The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-22
cHRIsTMA

OHnI = mA %
>~~~~~~~>~S~~~~~~>~~~~~r<<>
Jauns Among Dolls and Hobby Herses--
Novelties for the Season or 1S61-6e-Gro-
iesques. Harlequins and Contrabauds for the
Holtdays-Articies de Paris, Marteltc and
Observation-Disclosures In the Mimic World OF
Toydom.
II the casual observer were to be told that New
York annually expends one million Of dollars for
the small item Of toys, the answer would probably
be . smile OF incredulity, which would be height
ened in degree by the assertion that not less than
two millions capital is engaged and made to return
profit In the manufacture and sale of these arti-
cles. Aside from articles de Paris, large numbers
and several most noted designs Of which are,
though ostensbly foreign, of American manu-
facture, in the article of toys alone probably the
greater percentage offered for sale is of American
invention, or Of American imitation from
designs of foreign patterns. Grotesques
were first borrowed from Germany, az were
dwarfs and harlequiDs. though Americans already
exceed in subtlety Of manufacture their German
brethren, and this season the most elaborate
harlequns 10 the market are of American fabrica-
ton, the material being of India rubber. Tho
swinging harlequin, with motion Of the head only,
has been superseded by the harlequin with stimuli
taneous motion of legs, arms, head and eyes,
The grnning Mephistopheles smacks his mis-
shapen jaws, rolls pair of Indian rubber eyes
just halfway over in his head, and winks. shakes
his curious Uranium and dances q jig with legs
and arms, all in the same breath and with .
rythmical sort of unison only to paraleled by the
members of band Of cork blackened minstrcls.
The harlequin is, of course, of German sugges-
tion-the German fancy even in the way Of toys
running in the direction OF bizavre,ie and ex-
aggeration, Of which the legendary lore Of the
race furnishes abundant examples in fact, the
greater portion of the grotesque Of the nursery
tales extapt are Of German origin. The Paria
toy, on the other hand. though often bizarre. 10
always piquantly so, and deals in graceful sur.
prises and kinks and qurks and wanton wilss Of
fancy. This same principle il carried out extern
sively in articles de Paris proper, in which the
trade for the past two weeks has been remarkably
heavy, being, as they are. simply toys for adults
and answering every purpose Is holiday presents
Of deft and piquant meaning. From the uplifted
blade Of bronze soldier may be made to spring
slender thread Of gaslight. OF an Apollo or
an Adonis in verde antique or rouge antique one
may remove the turban only to find that tho
bowels Of the god have been followed into 70.
cepticle for cigars. or comes the uplifted hand
at the wrist, and from wrist to elbow bend the hol-
low bone holds some half dozen lucfers. An
Egyptian column (of Luxor) is topped with . rose
Of gaslight-the jets being 30 fashioned as TO I'M
fold their separate leaves in crimson petals woven
and inextoilably interviewer. A Mephisto pheles
in bronze, Of which Gimbrede. the artist engraver
exhibits the only specimen holds ink enough to
pads Of the pen with fluids for week
1t being only necessary to dip ones
pen in the magic cauldron, over which
bends Gosthe's demoniac creation. A brazen
~~k III. ~u~t~
answers the simple purpose Of an ordinary weight
to hold it in position. fac simie Of the nre
engine, in silver, holds wine enough to supply .
party-the silver buckets answering for gasses out
Of which to drink. friend invites one to imbibs,
shakes hands with mediGval knight in bronze,
which ornaments the corner. back flies the storied
shield. and the nav Of the scowlng ancient u
found 70 contain several dsc;untsrs few glas:s:
OF this sort, enhvened with every imaginable de-
vice, any one Of the leading jewelry houses in The
city supplies dozens Of illustrations, and few lead.
variety though, perhaps the few firms Of Tiffany
q Co., Ball. Black & Co.. Browne & Spaldins.
Haughwout b Co., and . few others on Broadway;
nopolize the trade in this direction. In his spe-
cialty Gimbrede displays an exceedingly rare and
rarity Of articles two or three further rms in the the
stationery trade may be classed - leading In
articles de Paris pertaining to their specially.
In the way of India rubber fabrics some few
novelties have been put on the market, process
Of whitening the fabric by means Of acids having
obviated the former necessity OF using paint for
the purpose OF producing groundwork Of white.
dolls and other toys Of this material trife OBJ
jectionable. OF novelties Of this material ths
list is mostly limited to the perfection Of dolls.
harlequins and grotesques in point Of nsturalness
OF motion. The principal improvements upon
the old-fashioned harlequin have been offered By
Messrs. Hungerbuhler Linherr, 60S Broadway,
who exhibit single harlequin with simultaneous
movement OF legs, arms head, eyes and mouth
pigmy mimicry of life. A doll which said Papa"
was last season reckoned something Of novelty,
though by the addition Of another valve . coupls
Of syllables ('Mamma'') have been added to the
dolls dictionary. One novelty Of this sort, Of
which few have found their way into the Market IL
. doll which not only says Papa and Mamma"
but kicks and yes upon proper, Provocation with
be bought for the mild sum Of SIS. Not
exactly new, but an American grotesque in espe.
cial. Is the contraband, moving only the arms and
head. which have been put upon the market In
imitation OF the colossal statues Of the contrabAnd
now considerably In vogue parlor ornaments.
The introduction OF the Geneva music boxes (oe
celestial voccsl. which made . sensation two or
ably improved upon, and complete masquerades
Of dozen figures, al keeping time to the grinding
out OF the music, are temptingy exhibited, and
command the supreme admiration OF the little
folks The "bell ringers" ID another automation
of musical popularity; and a. to the sheep and
goats in toy bazaar, they behave az naturally
and beat naturally as IL just from their native
hills and crags. Some few further novelties con-
plete the variety Of curious inventions offered BY
this firm in their specialty-toys not novel being
passed over, as Of needless specification.
At the India rubber establishment Of Shiner b
Go. some few novelties have been on exhibition,
mostly, however, in the way Of imported toys Of
various descriptions. To the magic Wheel" 80
popular last season, dozen new scenes have been
added, making in all twenty-four. The basis OF
effect in this toy ID simply founded upon the lilo.
sion Of colors suddenly passed before the eye and
suddenly interrupted. An unusual fund Of in
genuity and optical knowledge has been brought
to bear upon the effectiveness OF the invention,
which has been 90 perfected that miss Of the
illusion Ia scarcely possible, no matter Ut what
speed the motion Of the wheel may be graduated.
A boat, which winds up, fully equipped with oars