The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-25
RATTLES FOR BABIES.
THEY, LIKE ATTIRE, REAFFECT.
ED BY FASHIONS.
Thousands of Varieties OF the Infants
Indispensable Toy = Prices Range
from Two Cents Up to Thirty-f five
Do11ars-Youn. Mans Confession.

''Give me baby's rattle, please"
said the young man bashfully, as he de-
posted dollar bill on the counter of a
Sixth avenue fancy store.
'Any particular kind or style" in
quired the salesman, indicating the
shelves back of him, on which appeared
hundreds and hundreds of articles
beautifully, wonderfully, queerly, fear
fully wrought.
''Great Jupiter! Is there more than
man, surveying the jumbled display
with every evidence of dismayed aston
ishment.
Just about one thousand" answered
the salesman, calmly. "There is hard
ly limit to the styles and the variety
OF materials now used for the baby's
rattles. The old tin rattle, probably as
sociated with your infancy, is still
made in the two familiar styles-one
shaped like a dim!nutive bass drum,
with the handle soldered to the rim,
the other shaped like section of
cylinder, headed at both ends, with a
whistle at the end Of the handle.
"Celluloid rattles are made in great
variety Of shapes, such as tambourines
and drums, with tiny bells attached.
Some of them are very cheap; others
are very expensive. Then there is
confusing variety of bone rattles and
combinations of bones and metal AS
for the rubber rattles and the variety of
styles we handle, there is no end of
them. Many rattles come in the shape
OF cloth figures, with handles to them,
the extended arms of the figures hold
Ing in each hand small bell or one Of
a pair of cymbals.
I'm musical rattles some beautiful
things are made. Usually they consist
of dolls head and body with a handle
attached. The body of the doll con-
tains musical box, and when the doll
is twisted around the handle some live
ly or soothing air designed to please the
infant ear is ground off. For the exer-
else of the baby's own musical talent
there is usually whistle in the handle.
Several kinds of musical rattles, with
the dolls gayly clad in bright colored
satins and silks, are really delightful
and interesting toys.
An Old-fashioned rattle whose pop-
ularity has survived the mutations of
time and the vicissitudes of fashion is
the light, pear-shaped article of basket
work. Inside of many of this type are
tiny sleigh bells. In some of the rat
ties made of a combination of materials
the metal used is aluminium, which is
employed because of it's extreme light
ness.
Just now fashion seems to decree
that the silver rattle shall reign-for
fashion dominates this nursery acces-
sorry as well as the baby's apparel-and
a number Of styles are to be had. Some
have ivory, pearl or celluloid rings,
with silver bells attached. Others are
made entirely of silver. Then the mar
ket is flooded with silver dumbbells and
silver trumpets, with silver bells at
tached. The prices of silver rattles
vary almost as much as the STYLES. and
some of them do not cost as much as
you might think. Gold rattles are also
made in some variety, but the predom-
mating style calls for pearl handle,
gold whistle at the end of the handle
and cluster of tiny gold bells attached
to the head"
what do babies rattles cost?" ven
tured the young man, visibly impressed
and awed by the salesman's discourse.
Anywhere from cents to $685." was
his reply. "The old-fashioned tin rat
tie fetches the minimum price, and the
most costly silver or gold rattle the
maximum. If you want something
finer
"Gee whiz!" murmured the young
man, breaking for the door, 81 guess
III let the baby's moth.- attend to this
deal"