The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-17
CHRISTMAS TOYS.

Ihe toy market mas attraction at any
turn OF the year. The youthful buyer
with much or little money burning In
his pocket, finds great enjoyment in the
presence of the tradesman's store.
But when the holidays come, when the
product of years thought and cunning
artifice is spread out in attractive display
then IL the child's mind like a weather
cock In a gale-now firmly balanced and
at rest on this jumping jack, and now on
this penny kicker that acts as both bank
and deposition. The dealer practices the
art OF display and 1t Is his great sale
agent. He ransacks the market and
boards between seasons In by places, and
when the holiday gatos are opened ne
spreads out the toy packages, dusts and
blows (is the papers) anu prepares for
the harvest.
On the banks OF the Rhine, in the Tyrol,
In the peasant strong holds from the
Seine to the Danube, and even in plain
New Jersey, the jaoknifs ana the man,
the lathe and the small boy have COM
bined ingenuity and industry to the end
that the youth and the maid In this
"giad time" may find an equivalent for
boarded pennies, that stocking feet may
take on ounion-llke knobs and that
transplapted trees coming direct from
the forest, may produce fruit IN abrn-
dance and Immediately.
Tbs dealer complains that "novelties"
are few this season, but the majority OF
boys and girls will find toys and things
enough - in greater abundance than
money to buy them. The child that
finds dray full OF presents on Christ
mas morning, may be difficult to please,
but the less favored will and no lack OF
attractions.
To the credit of the toy makers it must
be SAID that their prod actions this year
have more "prsctical turn" than some
earlier inventions. The object Is, or ap-
pears to be. to amuse :snd to instruct at
the same time. Noah Ark is still a toy
ana teacher OF rain bow law, but 1t. the
ark, has fallen into disuse:snd some dis
repute because, forsooth, the ark Is often
20 fragile In structure that after one flood
day OF racket 1t crumbles like q metro
politan tenement house, to the fatal in
Jury, perhaps of the animals committed
10 It's care.
Although the green, blue and crimson
animals found room enough In the ark on
heir arrival. yet 10 often impossible 10
'eturn them to the same close quarters
without removing the elephants trunk
,r the camePs hump. Further, the buff
,olored bear is so much like the purple
'ow in outline, and the red giraffe is 80
much like tho snuff coIored rhinoceros
hat the study OF natural history requires
he guidance of an expert.
But the toy product II ample without
he ark and its contents. The business |
10Y may play at any mercantile trade and |
20 man In various kinds of traffic. He
nay buy a butchers etali alle complete,
uppled with the stock in trade. Hams,
quarters of beef and mutton, links Of
ausage and small game hang from hooks
sady for the cleaver, also provided, and
he buyer. The cutting block and the
Gales are in their places, and a clerk In
white frock and a red nose is thrown
n to help the business along. This is a
reat convenience, for every man who
egins q new business needs helper who
Understands the business and can keep
hop in his absence.
But we cannot live by butchers shops
lone. We must have grocery stores and
pothecary shops. There are provided
nd can be had for money, all prepared
'r trade. What does 1t matter II sand be
! the grocery store bin Labelled "sug-
." Has not sand been found in
igar bins before? And whose business
1t II the apothecsry's bottle. OF medi-
nc contain only high colored water?
III not their curative qualities be equal
, a thousand "real medicines" and q
-est deal safer to administer
While we have a butchers stall and q
-ocery store, We shall not be III Gin
der to pstronizo the apothecary shop)
ntil we have eaten and we cannot dine
ithout a Kitchen and cook. Here is
Ie kitchen and the cook. The range Ia
aiy, the glow OF the iire is seen; the