnG.