The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-04
MEG HANICAL DEVICES FROM THE
LAND OF THE FRENCH.
Bicycles of All kinds-A Novelty in Mer-
observation-disclosures Dolls in YAM
kee Dress-The Useful Toy With Which
the Youngsters May Initiate the Doings
of Their Elders.
lChicago Inter Ocean. }


weeks Perhaps the boys and girls al
ready think they know what they would
like. Perhaps some of them even think
they know what they will receive, but a
great many of them will find themselves
pleasantly mistaken, for Santa Claus this
year has prepared several new things,
the like of which no boy or girl ever has
seen.
Few of those who visit the collections
of dolls and toys in the big department
stores between now and Christmas will
consider the immensely of the underta-
king of preparing for the Christmas ex-
hibitions. There will be no outward sign
to show that the special displays are oc-
eupying any more than their regular
space, SO systematically will the adjust
ments be made. A glimpse behind the
scenes, as it we're, is required in order to
realize that the Christmas preparations
were not made in day.
The big departments stores, for one
thing. soon will fill their windows with
Christmas displays. each striving to out
do its rivals in novelty and attractive
ness. One of the State street establish
ments is going to show the interior of a
doll theater, complete with scenery, deco
rations, electric lighting, doll performers
in costume. and doll audience in evening
dress. Now. this exquisite little produc-
tion's life of three weeks will be the re-
suit of the most careful work and plan
ming OF several months. The window
decorator who designed it combines the
qualities of artist and mechanical expert.
His labors for the whole display OF the
house began last July. The toy buyer for
the same house began to collect his Christ
mas goods last February. The.expense of
making the changes before and after the
display of the toys, plus the cost involved
in the window displays, will amount to
something between 1000 and $4,000.
MECHANICAL TOYS.
French inventiveness is on hand, as
usual, with a variety of mechanical toys of
the gayest kind. One daintily dressed
little doll holds in her hand mirror,
which she coquettishly raises and lowers,
showing unmistakable admiration of her
own pretty face during the time of her
look into the glass. The pedestal on
which the lady stands furnishes music
during her performance. Another piece
is cow that has most natural Glow, :"
and can be MIXED. The milk, of course
is previously poured into the cows back
through secret trap door. 1t is difficult
for papier-mache cows to give milk with
out some such assistance. A clown in
another toy holds companion clown by
string, long enough to let the prisoner
run around circle; the second clown
is badly frightened by the attentions of
a dog which refuses to let go of the seat
of his trousers. Again, an acrobat per-
forms most astonishing tricks at the top
of "a ladder. There are numbers of others
of similar nature. These droll little peo-
pie are not for every family. Most of
them are expensive. The acrobat, for in
stance, values himself at SIS.
But there is no scarcity of things with
in reach of every one. The French toy
and sell 1T for SO much less as really to
cause 1t to become a German toy In all
but origin. German rubber tire cabs,
made after American patterns, and rum
ming along the floor with all the reckless
ness of the cabs in real life, are sold for
As cents. The same article, while made
in France, cost 81. This is a single ex-
ample. Countless others are furnished by
walking elephants, railroad trains, and
other locomotive devices The Germans
also are most successful in the manufac.
ture of tin ships, built after American
patterns. Sailing ships are becoming az
Anticipated in toys as in the less real life
of commerce Steam is the proper caper,
and men -of-war ought to be equipped
with brass guns that can be fired off.
BIKES, OF COURSE.
France sends over couple of inexpen-
sive novelties in the shape of balloon
that ascends up a string-and bird
that flies along the same sort OF support.
An ice wagon has appeared stocked with
almost real ice, made of glass. The new
est electric Car is propelled by current
| from storage battery carried through the
rails. Bicycle toys are out in force--sin-
gle wheels, tandems, and trips" with
| little white -sweatered men and women
pushing the pedals. One of the female
| types in this class bears most oomical
resemblance to Lillian Russell.
| Children like things that have SEM
blanoe of usefulness, things that furnish
an opportunity to copy the work of their
elders. The semi utility type of toy, If
such it may be called, each year becomes
more elaborate. While frivolous little
climbing mol US and kicking donkeys
have approaching the zero mark in price,
the educstiye toy is improved, and, In
its improved form, made more expensive
OF course, specimens of the older and
cheaper always are to be found.
THE USEFUL TOY.
This year there is toy sewing machine