Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-07
INDESTRUCTIBLE TOYS
A NOVELTY DOLL THAT WILL
FLOAT IN THE BATH TUB.
Brass Ones That Can't Be Broken With
All Sorts of Hard Treat
ment.

Il am sure Reginald is going to be
great mechanical engineer" said a fond
mother recently. There is nothing in the
house which he has not taken apart"
Unfortunately, this investigating habit is
also a destructive one. If the grown-up
Reginald fails to attain distinction as an
engineer, he will still retain the reputation
of a breaker not only of images, but also
of all things visible. 1t is for children of
his type that parents of limited means are
seeking for indestructible toys.
Importers and manufacturers of toys
nearly all have families, and practical ex-
perience makes them fully realize the inn
portance of meeting the demands for indie
structible dolls and toys. The fad of chill
dren, generally, for having dollies in their
bath tubs, and trying to teach swimming
to heavy sawdust doll and steam-face
massage to a one, has led to the pro-
duction of the floating doll and of several
varieties of really indestructible dolls.
The floating doll is an imported article,
and is really beautiful, with it's exqusitely
formed limbs body and face even to the
dlmples in the baby knees and elbows The
doatlng doll reconciles many child to it's
bath, and some children need reconciliation
to 1T, as was illustrated in prominent
New York church recently when little
Margaret Aurelia slipped from the side of
the font, where she and her baby brother
were about to be baptized, and hid under
a pew, whence she had to be dragged
out and back to the font, yelling, Il don't
want to be washed!' all the way
Babies. from three months to six years
of age love a floating doll in the bath. AS
this species of doll is a novelty, pleasure
is IN store for many a child this Christmas
The doll is of aluminium and is colored and
made in such way that it can be knocked
about in any sort of fashion and still float
serenely on top of the water. 1t is made
in all sizes and is dressed and undressed
and frequently comes in tub of it's own
with folding bath room and washstand
all fitted up with towels, combs, brushes
mirrors and every accessory for the toilet
OF baby, even to the nursing bottle and
ivory ring with it's rubber tip.
Another indestructible doll is of brass or
copper, made like the floating doll. only
fashioned with movable heads and limbs
The color of the skin is perfect, and the
rippleS Of the short metal hair artistic
Composition dolls Of the indestructible
variety share honors with these metal nov
elites, grow in every size and are adorned
in garments suitable to either high low
life. What these composition dolls are
made of it is impossible to tell. but they
are pretty and valuable. since one will last
an indefinite time. OF course, nearly every
child who has one will try to find out what
1t is made Of. How is a child to learn any
other way?" asks modern mothers, plain
lively, when this destructive element in
their offspring is called to their attention.
So some baby may yet be able to tell the
the component parts of it's system.
The endeavor to provide unbreakable toys
has not ended with dolls. All the midway
delights have been provided for this Christ
mas, and the ''loop-the-loop," the shoot
the chute" the Eiffel tower. the Ferris
wheel, and all the other whirligigs which
make a child yell with delight are made
of the strongest metal contrived so that it
would require good deal Of force and
much trouble to destroy them.
Dolls are provided with vehicles of every
description known to the world. One would
learn much about the amusements of dis
tant peoples by looking over the array of
wheeled vehicles of all sizes made for and
occupied by dolls attired in the costumes of
the countries to which their carriages be-
long. These run the gauntlet from a first
class automobile to garbage wagon and
a Russian droSky to Chinese jinrickShaw.
All are made to wear well and to stand the
rough handling of careless owners.
Nor is the mercenary spirit of the age I'M
represented among the Christmas toys.
Dolls have strong and well-furnished houses
built for them and also shops of every char
acter likely to be congenial and profitable
to doll. from a millinery to drug store,
laundry to candy shop. Needless to say,
the latter is a favorite among children.
They we'll know that no parent will refuse
to fill the jars that stand upon the shelves
and counters with dainties.
If imperishable dolls and their belongings
promise lasting delight at Christmas-tide.
the cheap novelty of an inflated rubber doll
will be no less appreciated. These have gro
tesaue faces. which lie in shriveled wrin-
kles until concealed tube is filed with air.
the Sunday Comic Immediately take
shape, dressed in costumes to match the
characters, made from tissue paper, bits of
cotton batting and little wool.