Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-02
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

A serious, looking gentleman wa:
standing by a counter in and IL
cent etore.
His fece were broad smile, however
which SEEMED Sd contrary to his norma
expression that pass2rsby stopped tt
find the reeson for 1t.
The gentleman was picking up, from
huge row of them. small gayly col
ored figures, and placing them one By
one on a slanted board.
When one Of the figures was put al
the top of the incline. it started Il
walk down of its own accord.
There were penguins. parrots, Dutch
boys and girls, and others, all con-
structed in a fashion absurdly lifelikC
yet equally unlifelike.
Their bodies were bel shaped, anc
Their legs fitted inside on a hinge
Their feet were monstrous, and sc
whitt'cd on the bottom that the figures
would have a somewhat unequal footing
When p aced on the incline, as they
wer, now being placed by the serious
appearing gentleman with the smile or
bis fSCe, the figures proceeded to amble
Gown IN various fashions.
Some started off as II in a race, but
shortly began to hitch and slide, and te
twist around, and finally to stop.
Others ret out imms diately, and
walked as cleverly as you please to the
very end of the board, where they tum-
blsd down In, short order.
Perhaps the fantastically colorec
perguins, or, rather, burlesques Of pen.
gums, carried of the honors OF thu
dav, although the gentleman himself
seemcd to prefer the green parrots.
X !: x
These absuroit es came from a foreign
l1nd, and sold here for ten cent;
apiece.
We heard afterward that many /,
grown-up gathering has been split int
great laughter by the comical antics o
these simple toys.
There are even said to be collectors o
them. men and women, whose mind
and hearts are still young. who havt
their favorites, and will match them II
races with any corners.
A distinguished business woman. /
may be said. might have been seer
cheering her own faYorite on to victory
while a group Of persons sat ant
sprawled on the floor watching the out
come of the contest.
These bits Of wood happen to beloni
to the tyce OF toys which appeal TO .neI
and women as we'll as to children. In
deed. it is a question whether the aver
age CnllQ WOuIQ nave as MUCH EIluSc
ment with them as do those who ma.
purchase the walkers for them.
AS in real life, the race is not Away
to the swift. but often depends on goot
fortune. the exact way in which tn
clumsy little wooden feet react to tn
surface of the board and to the turning
from side to side which result
1T is a good thing, is II not" aske'
busy woman. that there are suel
small things in the world which cal
give so much pleasure for so httl
money!"
Novelty undoubtedly is partly respon
sible in this case. We watched for SOM
time while the distinguished serious
faced man was busy selecting a hal
dozen good walkers from the mass
Almost every man and woman VIII
went down that aisle stopped TO watcl
the moving fgurines. And every maj
stopped to buv one or more.
Each wore a rather silly grin, as 1
| caught in some action of which he wa
slightly ashamed. but from which h
did not intend to be budged, no matte
how severe was the criticism leveled a
him.
AS a matter of truth, few persons VIII
| looked at the bright puppets had an
idea Of criticism in their mind. only o