Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24


nally been ornaments for ovens. The Church
OF Rome did Its best to suppress dolls. declar-
ing that they were children Of the devil, and in
the eighth century it forbade playing with them
declaring that such an amusement was destruct-
i've to the soul Dressed dolls often introduced
costumes from one country TO another. rs when
the homans conquered Gaul century ago
Paris tradesmen sent costumed dolls all over
the civilized world, in hen of fashion plates,
and people forwarded doll models Of them
selves TO Paris, for the purpose Of having gowns
made.
DOLL HAIR.
1t is commonly imagined that human hair ID
used for the finest dolls, but such is not the
case, unless it may be in very rare instances.
Mohair is utilized instead, being put through
certain preparatory processes end colored with
aniliue dyes. 1t looks and feels so much like
human hair that the mistake is not at all sur
prising.
ELECTRIC AMUsEMENrs.
Electricity has invaded the field OF toys. A
compact set Of apparatus for experiments in
static electricity. including Leyden jar, q gen.
orator, &c, is sold for s5. With this outfi,
and a small hand book that accompanies il anv
intelligent boy can learn a good deal about the
elements of electrical science incidentally to
amusing himself with the freaks of the myste-
rious fluid. For 81 can be purchased a CON-
piete eieetic motor and battery, the latter con-
sisting simply of disc of copper and disc OF
zinc, between which is put a piece Of blotting
paper containing sulphate OF copper. The
blottlng paper is moistened and the decompos-
Ing action of the sulphate of copper on the zinc
runs the motor for four hours. The pieces Of
blotting paper cost only ten cents a dozen, and
the motor-reckoued at one cat nower-is
strong enough to run small factory OF spools
and strings.
,r.-,>
INC '"iie sort oi oat1ery Is u'iiiZeo IN announcer
shape to supply current Of thirty-ive volts
through two electrodes which are held in the
hands, while a bell is kent ringing all Me time
BY successive INTERRUPTIONS of the circnit bv a
vibrating pendulum n ia n miniatnre renro-
duction of the electrical machines seen on the
streets. Another Modification Of the annaratus
is Tor electro plating with copper and silver,
ha;nr, s,,,ss'I;. elipn"s. anu am
as a small nlate of silver and anotber Of conner
If the boy who il SO fortunate as to own a toy
OF this sort desires to replace one of his mother
spoons, he dissoives the silver nitrate in water,
puts the solution IN glass vessel provided for
the purpose. and suspends in it from the
negative pole OF the battery the silver plate,
which Is called the "anode.' Then he hangs
from the positive wire the spoon, places the wet
pad OF biotting paper in the battery, and al
lows the process to perform itself. With
copper plating the method is similar.
ELECTRIC BELL OUTFIT.
The same principle is applied to an electric
bell outfit, which includes bell, seventy-fve
feet OF wire and battery. While excellent for
toy it can be utilized to practical advantage
In the household, whether for communication
between rooms or from the front door to the
kitchen. 1t Is beyond question that playthings
OF ihis description have an important educa-
ionai value. III youngster has any natural
bent In the direction of electrical science il is
apt to be developed. The remark applies
equally to mechanical toys that run by steam,
whlch are obtaining great popularity. These
include not only stationary engines. but also
locomotives built TO all intents and purposes
Ike real ones which run on tracks, and steam
boats OF all sizes and patterns.
MACHINES.
There is stationary engine. for example, that
runs a miniature machine lathe. on which real
work can be done on a small scale Such en-
gines. intended merely for toys. can be utilized
to run sewing machines. One pattern has two
furnaces.a big hv-wheel.a steam whistle to blow
at II and o'clock and a high chimney. 1t
represents the motive power of factory, and
the cost of it is only 50 so. Perhaps the most
remarkable feature of these mechanical toys is
their extreme cheapness. For so cents one can
buy steam launch with all the apparatus
necessary for running by real steam.
p,,yru1xcs THAT w,,,won
-. n,
'n'' arc "his Pte'ehu 10 no. seem 10
De IN such demand as formerly. Playthlngs
that are real and will work are wanted. Stoves
for the play room are made exactly after the
pattern of kitchen ranges and one such can he
bought for "a, together with all the utensils fo,
cookery and n wash boiler. Small Ioaves ~
bread can be baked in it and it provides all the
facilities for practical irving. broiling and boil
ing on a small scale Little safes for savings
for % cents. The can only he onened nv
maintain their nonulor;ty becanso tba, oro T.;