Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-12-16

are, but the wood is only a casing for wonder
full works, and the lamb must be life-size, and
able at least to frisk.
Among the more expensive toys, and one
which will give the small boy with a gun an
opportunity to prove himself a crack shot, is
the pigeon shooting device, which is an attrac-
tive novelty. Upon pole about eight feet in
height cross-bar is affixed, much after the
fashion of a parrots perch, except that the
cross-piece is mobile, and is made to swing
in circular direction by means of simple
arrangement of weights like those of a cuckoo
clock. At each end of the cross-bar is colored
cardboard pigeon, with Outspread wings. The
machinery is set in motion, and a well-directed
shot from toy gun knocks the bird down.
Miniature automobiles there are in plenty,
but the latest thing in the toy motor-car line
is run by electricity, and has, if you please,
a powerful electric headlight and movable
hood It is doubtful, however, If even so mag
nifcent plaything as this can have the at
traction for the up-to-date yOungster which
was provided by the little tin automobile
catastrophe which was the great novelty Of
last Christmas, and promises to be popular
again this year. This diminutive car held two
doll passengers, the chauffeur and his lady.
You wound it up, and it sped along the floor
right merrily for few yards, when suddenly
there was terrible shock-the catastrophe!
The car came to pieces, and the unfortunate &C.
cupants were hurled into the air and fell In
pitiful heaps beside the machine. Sometimes
the realism was so intense that the luckless
motorists fell under the shattered machine, and
then their fate was too horrible to dwell upon.
You picked up the pieces, and put them to-
gether and revived the doll corpses, and set
the car going again, and so on. You could
have the most exciting accidents all day long.
But automobiles are vieux jeu now, and even
steering balloons of the Santos Dumont type
no longer find favor with the toy manufac-
turers. This Christmas, the Petit Noel-who is
the French child's Santa Claus-wl scatter
toy aeroplanes along his path. To be sure,
they have to be suspended by a string from
the chandelier, but if the string is a black
thread it is hardly visible, and the illusion
quite successful.
Apropos of flying things, the top of that de-
nomination which figures among the novelties
is most fascinating affair, though why "top"
is not clear. A light metal disc made to repre-.
sent a bird or a butterfly, with wing-tips upon
a ring, is placed upon the floor. What appears
to be wand, finished with a rubber cup, 10
pressed against the center of the disc and
briskly withdrawn. The disc whirls rapidly
and rises in the air, flying of in various direc.
tions
Quite the most elaborate plaything. SO in.
geniously contrived as to make the figurines
"uACu COmpOSe IL Secu UeW1tCueU, III the uOll
orchestra Six musicians, including the leader
of the orchestra, are grouped upon a platform.
Each is provided with different instrument.
In the center of the platform is piano at
which monkey sits, which every now and
then stands up. but is promptly restored to
order by sharp rap on the head from the lead.
er's baton. Such toy as this, however, IL
only within reach Of the millionaire baby.
Another plaything for the wealthy child 10
the beautiful dolls house. most sumptuously
furnished, with electric Light is svssy ROOM