The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-04

that performs actual work. AT S24 there
is an extensive machine shop, with
lathes, drills and all sorts of things. The
new piano has real sharps and flats, an
innovation. New doll cooking sets are
made in genuine enamel ware, and doll
baths to closely initiate porcelain. Waffle
bakers are shown that are capable OF
cooking real waffies. Printing presses
are included in the tendency; they are
more complete than ever before, while
enamel doll furniture, which may ba
classed among the educative toys is al
ready attracting attention. Brass bed
leads are shown in greater assortment
than ever before. Toy engine manufac-
ture has progressed far enough to have
measure .of toy engine power. The unit
is one rat power. A ten-rat power en-
CINE is capable of pretty strong work.
They grade down to the weakness of
three-mouse-power
Magic lanterns, too, are rising in stand
ing. The rickety little box of a dozen
years ago is seldom called for now;
In subjects Of slides, too, change Of
taste is taking place. The old Humpty-
Dumpty style of picture is being replaced
for better or for worse by geographical
and other subjects. Another depart
ment affected by the spirit of improve
ment is that of China. A child's tea set
is now made to sell at $3.50, and others
will follow at still higher rates. These
are both French and German. and are
decidedly dainty.
A HOUSE MERRY-GO-ROUN
An entirely new house amusement is
furnished this season by merry go
round, operated by the foot power of the
rider Thescircle described by the horses Is
about twelve feet in diameter. 1t makes
q jolly amusement-but apropos of hobby
horses, query. Why is it, in this rush
of improvement of children's things, that
the artist of hobby horses refuses to
give up that peculiarly shaped head that
has been characteristic of his creatures
since the hobby horse that came out of
the ark9
| One of the seasons hits in the toy furni-
ture department. bids fair to be d doll
go-cart. Children's trucks patterned af-
| ter those used in ''hustling'' barrels
around, are another novelty. Hook and
ladder trucks are now provided with
regular" steering gear.
| Music boxes promises to be popular
presents among those who have as much
as $50 to squander on one article. The
beauty of music box as present Is
| that you can make 1t do for whole
family. The prevailing pattern of the
| instrument is that which is operated by
revolving disk. Strangely enough,
American manufacturers seem to equal
the German competitors products in this
| line, at third cost less.
A NEW EITHER.
| Zithers fitted to be played by number
| instead OF note, always have been IA
vorite with children. This season brings
in either which, in facility of playing,
out simplifies them all. The music is
placed upon the sounding board, directly
under the strings, obviating the slightest
possible difficulty in finding the place.
The simplicity of the whole arrangement
is carried to an astonishing degree. The
new and improved either of good size
and tone can be bought for less than 81.
1t is brand new wrinkle, and already
is making a hit.
| Dolls, the dear old standbys of every
nursery since the one established by
Adam and Eve, seem to be offered this
year in greater variety and numbers than
ever. Thousands of gross of them arc in
the stock of each of the big stores The
storage space occupied by dolls alone is
something enormous.
| A concern has been organized for the
sole purpose of making American dresses
for dolls imported from Germany. Its
products surpass anything of the sort
that has been shown. French doll dres.
sing is brilliant, dainty: but as rule
unnatural. German work in that direc-
| iton is coarse and himsy. The new COLL
dressing company is fitting the little
creatures with costumes as tasteful and
YET as tine as one could wish. Silks, sat
! ms, and trimmings are combined in a
way to afford pleasure even to an adult
who appreciates good feminine dressing;
while to child these creations must
be nothing short of an elysian dream.
In conclusion it may be noted that the
buyer for one Of the biggest houses esti-
mates Chicago's annual expenditure for
Christmas toys at over 81 900, 900.
s-------.---------