Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-14

MECHANICAL WONDERS TO AMUsE THE CHILDREN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES AND STEAM ENaINEs-
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ON WHICH BABY CAN
PLAY A TUNE-A GREAT REDUCTION IN DOLLS.
Santa Claus toy factory! At this time of the
year round-trip tickets are issued literally to
children to visit this famous place via the
dream air line. In this way the parents and the
old folks generally are kept posted as to what
is going OH in this important industry. As
rule toys do not enter very much into the life
OF person who has passed the bounds of child
mood, and yet so much ingenuity and novelty
has been directed to the manufacture CT toys
that when a new one is brought into the house
old and young alike share in its enjoyment.
The love of children for toys is very much like
their alleged interest in the circus. 1t is shared
equally by all members of the family. When
the little ones begin to dream about Santa
Claus pack the parents know that it is time to
make their annual visit to the toy store. Not
that they always contine their visits to Christ
mas time. but it is then that the important
visits are made, the results of which are
memorable in the history of the little lives for
the next year. There is always something new
In toy store 1t seems as if tho limit of in
yentlon had been reached long ago. But such
is not the case.
NOVELTIES IN TOYS.
Every year there are novelties. Electricity
and steam lend their aid to the makers of new
toys. One of the new toys, as a STAR reporter
found by visit to large toy establishment in
this city, is a tiny electric battery, which runs
wheel of bright colors. The battery is very
easily kept IN order and an ingenious boy can
put 1t to number of uses. Then there are
steam engine exactly like a real engine, with
whistle, safety valve, patent cutoff, &c. The
a1ot
which are then whirled along on a track The
steam fire engine which throws q genuine
stream OF water is probably familiar, and pain
fully so, to a number of mothers whose ambi-
tious offspring have qucnched imaginary fires
IN the furniture OF the house and in the gar
ments Of any one who happened to come
within reach.
MUSIC AND NOISE.
1t is impossible to give any detailed descrip-
ton OF the mechanical toys. The variety is as
bewildering as the ingenuity is astonishing.
Here is top which plays tune when it spins
and there Is a horn upon which tune is played
by simply blowing through the tube while
turning a button at one side. Classed with
these under the heading of things capable of
making noise are whole regiments OF drums
OF all sizes, and whistles and horns and other
toys which children prize and the elderly aunt
and the nervous sister simply detest. A boy
can secure a full uniform in toy store, which
Is decorated with as much gold lace and shin
ing metal as the uniforms of the showiest mill
TIA ofhcer. Then he can procure a whole
arsenal OF weapons and is prepared for the
stern realities of military life, such as street
parades, interspersed with raids on cats and
dogs.
THE DOLLS
The yearnings Of girl life are not forgotten
and there is a large and varied stock Of dolls to
choose from. In fact dolls are manufactured
now in such large quantities that they are
really cheap. Tall aristocratic wax dolls, which
few years ago could only be bought by the
rich are now so cheap as to be within the
reach OF the comparatively poor. By the level
ing competition of modern times the palace
doll has been brought down to the cottage.
Dolls are still made principally in Europe, not
because the American artists are not equal to a
doll, but because the cheap labor of Europe can
make dolls at a much lower rate than that at
which they can be produced in this country.
Ii is generally supposed that there can be
nothing new in dolls. A doll ia doll and what
more can the deft hands of the most skilled in
ventor make out of doll. But every year de-
velops the possibilities that lie concealed in the
anatomy of doll.
DoUBLE-FACED AFFAIR.
This year the novelty in the doll world is a
double-faced doll You pull string and it
shows a face all awry with the contortions
which accompanies the act of crying At the
same time the doll, to show that the emotion
expressed in the face is not all external, weeps
audibly. But presto! change, another string is
pulled, the crying ceases, the face breaks into
smiles and the doll says in tone of great con-
tentment mini" There are doll carriages in
any number to give the favorite children of lit
tie mistresses an airing. These are richly up-
holstered in plush with satin parasols suspended
over the cushioned seat. Everything that can
contribute to the happiness of doll existence is
supplied in the greatest abundance. Doll fur
niture OF every description and doll houses are
always interesting to children. They are fac
Smiles Of the modern house, both as to the in
terror and the exterior, and each detail is per-
feet, even down to folding bod.
ON WHEELS.
In the stores doll carriages are generally
found in the same vicinity with carts and
wagons and there is a great variety of the
latter. There are also tricyces and bicycles
and velocipedes and everything Of this char
acter which serves to interest and amuse the
little ones while out of DOORS new style of
wagon is the blackboard, which will enable the
children to keep up with the prevailing fash
ion.
What He Was Good For.
Texas Siftings.
Amelia--Ta IL raallv xrua <h,k ,,.,,