Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-05
Chi,drem's Spring sports,
AN UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND FOR ROLL II
SKA uMOPS

~ 3
SKATES, HOOPS, AND WHIP TOPS.
On every fair day since the snow began dis
appearing from payementS and parks troops OF
boys and girls have thronged the streets sport
ing On roller skates, driving hoops or Whfo-
pllg brand new tops: 50 large has the NUN
Ger engaged In these kids OF sport grown this
week that special boom IN favor OF dealers In
Ihese toys seemed TO be IL progress. A Sd7
reporter, who visited several wholesale stores
yesterday where skates. hoops aud toos are
sold, found that this was the case There has
pteh Tor d week or two an unpreCe Tented ana
rapidly growing demand for these TOYS. and
many ORDERS nave been received that Will have
10 De nlled Dy increased work at the factories
Inc largest manufactures OF roller skates are
III Detroit. Mich, and other cities OF the west
and IN Nalcotyllle and Knoxville, Conn.
Now tley are IN greater demand than ever
and are manufactured Ia many varieties THE
newest designs are the most expensive. and are
called 'oscillating rollers" They are provided
with two pairs OF lockwood WneeIs or rollers
set vide apart In metal rack, which rests uo0n
ruODerp pad, so as to permit the movement OF
The rollers from side 10 side. This contriyanca
permits tne skater TO perform an initiation Of
tAt inner edSe and 'Outer edge short turns
and curves OF ice skating. Bank and telegraph
messengers are mounted On roller skates In
chicago and Detroit, where the pavements are
very smooth and level, and they 90 about their
"OTk much more eXpedltiOusly and easily than
when obliged to walk.
While roller skates cannot be enjoyed by Chill
dIen whose parents have not The money 1t
requires 10 purchase them. all children are on a
level so far as the enjoyment OF hoops ia con
cerhed. Though there Is great difference in
loops, 1or While nicely made ash hoop, with
patent driver accompanying It, will cost half q
dollar. the child OF wealthy parents who 1run
dies II does not enjoy the exercise whit better
than does the dirty street urchin who. win
shrleEs or deIlght, chases his barrel hoop that
costs nothing, and hammers it with a piece of
the Save. The sidewalks up town Yesterday
furnished many pleasant sight Of ro3V-
checked girl or boy speeding along after q
oWnfjy revolving hoop, and In City Hall square
az one time there were thirteen OF the dlrtfesr
anG most ragged children possible having the
widest sort Oh fun with as many old Darrpl
Loops Ia Barclay street a little Italian o0g
"ll Girty race and ragged clothes. ran aI0n !;
DTopeilIrg an iron hoop of q beer keg with h,3
right hand, while with his left he he'd over hiI
shoulder dirty bag half full OF remnants from
garbage barrels.
a very large importer OF toys and dealer IN
domestic manufactures for chldrens' ainuse-
Inent said that at least 500 gross OF hoops had
Oeen sold already In week or two for use ia
the CITY. Another dealer thought the number
nearer 100 gross. These hoops which are made
efthe: OF oak, chestnut or ash are largely man.
fractured at Granville Corners, Mass They
are CUT out or the timber by machinery, then
peIt On an iron cylinder. and tackled while ON
the cylinder. They range in diameter from
twenty-five Inches to four feet, and are SO par-
I6ctly made and graded that they fiji into each
0lher. Ihey vary In price from five 20 TWENTY
nVe cents each. some OF them have round and
some square edges. "There is a greater trade
III hoops IMAM ever" said the. importer. THE
thing started OF this week like an epidemic. ="
He also stated that great quantities OF whin
tops were being cold. lie had already sold 300
gross or them, and more We're wanted. While
In the city the rage for whip tops, hoops and
skates was Ia progress, already In towns along
the HUDSON the children are flying their kite !
Here the season or marbles, jackstones and bail
VIII pass before kite flying is Ia vogue gene
rally. so IL goes the passion Tor certain toy
or game, at certain season. NAV prevail IN
one place, or In even one street, while some
where else another is anxlOusly sought after by
the little fOlk6--N. Z. SylR