The Pleasantville press., 1914-07-18

----------- m ! q you ap-
proach the desk
and ask the young woman what one of
the drawings is all about.
Look at it closely and tell me what
you think 1t is." she replies.
You look. long and earnestly and
then your face lights up with under
standing. "Oh, l see," you exclaim,
Its kitchen In domestic science
school and all those queer looking fig
ures are frying pans hanging on the
wall"
No, indeed" she replies scornfully.
That's toy race track and the fig
ures are horses, not dishes. It's clear,
very clear, l am sure"
And, of course, after that blunder
you are forced to acknowledge that
she Is a very superior young person.
You also learn that she is Miss Alice
Purinton, an assistant examiner In
the patent office, and that it Is her
duty to pass upon the patentability of
children's toys.
Hundreds of drawings and speci-
fications of every toy imaginable find
their way to her desk daily and this
material must explain exactly how
the toys are made and operated. 1t
is absolutely necessary that the toys
work as the specifications states and
any skilled mechanic Is supposed to
be able to make them. II the de-
scription of certain toy is not lucid
enough for Miss Purinton to derive
clear understanding of the mechan-
ism model must be submitted. The
submission of models is being dis
couraged, however, as they only &C
cumulate in the patent office, collect
ing dust and taking up space.
Some of the toy figures which pass
through her hands have even got the
nicotine habit. according to Miss Pur-
inton.
With the aid of fuse which burns
inside the toy the little manikin ap-
pears to be smoking cigarette, cigar
or pipe and his painted face wears a
smile Of contentment as he seeming
ly puffs the smoke rings into the air.
ANY toy which has a noise remote
ly connected with 1t Is pretty sure to
please kiddies. Film bursters, which
are form of popgun In which roll
OF paper Is exploded producing q
sound, are always popular at children's
prices. l examine any amount of toys
In the shape of new-fangled horns and
whistles.
Children derive a great deal of
amusement from buzzes and whirii-
gigs. These gaily painted toys are
made to revolve rapidly by means of a
string and spindle.
electrical and mechanical trains
which traverse q complicated railroad
are sure to please boys. l go over a
number of specifications of this kind
and the more difficult time l have of
putting the different parts together
mentally the more firmly convinced
am that it will particularly please
the boys.
Kitchen cabinets and various
pieces of doll furniture please the lit
tie girls nowadays. Some of the new
kitchen cabinet toys are as complete
as those made for grown-ups. Atten-
ton is even paid to the details, such
as spice canisters. with the names
of the ingredients marked on each
small can In tiny black letters-cin-
namon, cloves. allspice, etc. These
toys are educational In a domestic
science way
For the boys and girls who plan
to become merchants when they grow
up there are stores, with complete
lines of goods. There are shoe stores
which, after being set up, display
row after row of shoe boxes, with the
ladder reaching up to the top shelf,
benches for the customers and even
the foot rests and mirrors In which
one can view his new purchase.
"The toy grocery stores contain
everything from cans of soup to bar
rels of apples, and the small butcher
shops everything in the line of arti-
fetal meat
THE educational games are always
popular, at least with the parents.
With the aid of these the youngsters
can learn arithmetic, reading and
writing and take pleasure in the
learning, for 1t is being learned in
the light of play, not work, and not
within the confines of the school
ROOM"