The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-10


all events it often happens that the doll rep
resents, both in face and costume, an older
person than the child who carries il. Some-
times dolls are grown-up young ladies.
Little girls almost always prefer girl dolls
BURIED WITH THE OWNERS.
Children in ancient times were commonly
buried with their dolls OF burned clay and
wood. The unearthing of such little men
ana women centuries after vard, long after
their former owners had turned to dust,
was long puzzle to aroh8oloRists, who ac-
counted for them by various theories, such
as that they had originally been ornaments
tor oVens The Church of Rome did its
best to suppress dolls, declaring that they
were children Of the devil, and in the eighth
century 1t forbade playing with them, de-
cIarlpg taat such an amusement was de-
struotive TO the soul. Dressed dolls often
introduced costomes from one country TO
another, as when the Romans conquered
daul. A century ago Paris tradesmen sent
costumed dolls all over the civilized world,
III lieu CT fashion plates, and people for
warded doll models of themselves to Paris,
for the purpose of having gowns made.
DOLL HAIR.
IL is commonly imagined that human
hair is used for the finest dolls, but such is
not the case, unless it may be IN very rare
instances. Mohair is utilized instead, be-
ing put through certain preparatory proc
esses and colored with aniline dyes. 1t
looks and fsels SO much like human hair
that the mistake is not at all surprising.
ELECTRO ADJUSTMENTS.
Electricity has invaded the field OF toys
A compact set of apparatus for experiments
in static electricity, including Leyden jar,
generator, etc. is sold for 50. With this
outfit and a small hand book that accom-
If fnfa
good deal about the elements of electrical
science, incidentally to amusing himself
with the freaks Of the mysterious fluid. For
81 can be purchased a complete electric
motor and battery, tho latter consisting
simply Of disk Of copper and disk of zinc,
between which is put piece of blotting
paper containing sulphste Of copper, The
plotting paper is molstened and the decom-
posing action OF the sulphats OF copper on
the zinc runs the motor for four hours. The
pieces of blotting paper cost only 10 cents a
dozen, and the motor-reckon9d at Loaf
power is strong enough to run a small fac
tory of spools and strings.
ELECTRo-PLATING.
The same sort OF battery is utilized in an
other shape to supply current of thirty
five volts through two electrodes which are
held in the hands, while bell is kept ring
ing all the time by successive interrupt
lions of the circuit by Il vibrating pendu-
lum. 1t is miniature reproduction of the
electrical machines seen on the streets. An
other modification of the apparatus is for
electro-plating with copper and silver, the
necessary copper sulphate and silver nitrate
being supplied in the shape of dry salts, as
well as a small plate Of silver aud another
of copper. Ii the boy who is so fortunate
as TO own toy Of this sort desires to re-
place one Of his mothers spoons, he dis
solves the silver nitrate In water. puts the
solution in a glass vessel provided for the
purpose, and suspends in it from the mega
tive pole of the battery the silver plate
which is called the "anods.n Then he
hangs from the positive wire the spoon,
places the wet pad Of blotting paper in the
battery, and allows the process to perform
itself. With copper plating the method IS
similar.
ELECTRIC BELL OUTFIT.
The same principle is applied to an cleo
trio bell outfit, which includes q bell, sew
enty-fiye feet of wire and a battery. While
excellent for toy il can be utilized to prac-
tical advantage In the household, whether
for communication between rooms or from
the front door to the kitchen. It ia beyond
question that playthings of this description
have an important educational value. II a
youngster has any natural bent in the dl-
rection Of electrical science it is apt TO be de-
veloped. The remark applies equally to
mechanical toys that run by steam. which
are obtaining great popularity. These in
clude not only stationary engines, but also
locomotives built to all lntents and pur-
poses like real ones which run on tracks,
and steamboats, Of all sizes and patterns.
MACHINES.
There is astationary engine, for example,
that runs miniature machine lathe, on
which real work can bee done on a small
scale. Such engines, intended merely for
toys, can be utilized to run SO " ing machines
One pattern has two furnaces, a big fly
wheel, steam whistle TO blow at II and
6 o'clock and high chimney, 1t represents
the motive power of factory. and the cost
Of IL is only So so. Perhaps the most re-
markable feature Of these mechanical toys
is their extreme cheapness. For so cents
one can buy a steam launch with all the
apparatus necessary for running by real
steam.
PLAYTHINGs THAT WILL WORK.
Toys that are "only pretend" do not seem
to be in such demand as formerly. Play
things 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 be bought for "a,
together with all the utensils for cookery
and wash boiler. Small loaves Of bread
can be baked in it and 1t provides all the
facilities for practical frying, brolling and
boiling on a small scale. Little safes for
savings banks, with actual combination
locks, are sold for rs cents. They can only
be opened by working the combination.
Magic lanterns maintain their popularity
because they are instructive and practical
as well as entertaining The yankee boy
likes to feel that he is dabbling in the scien
tific when he amuses himself.
CLoCKwoRK TOYS
are to be more popular than ever during
the holidays Of the coming winter. There
is gorgeously plumed cockatoo, perched
on gilded stand. which opens its beaE.
sings and MARBLES and also whistles popular
airs A doll with butterfly net catches
butterflies that hutter around. Another
figure is that of an old man who takes snuff
from a box, raises it to his nose, throws
back his head and sneezes violently. A
fashionably dressed lady fans herself, turns
and mods her head and at intervals reads a
French novel. The "man in the moon" is
an 8-day clock, with a funny face which
moves its mustache and rolls its eyes, while
a bee buzzes about the head. A clown holds
on bis nose another clown, who balances
himself there, turns around, takes Off his
hat aud bows, the first clown, meanwhile,
winking and moving his scalp. The "moon
MINSTREL shows clown sitting on a horn
Of the moon. He moves bis head and closes
his eyes while playing in a lite-like way on
a guitar. The moon also smiles and rolls
his eyes. Pieces Of this description usually
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