The New York herald., 1876-12-18
THE TOY TRADE.
THE LATEST FROM SANTA CLAUS FACTORY
THE GAMBLING MONKEY, AND COW THAT

THE LArKsT FROM SANTA CLAUS FACTORY
THE GAMBLING MONKEY, AND COW THAT
GIVES REAL MILK.
In no branch of business Is the reviving effect Of the
holidays moro apparent than in the toy and fancy
goods trade Dollar stores, importers combinations
snd toy shops crowded whenever the weather is at
all agreeable and appears to begrudge the money
that is expended tor trlng holiday presents Throngs
Of curious sight seekers gather about every window
where toy to be performing its allotted task,
and prove more attractive than the tight rope
walkers new method OF acrobatc walking and one
which quite outBlondins Blondin, Is now In vogue
among the mechanical toys. It consists IN a figure
hanging gracefully as possible from tight rope
and moving slowly and cautiously along hand hand
When this unnatural motion becomes irksome il Is
exchanged Tor still unnatural one, the gymnast
being fastened to the rope head downward, and con-
tinuing his progress by means OF couple of hooks
fastened the calf of each leg. There is said to
be bitter rivalry between the acrobats who walk
right 81 10 up and those who walk upside down. but at
present tho latter enjoy by far the creator popularity
greater attraction however, than this novelty
in tight rope walking is life size Santa Claus, whicn
stands in front Of we'll known fancy goods store
Broadway, looking Tor all tho world like the waxwork
figure Of Elisha Kent Kane h,s Arctic urs Another
crowds 10 its windows by a gorgeous display Of wax
dolls arrayed in several groups. The largest window
contains rcprcsentatio Of grand evening recep-
ton by richly dressed dolls ten twelve inches in
he gnt On one side the reception room opens into
spacious bedroom where the children being tucked
IN for the night
.sHIGu LIFE BELOW STAIRS"
On the opposite side there is Hne kitchen scene.
Here the neatly dressed figure OF coorod woman
who should be kneeling with scrubbing brush In her
hand-lles at iull length upon the floor, her hands
clasped bucket Of congeaed soapsuds. II
seems while the act Of scrubbing the floor the
poor woman has been overcome by the news Of some
fresh 'soutrage" "ntmdation practised upon rela
tive the South II is evident that she has remained In
this condition tor many hours the re has
gone out and the bucket OF hot water has cooled and
frozen The heartlessness Of tho revccrs In the
experimentation no partition separates kitchen from
drawing room-Is shown by the cold neglect which the
negro woman suffers al their waxen hands Tho most
striking OF the fashionable dolls Is the total
lack Of manliness on the part Of tho men. In fact
that Of gentleman or OF lady is by slight diner-
ence IN dress. Otherwise the resemblance is COM
pic,e. All alike have delicate pink and white
plexion, bright blue eyes, fine, feminine features,
pierced cars and bustles.
KRIS xRINaLE.
On the wall Of the toy counters within the
store is a fresco thirty forty feet IN length and
representing Kris krngle on his annual round Vt
visits The main sceno shows the welcome visitor
seated in a commodious sleigh and driving a four.
in-hand OF reindeer over causeway Of yellow clouds
With his right hand he holds tho strings OF half
dozen toy balloons, paint brush palette, sketch
book and box OF paints. other balloons float in tho
rear, and a captive doll drags painfully on behind
vcr gaze three ghasy female heads just emerging
from bank OF sombre clouds In rear OF the sleigh
a. on ns
Kris Kringle In the act OF slighting on q spacious
housctop, and still another depicts couple OF chill
dren comfortably tucked In bed and all unconscious OF
a pair Of fur-cad legs which appear to be dancing
hornpipe in the fireplace. Santa Claus has evidently
started down the chimney with too largo load Of
presents and got wedged in at point level with
the chimney piece Judging from The ! aspsc, P Of his
corner must be anything but enjoyable.
CHxIUBs AND MILCH COWS.
Rosy faced cherubs danglc from every chandelier
throughout the store, and ono overgrOwn female doll
has been ashed to pillar like lndi>p captive pre-
pared for the torture. camellipped baboon seetcd
throwing dice and piercing gances at and the same
time. Another mechanical toy, and one which 10
found ~ every toy shop. represents venerable and
a republican paper. At the toy stands along the
streets this gentleman may be purchased IN sound
condition for 81 "a; IN the stores no costs ~ and
So 60 But perhaps the most amusing and liclike OF
these aDtasto toys is that OF an Attorney COW, one
foot in length which "ows' when its head is turned,
and gives real milk In quantities ranging from thin
blcu TO half pint the supply being determined BY
the amount Of actca u,d poured through trap door
10 the samo manner she may be made TO yield real
cream such valuable animal Is worth S. 4 some
what smaller one which lows, but docs not milk, costs
only So 60 But one would think OF buying the
latter who has once seen the former.
HOW MONEY spExr.
Among the cholcor delicaces for the very young
may be mentioned tho gingerbread and candy COW,
costing 81; q horAe Of the breed, seventy 1.-Two
cents chickens OF ike substance, seventy i've centn
and 81 90; lions OF the same materlal-with the word
"Lion on the sido. to show that they are not cats
VI; and gingerbread men In full uniform OF sugar,
81 90 and 81 SO. Wooden and metal livery
stables range In price from sixty cents 10 $l6 horses
and carriages thrown In. Warehouses, vol filled with
goods, bring the same price John Gilpin on hobby
cents and 30 respectively Creeping babies are sold
for 50, and walking and talking dolls for from IS TO
50 Among the ncrOer animals may DO seen the 'pay-
ful Polar boar illustrating, by appropriate gestures
the conflicting emotions OF the Arctic animals when
pr Hayes made his ars, ~ their
from 81 90 10 81 while theatres containing from two
actors and actresses, and provided with means
to sl5 whs,lipg locomotives running direct line
circles at the pleasure OF the owner may be
chased for $a Perhaps the most ingenious and
.,eectrc ngurea" The pay,hlng consists OF smooth
board about one foot square bounded by narrow
rim, half an inch In height pane OF gass supported
by small wooden post at each corner, covers the
board height Of from one 10 Two inches Scattered
about the board lie dozen or more OF grotesque
little paper figures BY rubbing the glass Tor moment
with small piece covered wood these figures spring
from their rccumbcnt position and waltz about at
brsak-ncck speed, some s'ngly, and others hand IN
hand AFTER moment OF activity they again fall into
q dead slecp The motive power OF this novel arrange
ment il electricity. The whole COST electricty In.
Cludsd. IL 81 u.s. To children oil musical taste
nothing could be more attractive than beautiful song
Bird which IL made TO sing most delightfully."- by the
pulling Of q string In the bottom OF It's cage Tho
bird cage and string together cost but SIS. somewhat
similar toy Is the musical ship noble vessel 10
through glass case ptcn'nr and tossing on tho
DO ~ in ell ocean wh lc sentry moves IN
~ is- riInd the 'ess a ~ as"'"'ns