Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-07
Society,"
TVHE story of Teddy Bear, major domo

TIME story of Teddy Bear, major dome
of the nursery, guest of honor al
| Il bridge parties and owner of jeweled
| collars is not generally known to his
little playfellows and grown-up admirers.
Teddy's humble origin is in striking
contrast to his brilliant and world-re-
nowned career that has been crowded
with conquests quite enough to turn his
head But, like all truly great people,
his manner is modest and unassuming.
Inc first of his race was born In pic
turesaue village in Germany some hVe
years ago, his foster mother being
fiaxen-haired little girl, Fraulein Schmidt
who was very, very poor. One Christmas
eve fraulein's mother was disconsolate;
she hadn't enough money even to buy
little rosy-cheeked doll for Augusta, who
would surely expect such a gift from
Kris Kringle, but fortunately Frau
Schmidt possessed an inventive mind.
Rag babies Augusta had in plenty, but
a little bear made of brown flannel would
be surprise at least even If his eyes
were shoe buttons and the soles of his
feet made from scrap leather.
With native ingenuity Frau Schmidt
soon cut pattern of little bear from
brown flannel, sewed the pieces together
and filled him with bran -four A piece
of black cloth made presentable nose,
and altogether this creature was happy
looking specimen of his TRIBE.
On Christmas morning, when Augusta
awoke she found a queer little brown
creature in sitting posture under her
miniature Christmas tree that was decked
with birds and bright paper garlands her
mother had made. Her joy knew no
bounds, and Immediately she christened
him Teddy" prize of her nursery of rag
puppets.
Of course, Teddy had to go to school.
but he must be warmly clad for such
frosty weather. Frau Schmidt came to
the rescue and fitted Teddy with suitable
farments. These were knitted trousers,
a little coat and a Tam o'Shanter.
Naturally his advent at the village
school caused considerable excitement,
for nobodys doll could compare with this
wonderful Teddy bear, who went the
rounds of his admiring audience, resting
first on Gretchens arm then on johann
mas, and so on.
Soon the village children flocked to
Frau Schmidt's house to have her make
them Teddy bears just like Augustus,
they bringing varied materials with which
to make this new playfellow Soon, how
ever the thrifty frau realized that manu-
featuring Teddy bears was occupying too
much of her time and she concluded to
charge a very little for her services.
Being a toy making village, orders now
came to Frau Schmidt from factories not
only for Teddy bears made from f1annels,
but fur cloths, and these in turn were
dressed in the quaintest garb some in ma
tive costume, others typical of various oc-
equations.
There were wee little boy bears, middle
sized bears and big fellows almost the
size of live ones. These were shipped to
various countries, principally to America,
and everybody here is familiar with the
enthusiastic and lasting approval which
has been rendered to Teddy Bear.
Frau Schmidt no longer makes Teddy
bears, for her income is now a substantial
one, and the little girl for whom they
were made has graduated into knitting
class, but the original Teddy is among
her most priced possessions.