The times., 1899-12-24


Guns, WarshIps. and AmbuInRees-
High on closet shelves. deep in bureau
drawers and in every conceivable nook.
hidden from the prying eyes or the little
| ones. lie concealed the Christmas toys
which viii gladden. young hearts tomor-
row Tonight these vast stores OF Juvenile
treasures which have been secretly accu-
muiated for weeks will be taken from their
hiding places by fond parents and loving
friends and placed on the Christmas trees
/ or in the thousands OF stockings waiting TO
| receive them.
Last night the toy shops OF the city
| capitulated after a siege which they have
galiantly withstood for many weeks. and
shelves almost empty greeted the late
| stroller who chanced to be in the novelty
| departments Of any OF the large stores. In
| conversation with a Times reporter late
/ last night the toy buyer OF a large depart
ment store stated that the Christmas rush
4 this year had been almost unprecedented
| He said that in his experience covering
/ long period he had never known OF such q
\ general buying OF toys by ali classes II
1 people. The tendency he said. .of fhe
/ manufacturers OF children's toys for Ehe
\ past five years has been 20 provide SONS
/ device which viii amuse anil az the same.
! time instruct.
| Children are no longer satisfied he
| continued. with the cheap ard uOusensicaI
things in the toy line OF a few years ago.
i but now demand that. though ia miniature
| their toys must have the essential quali-
/ ties OF the genuine article. Tais has been
brought about continued he by the de-
mauds OF the children themselves as welI
as by the advanced ideas Of the mauufac-
tureTs. The only reason that ] can assign
! for this change is that the child today is
/ better acquainted with what is going on in
/ the world than was the child OF several
/ years ago. OF course. their JOY at the aD-
prCach Of Christmas OF their love Of toys
/ has net diminished. but has changed 10 q
/ desire for something of a more complicated
/ and interesting nature.
| Growth OF Toy-Mnking
The present height Of perfection which
has been reached by the toy manufacturers
| has only been accomplished within the past
/ half decade. Before that tine there were
/ comparatively few manufacturers engaged
/ in the enterprise Of toy-makiug and there
was none Of prominence in the United
States but today the business has so grown
| that thousands 81 dollars are invested
where before there were only as many hun
/ dreds."
/ In the large departmental stores this
/ year the space given to the exhibition Of
| Children's toys was sufficient evidence OF
| the growing demand for these articles.
/ The influence Of the Spanish-Am war
was shown in many of the things InanufaC-
Jured to amuse the little folk As a result
/ there We're placed on the market
/ raDid-dre guns in miniature; forts with
guns mounted upon disappearing ear
/ riages. Red Cross ambulance trains with
all the appliances OF a field hospital and
| numerous other devices Of warfare. in
/ fact. everything used in a modern war has
/ been initiated in miniature for the amuse-
ment and instruction of the children
/ With each succeeding year something
| new in toys is brought out and the perfec-
/ tiOn and improvements in mechanical de-
/ vices is reproduced as rapidly as made.
/ An example OF this is IN the use Of hot
/ air as a motive power for toy engines in
/ stead of steam. In this departure an ele-
/ ment of danger is removed, besides the
/ device viii last longer and from the ease
| with which it is operated viii absorb the
attention of the small boy 10 a greater eX-
/ tent. Another toy operated mechanically
| which made its appearance this year is the
I battieship, modelled after those of the navy
/ It is full rugged and mounted with the eX-
/ act complement of guns as found iu its
! larger prototype. This instructive toy is
/ propelled by clockwOrk. and, when af0al,
I makes quite an imposing appearance.
| \ Mysterious Device.
/ A mysterious device which has received
/ a large share Of attention this year has
been produced by an enterprising inventor.
who employs a concealed magnet to secure
results which appear phenomenal. The toy
| in question consists Of a round metal box
| about three inches in diameter, which, to
/ all appearances, is perfectly innOcent OK
producing anything Of startling nature.
/ Enclosed in this innocent looking con
/ trivauce is "a magnet, operated by clock
work which, when button is pressed.
/ causes it 10 revolve directly beneath the
top With this toy go several small steel
/ forms Of different animals, among them
| being horses. cows, snakes and monkeys
| These when placed upon the polished
metal disk. necessarily follow the magnet
/ revolving beneath. The effect is quite sur
/ prisiug at drst glance, as there IS no sound
/ or movement which would indicate tne
| source of the apparent animation Of the
moving figures
A small ice cream freezer. with
capacity OF about an ordinary saucerful is
| the latest addition to the household ef-
/ fects of he little girls doll outfit The
/ freezer Will actually make ice cream. and
| the entire stock of the only house selling
| them in the city was disposed OF several
weeks ago
/ New Games Galore
| Scores of new games have made their
/ appearance this season. CrokOuoIe boards
are as popular as ever and sold at a greatly
reduced price owing to the rights Of the
uateutee having expired A new crokonole
board which has already become a warm
favorite with the lovers OF games, is so ar
ranged that twelve other games may be
played upon il. The demand for this IL
] veution has been immense.
/ An innovation iu the doll department OF
several large toy emporiums was fash
ionabIe tailoring establishment, where the
/ elite Of doll society were furnished with
/ entire wardr0bes without being subjected
| 10 the iudigniJy Of spraWling around IN
scant attire. while the homemade ouJht
was being r5modeIed. There dolls could be
! gowned iu the latest Partisan fashion as
soon as purchased. BY next Christmas ex-
perrs i'm chiIdreu's toys say they expect 10
/ See yoy automobiles and cOnJrivances op-
Grated by liquid air which they state. 1t
will be necessary to provide 10 order 10
keep pace with the precoc-ous tends@ @cies
! of the rising generation