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Victorian London - Childhood - Toys - Toy Shops
TOYS AND THEIR TEACHING.
Lady Customer. "MY LITTLE BOY WISHES FOR A NOAH'S
ARK. HAVE YOU ONE?"
Toyman. "NO, M'UM, NO. WE'VE GIVEN UP KEEPING NOAH'S HARKS SINCE THE
SCHOOL BOARDS COME IN. THEY WAS CONSIDERED TOO DENOMINATIONAL, M'UM!"
Punch, December 7, 1878
TOYLAND.—As sure as ever Christmas draws near, the bazaars and shops of London
put on a festive appearance. Toys innumerable, and various in shapes, sizes, and
patterns, are thrust forward, so that kind-hearted uncles and aunts and
indulgent grannies, as well as thoughtful fathers and loving mothers, may see
what can be done to give pleasure to the little ones.
What a bewilderment of pretty things, to be sure! Here are
cups and saucers and tea-pots, that little girls may serve out tiny cups of tea
to thirsty companions, or to the family of dolls in the nursery. And what a lot
of dolls!
Shelves are piled up with boxes, and in all of them, wrapped
up in tissue-paper, are dolls. Baby dolls, and dolls dressed as brides; some of
wax, china, or rag. Here are cradles in which dolly may sleep, or in which she
shall be put when she is sent to bed without her supper when she has been
naughty; and perambulators, that her little mistress may give her a ride in
the park when she has been good. Skipping-ropes, battledores, tennis rackets,
and hoops by the dozen, for the girls. And what for the boys ? Lanterns with
green and red lights for boys who go stamping and puffing about the house, to be
used as signal lights; and engines, that they may shut off steam and put the
break on as they play at trains. Rocking-horses, that they may go riding as
gentlemen, with a gallop, gallop, gallop; or, as farmers, go to market with a
trot, trot, trot; or, as huntsmen, over imaginary fields and hedges after
invisible foxes, they may go a-hunting and a-hohoaing, ‘Tally Ho!’ Trumpets
and drums, that they may play soldiers; puzzles, to keep them quiet when
mother’s head aches; and bats and balls, bows and arrows, for outdoor play.
Also, elephants, Noah’s arks, Punch and Judy, and windmills, for the amusement
of the very little ones.
Such a host of toys are crowded into these shops, that I
expect those who come to buy are as puzzled as can be to know what to take home
for the children. Now, if you had been a little bird, able to see and know all
about uncle, you might have watched him at odd moments for some days past,
conning over a list of his nephews and nieces, and the toys which he thinks will
give them greatest pleasure, and perhaps wondering if he has got all their names
down. But now, when he comes to buy, he is face to face with such a fine display
of toys that lie is fairly at his wit’s end to know what really to buy. Toys
have improved so much since he was a boy; and he finds so many that he did not
expect to see, that his carefully prepared list becomes of no use, and he goes
diving here, there, and everywhere amongst the toys for what he can find. His
face is a very picture of pleasure as he picks a doll here, some Chinese
lanterns there; a bicycle-horse here, a drum there; a fully rigged ship for one
of his nephews, who, may be, wants to go off to sea one of these days; and a box
containing a regiment of bright-coated soldiers; and so on, until at last he
goes away with pockets and arms full, leaving the shopkeeper to send on what he
can’t carry. Well, uncle can manage very well for the boys, but what can he
know about presents for the girls? Dolls are not in his line; but wait till aunt
goes, and then we may expect just the doll.
It shall have flaxen hair, sparkling blue eyes which shall open or shut just as
you please, a charming face, and the very pinkest of pink toes. And then the
dress. Of course aunt knows it must be nicely dressed, and I expect she will
make it the daintiest of bride’s dresses, with tucks and flounces, lace and
ribbons, and a veil that shall reach to her feet, just showing the prettiest of
satin shoes. Then I suppose it must have a cream dress for lawn tennis, another
dress to receive visitors, and another when its little mistress takes it out
walking.
Well,
I hope you wi1l each have some good uncle or aunt, as well as father and mother,
who will visit Toyland for you, and bring you some toy that will give you
pleasure. But as the best way to enjoy a pleasure is to let others share it, so
I would like you to remember those who have no kind parents or uncles or aunts.
Dr. Stephenson, in his Children’s Home, has many such. Will you try to be the
kind uncle or aunt to those children, or to the little ones lying in pain in our
hospitals? Yes, did you say? Well, send in your toys. Dr. Stephenson and the
nurses at the hospitals can always find children to play with them.
Uncle Jonathan, Walks in and Around London, 1895 (3 ed.)