Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-15
THE SEASON OF SANTA CLAUS.
Tors Ia Abundance and Variety for the
Little Ones.

Little Ones.
MANY CURIOUS NOVELTIES - THE DECLINE OF
THE WAX AND THE RISE OF THE PAPER
MACHE DoLL-HOw TOYS ARE MADE,
IRON the New York Herald.
Now is the time when great eruption of toy
exhibitions occurs through the city. Every
little stationery, candy and dry goods store
from the North to the East river is bound to
utilize the Juvenile craving for toys that RACES
with SO much virulence at this season of the
year. On some of the leading thoroughfares the
toy display was never SO large and imposing,
and many of the mechanical devices introduced
this year for the first time are marves of ingen-
uity. This, too, is the time when the small boy
and girl thrill with anticipations Of Christmas
presents and when the youthful mind becomeslost
In bewlGerment at the wonderful variety ofgood
things provided by the toy dealers For the
small boy and girl it is truly an embd,Tas de
rtcteSses-in other words. too much of a good
thing. Neither the British museum nor the
tower OF London nor the louvre of Paris has
nall as much attraction for the eye of the small
boy as toy store on Broadway Or Sixth avenue.
Yet not the small boy alone, with crude and
visionary ideas. but the sage and mature adult
Will find world of fascination In some of
the remarkable and beautiful mechanical con-
trivances which have been lately introduced.
The ingenuity. neatness, and even the cheapness
OF some of these inventions are amazing. When
automatic mechanical effects were first brought
before the public in toys they were available
only by the children of very rich people, but
now they are within the range Of almost all
classes at a moderate price Still the purchasers
of elaborate toys imported from abroad and of
quaint and curious construction are limited IN
number. Noar's Ark, Jack -in-the-bOX q simple
tin horse, wOoly dog and the like will always
command the patronage Of the great mass of
children.
EVERYTHING FOR THE CHILDREN.
The throngs of women to be met with on 14th
street and along the west side of 9th avenue.
from 23rd street down, these days are less intent
upon purchases for themselves than for their
children, and the toy emporiums. consequently,
have the largest share of the patronage. A large
plate glass window on 9th avenue filled from
bottom to top with nothing but dolls. attracted
much more numerous crowd of spectators than
one near at hand filled with rich silk and satin
dress patterns. In the doll window were three
large specimens of the girls favorte TOW i'm cor-
geous array and labelled respectively Phyllis"
" IOlanthe" and Lady Jane" Mrs Langtry's
case was nowhere in attractiveness beside the
dolls.
In another store on the same avenue was ex-
hibitcd tableau entitled DOLLS departure for
Europe on the Serva" A miniature Seryia,
about five feet long, foated away from the
Cunard pier, her decks covered with dolls appar-
emily in high state of animation, while on the
pier was an equally large number dressed i'm
the gayest possible costumes, waving bouquets
OF flowers and handkerchiefs. Behind the fringe
nj Htrnr n,f o<1.r 49,.
hanson cabs, several trucks laden with bales OF
cotton and merchandise. and number of
laborers, with very black faces and very white
wool Oh the top of their heads, in the place where
the wool ought to grow, carrying sacks of flour
on their backs. The whole picture was evidently
intended to give life-like sketch of the depart
ure of a European steamer and it did not fall
very short OF accomplishing the purpose. In
another window huge fan of black and gold
was every few minutes drawn aside and revealed
various scenes in fairyland. the grotto of the
sylphs the abode of the fairy queen and the
transformation of the grotto into a bower of
bliss The costumes of the figures in this
tableau were tasteful and brilliant. In third
window was a tableau comprising Mother
Goose's faverites. including .:BaaBaa. Rack
Sheep" Jack and Gill; Peter Peter Pumkin
Eater. The Old Woman Under the HILL"
MARY Mary, Quite Contrary and ride a
White Horse to Banbury Cross"
CURIOUS MECHANICAL TOYS
A further tableau was one consisting Of two
Ethiopian figures. each standing about two feet
and half high. One (the male) plays flute
and the other the female) harp. Both are
gorgeously clad in gold and crimson silk and
velvet and wear enormous earrings. When
started in the usual way the male performer
draws up the flute to his capacious mouth. and
with fingers manipulating the keys plays an air
from Strauss, accompanied by his companion on
the harp. When the music is finshed-and it
is distinctly audible outside the big window.
where dense mass of ladies and children is
gathered-applause is given and the performers
DOW their heads graciOusly in return and after
a slight pause begin again with another couple
of bars OF music. This tableau was undoubtedly
the most popular OF any, and great seemed the
of the women and children who
stood In front of it all day long The price of
these figures was S113. Not far from here ar
the rear of the establishment. was large and
brilliant collection of both imported and do
nestle toys The mechanical ones among them
were singulary unique. One represented a scene
IN switzerland, and consisted of a variety of OBJ
!ects grouped together on box, about thirty
inches square on the surface, and about three
inches deep. In the front and occupying the
main part OF the space was lake OF real water,
in the center of which was an island crowned by
tiny chateau and on the lake a boat with a
youth and his lady love calmly sailing around.
began, mill wheel was set In motion a bell
suspended high in church steepIe rang out
merry peal. railroad train flashed across the
scene IN the background monk fell on his
knees In prayer at a easement which flew open,
tie gardener set to chopping wood and flock
Of sheep. followed by a shepherdess. moved
across green lawn. This elaborate contrivance
was for sale at 1888. Another of a similar
kind, but not so full of detail, represented a
rustic farmhouse beside flour mill; tank on
top OF the farmhouse supplied motive power to
the mill wheel and also to fountain in the yard
before the farmhouse. When the water was
turned on the mill wheel revoiyed and set the
hoppers going, while the fountain played vigor-
ously and sounds as from piano came through
the open windows OF the dwelling
THE PEACOCK AND DUCK.
Few things astOnshed the women and chill
dren more than the peacock. This, on being
duly wound up and placed on the floor, moved
forward slowly. but with all the grace and
dignity of the natural bird and as it moved it
calmly raised and expanded its tall until it's full
dimensions were exhibited, and then as calmly
folded 1t up again. while by way of showing its
superiority to the native and actual peacock
sounds of lively music came from it's inter or,
TIE swimming duck was another object of in
terest, but 1t rather Overdid the thing and
should have hpaD ponfaDt 70 aopal wtfbauk az,