CHAPTER XVI. 



TOYS AND TRIFLES. 



Dolls. Magnetic toys. Quadrupeds and birds. Air hoops. Rattle-boxes. Cross-bows. Toy 

 guns. Teething rings. Battle-door. Picture books. Kites. Whistles. Needle cases. Watch 

 guards. Shawl pins. Hair clasps. Bat and parlor balls. Hair loop. Churches and cottages. 

 Vehicles. Boats. Hard compound toys. 



A VARIETY of toys are made already of the different gum-elas- 

 tic fabrics, and it is very evident that the list of them may be 

 extended almost indefinitely. A few of them only are described 

 in this work. 



The tissue is well adapted for kites ; the hollow ware for 

 rattle-boxes, dolls, balls, &c., as well as for the magnetic toys, 

 such as fishes, ducks, quadrupeds, &c. ; the drapery for some or- 

 namental articles, imitation grapes, &c. Of the importance of 

 these improvements in the extension of the manufacture of toys, 

 the wi'iter has nothing to say, but much might be said as 

 relates to economy in such as are made. It will be admitted 

 most certainly, that vast sums of money may be saved in the 

 aggregate, by the manufacture of toys from materials that will 

 cause them to last for years instead of a passing hour. It may 

 be remarked that gum-elastic toys, as regards form, finish, &c., 

 are, in general, or may be much more true to nature, uniform, 

 and complete than other toys commonly are ; and that where 

 oil colors are put upon the surface of the toys, when they 

 become defaced or soiled, as they generally will be before the 

 article receives the slightest injury in any other way, the color- 

 ing may all be removed by boiling in soap suds, and the toy be 

 left white, or recolored if desired. 



If the good maxim is applicable to toys, as to other 



-^^c?y. 



