The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
Interesting Scenes Where Things for
the Little Folks Are on Sale I'm
Indianapo
NOVELTIES ON EXHIBITION
THERE ARE ELECTRIC RAILROADS
FOR THE CHILDREN.
Also There Can BE Secured the Sub
marine Boat and other Toys
Dolls and other Things.


1t is but month until Christmas. and the
toy sellers of Indianapolis are once more
preparing for their annual avalanche OF
holiday business. Buying for the holiday
season has already been in progress to
some extent during the last fortnight. but
with the first December days this week the
dealers expect the real. true Christmas en-
thusiasm to assert itself. il always does
when people begin 10 realize that the glad
yuletide is almost upon them. Everything
is in readiness for the Christmas trade in
all of the big toy shops, and the toy sellers,
who have even now caught the Christmas
spirit. are declaring that never before have
such novel and delightful plsythings been
offered for sale in America. Carl Meier, the
buyer of toys for Charles Mayer & Co,
who spent the greater part OF last spring
among the toymakers of Germany, says
that more new ideas in toys Of all descrip-
tons have developed since last Christmas
than ever before in a single year. And not
only have the famous toy manufacturers
of Germany been active in turning out en-
tirely new playthings, but the American
toymakers have also come TO the front
with an unusual number OF splendid new
games and mechanical amusements for
children.
All Of the toy stores and the children's
sections in the big department establish
ments have presented interesting scenes
during the last week. for everywhere great
boxs, imported from the old country or
brought on from the East. have been opened
and their contents placed on sale for the
first time. And as il is always necessary
for the toy sellers to become familiar with
the workings of their new wares the ad-
vent of new playthings have furnished a
great deal of fun among the clerks in the
various establishments. The selling of the
jolly Christmas wares, which is sure TO
settle down into an irksome duty later on
during the days and nights of busy holi-
day trade is at present a welcome novelty
in the life of the big stores, and the clerks
have been getting as much pleasure out of
the new toys as have the buyers who are
picturing in their minds how pleased little
Willie" or little Katie" will be when pre-
sented with such delicious surprises on
Christmas morning.
NOVEL TOYS.
Among the most novel OF all the new toys
are the flying birds and the 'Santos-Du-
mont airships," from Paris. These ingeni-
Gus playthings were recently invented by
Frenchman who seems to have struck upon
the right idea-in a miniature way-for the
solving of the aerial navigation problem.
There are no youngsters, or oldsters.
either, for that matter. who can fail to find
a lot of amusement in these little up-to-
date contrivances, which sail aloft. after
being wound up. Tapping little white wings
and darting hither and thither about the
room until they either run down" or
bump into something which sends them
sprawling in true airship style. They are
just as likely as not TO bump into the head
of the fellow who starts them on their
journey If he isn't energetic in keeping out
of their way, but, of course, that's part OF
the game and half the fun Of the thing.
Another absolute novelty in mechanical
toys is a grotesque clown that. when
wound up in the vicinity OF his left ribs.
clasps his hands together over his knees,
and. budding up in the manner that cir
Gus performer does when he leaps over the
elephants, turns a series OF somersaults
across the room. This toy is the invention
Of a German genius who has been working
upon its development for long time as
earnestly as IL the success OF his under
taking meant much TO the scientific world
instead of mere amusement to innumerable
little folks. And doubtless the inventor.
now that the somersault child OF his brain
has become an actually, is as happy as IL
he had perfected a perpetual motion APP
paratus. There is also monkey that
turns somersaults in the same skillful man
ner and a clown that walks on his hands in
the regular equilibrist fashion. both OF
these toys coming from the same manufac-
turing concern in Germany that has given
to the admiring world the wonderful SOM
ersault clown.
But if the French are the best makers OF
aerial toys and the Germans are the most
proficient producers OF acrobatic figures,
the Americans are. without doubt, at the
head of all manufacturers OF miniature
railroads. with all their accompaniments.
The wonderful little locomotives, speeding
along tiny rails with train of cars behind
them, became popular playthings several
years ago, and each new Christmas season
has seen some Improvement and additional
feature to this delightful toy. until this sea-
son the climax has been reached. II there
is anything missing from the little railroad
outfits this year it would take an expert
to discover what that thing is. Louis
MUIR, who is in charge of the most extern
sive toy department in the city. and who
probably knows more about children's play
things than anybody else in Indianapolis.
says that in all of his experience he has
never seen any toys so complete in every
detail as the the marvellous little railroads
that have been sent out for this years
holiday trade by the Eastern toy makers.
An outfit" the clerks call IL for lack
OF a more suitable term. consists OF a loco
motive and train OF several passenger
coaches. a baggage coach. a depot, with all
its accessories. a number OF little way
stations. couple of fiagmen at surface
crossings" a water tank. a tunnel. into
which the train. in its lightning journey
around the room on the bright little rails.
plunges boldly and soon energies at an
other end a trestle work with steep down
grade bevond and finally A rOundnOuSo