The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-15
THE TOY WORLD.
A Multitude Of Playthings for the
Juvenile Million.
WOOD. TIN, PAPER AND RUBBER.
Rattles, Dolls, Wagons, Carts, Arks,
Horses, Dogs and Cats.
HOW THEY ARE MADE AND SOLD.
Interesting and Amusing Scientific and
Automaton Specimens
WOOD. TIN, PAPER AND RUBBER.
low THEY ARE MADE AND SOLD.

A cbnd's toyi
Not Of the gorgeous dolls cumbrous elephants
which stand in the Broadway shop windows; but
q little earthenware dog with smooth body,
irowsy head. furry paws and bushy tail
One glance Mt this object is revelation. In an IN
sant by the cohesion of ideas The attraction of
similarity IL has transported US back to the enchanted
time Of chill lhooa days when we TOO. were chill
dren playing with just such images For lew mo-
ments we are sprawed again in infant fashion, bare
legged, on the floor The, familiar colors OF the
nursery carpet come before our eyes. the glow Of
tue household fire. the purring OF the cat the SOUND
OF the wintry wind outside the window, who're
the locust branches lash the air and the
figure OF a lady seated in an armchair sewing and
hummiug song. A scene like this. magicaliy evoked
by toy returns accompanied by thousand innocent
recollections. Full OF pleasure, dashed with mean-
choly this glimpse into the past Is part OF that happ
ness OF TO Boileau the purest
happiness provided great evil pc recalled that man
can enjoy.
A toy tsymbol of how much TO ch:ldD thus often
summons up in manhood tho history. the lessons OF
lifetime.
toy IS the beginning, after the suspense OF life
upon the mothers breasts OF that gradually WIDEN
ing expanding of object teaching out OF which
spring energy, activity ambition. ana In which are
rooted the most important Intellectual growths
H.
II ia not too much to say that men old
as not to need toys to amuse themselves withai
II any one questions this let HIM stroll with serene,
| observing mind among the stores and bazaars now
freshly stocked Tor the holidays He will see won
dertul assortment Of toys Tor children Of every
objects Of play, of use Of curiosity, Of beauty But
he will ind far astonishing variety of toys for
i nd Ca.
brac marvellous pieces Of pottery, fans and crystal
ornaments OF strange workmanship sculpturcd pipes
/ cups and gobets beautifully wrought, a hundred
household articles ricked out win gauds and garnish-
ment delight Of the fingers and Of the eye, Will
remind him that mature people continually require
diversity OF objects to handle and 10 admire.
baby 's~attIe is a toy less useful than q pretty
parasol A nervous father presented with bill for
tho latter trfs at the instant when the former had
wrought spell the cradle would almost certainly
support this opinion who will deny that girls
indiarubbsr doll boys hoop Is moro plaything
than a lady's lap dog or dandy's canef
Toys! Why half the merchandise that foots in
ships md rolls on rails IL made up of toys for tho
amusement, tho instruction, the comfort OF human
beings OF all ages and tastes. Tho splendid buildings
on Broadway and the avenues at this bright season
| shining through all their windows with them. No
dwelling is without toy to the eye In some familiar
shape or some toy to the hand In utensl TO which
IL ia accustomed. Our furniture, our carpets, our
umbrellas-lko our pictures, statues, pianos and
| chessmon-a are toys
The toys displayed for children various that 1t
is not easy for purchasers to make right selections
This fact is important than " may at first APP
pear 10 be- Tor there philosophy oftoys as well as
a philosophy of nfe and the two very intimately
related.
Look into one OF tho great toy and behold the
tumble For babies there are immcmorial trim kets-
rates tecthing rings. Jumping jacks flying porcelain
chcrubs and funny little figures pendant from gutta
percha strings. For children there the old puz-
zes and hundred others, smashed locomotives to be
put together desirable brown stone fronts TO be
constructed from painted blocks of wood, labyrnths
and games oil calculation. Noah's arks and MENACE
RES with all the beasts birds carved and colored
and ready TO be up; stables full OF paper macht
horses, with bulldogs of the same material guarding
the spare mangers hollow cows which can be filled
with milk and MIXED through teats arranged with 40
commodating shoppers; fiery trottng horses hitchcd
TO coaches full OF passengers going
two.forty gait in front OF skeleton buggies; tiny
wooden men behind tiny wooden whecibarrows; bar
rows big enough Tor children TO roll, and
Jour wheeled wagons, ditto; lire engines, locomo
ives. ferryboats and yachts aud zinc ships under
by carloads. Then there are little drawing room.
and Kitchens, furnished throughout down to III,
smallest detail aud peoped with neatly fabricated
figures or human figures, in every garb posture ant
occupation there is no end. Tho dolls nu
merous and IN greater variety than ever before,
IS with pang that some people who think they IN
derstaud children will behold the lashonably atIret
and hectic bellies and tops IN miniature which Lav.
RI placed tho dolls that were made oil sicrner stuff
many and many year ago
A few novel anu exceedingly useful toys for younl
children have been invented Tor instance, the trans
parenl cards which, held up between III,
eve aud the light, show coorcd pictures
of animals and other objects. with theil
names spelled clear, large letters JUS
below. The juxtapositon OF the picture and at
n moment when the interest OF the child is thor
ourhly aroused mipgles instruction with its amuse
mept quite agreeabiy, and this 10 one excellent bn
BY no means the excellent, phase OF the pnos-
ophy OF toys -
The desire 10 handle and desire 10 toy with arr
inherent in tho child and confirmed IN the man.
III. mere signt oil bauole enough Tor a child
The mere signt OF symmetrical object beautiiu
creature does not satisfy man or woman.
A child grasps everything secs which is not
1 pulslve to It. A grown person would do the same
were II not for an educated OF proprety and
trained habit OF sell repression. A coungryman
crockery store ana the umbrella and cane
Gends OF the art galleries illustrate the
desire, set deep IN human nature. tt
poke A. to feel Of and TO investigate things. IL II
perhaps Impossible TO cxaggcrae the naturalization
the unsatisned ycarning, which nearly maddened the
curious persons VINO were compelled 10 Keep thei
hands Off paintings and tuary At the Centennia
Exhibition. Many women suffer positive agony be
cause they cannot 20 in and handle the rich velvet'
ana Iaces which attract their attention In the show
windows. The most OF us are not quite content wheI
we enter jewery store with staring AZ the brooches
necklaces rings and charms there through thu
glass tops OF the cases. We may not covet what W.
see; but there secret inclination to take hold Q
ornaments that please US and TO indulge IN wha
Burke in one bis earlier essays called the pleas
urc oil the hands,"
Ii this desire is never quite suppressed in adults
how int epse must IL be In chidrcnl IL IS, IN fact tn,