, 1874-05-30
POLIHICAL PLAYTHINGS.
Tho --latest Frrmch Toys

Every yoar paris produces something now Ia
tho toy line. Thero is not, says tho London
chtldrens pIaytlinga offered for sale in tho dear
toy Shops. But patriotism 1nakos up for tho
nbsonce OF invention. Wo have the Alsatian
9uatl1illo, tho Motz Gonunerum, Tho Naive n ~
trol nnd contempt Of Prussia. Tho Alsatian
Quatlrille ia mado up Of eight wax dolls, in tho
costume Of tllone penaant girls whom persons
familiar with tho q deuant dopartmonts OF tho
,5oie gras. Each doll wears IN apron, on which
there aro movable capital letsora tho whole
eight can DO moved IN unison With
string. or atringB, and made to DANCE
saco," -" stranbourg" " Ro7ondIeation,"a !" Re- !
vancho," and " Chaase- -prussien." Aa tile dol1a
dance, those words apponr upon thoir aprons.
La Puue!le d'Orleans "'is another drawing
aaaptod from the Prlnaeas Marie's statue. at
Versailles. Tho Maid of Orleans valves (what
NIL acllronism j tho tri-colorod flag, aud bcokons
to invisible wnrrlors, WHO aro supposed to Ing
is d 0ermnn lass, with bis blue oyoH and long
Aaxen braida OF hnir. Tho cunning artlann who
creatod her has managed to give her that ex-
pressiou OF friondlineHs (Which 1t would appear
asN' i1tie Of 'st tho Frauein. q souohng
spring tho indta-rubber head turnB in
Bido out, md we sce Prince Bismarck
with hiH pointed helmet, iron jaw, ind swollen
eyeids. Of actunlitios-that is to say, toy allu-
sioua to paHsng eveutB-wc have the toupio
fusion" or fusionist top, which is paintod in
the colorB of tho rainbow but turna white when
set, in motion, unelo Sam" poupard, or
men is pressed; "Le pere Angot Ct aon nls."
and :" tho double-heaaod blackbird," and ''tho
dog-man." THO walking elephants Which pick
up needles with their trunks; tho curH that run
md yeip; tho magical tldlles, OH which unBeon
yiolinists play patriotic melodies; tic steamboats,
and railway engines, propelled uy aptrita-
humps; aud ttLo Industrious tailor in his work.
shop" nre scarcely novelties.
"La Question Romano I find yot holdn its
own against fresh rivals. Tho Alsatian-Loralne
Gorrilla (this is Darwiniau puzzlo). Broccoli
aud Mnryellouso questions, though run upon
hare not yet succeeded in dethroningi II. Ishoull
not bo surprised, however. If tho - Kepubliquo
Francaiuo were to carry OF tho palm OF public
wnrm reception 1t has met with IL the Eastorn
Douevards. whore it is chiefly so!d. La 1sepub-
Iauo Frnncniso is little masked bottle under
tho allcgoricnl figure which wo see on the new
dropped On tho bod Of ghavingB prepared for
it, is euro to fall OIL it's base, but when there it
will insist on toppllng ovor unless tue hand
OF authority ig stretched out to keep 1t por-
pondicular. It is worry hard to discover, by
the moro light Of nature, how tho figure With tho
bottlo inside always alights on Its feet. and why
it will not romain upon them altor its perilous
but aafe,porf9mod oen whout 1.-the" tS ta
TO censimes. Tl,roo additional contimes arc
giyon to tho invontor for teaching Ills trick to
the buyer. Ths cheapneas Of cheap toys is this
year marveloua. For 35 confines (threepence
haltpenny) ono can trcat little girl to Fronch
Kitchen, with all tile necessary cooking utonsils
A box Of dominooB can be had for d sou six
chamber revolyer, with percussion noodle, costs
but half a frnuc.
Members Of the Ponce Society will hear with
regret that military toys aro moro run upon
than over. Slivering wretches manage to give
their boys halfponny pistols, the Triggers at
which, on being drawn, mako loud explosions.
The oncc-popular drum docs not seem to produce
Hutticiently strong nervous conmotion to Bat-
| isfy tho Paris gantin, who learned something Of
the realities OF war in 1870-71, mud has acquired
a taste for what old French soldiers call the
powder intoxication. AL tho paporH notice thiB
symptom, and many OF them rejoice to 500 it.
Gunslnitls do not lot Gironx mononolizo the
trade in firearms for Juveniles. Rual ClaBsepots
| Of reduced sizes arc offered by thonl to Lycotsn
boys at prices ranging from 10 francs to 900
franco. Serioug guarantees Rre exnctel that
! these weapons shall not be used except at tho
drills authorized by the Minister Of Public In-
| struciiolt, mud directed BY .Beygeanta appointed
with the sanction of the War OI!icn