The Street Toy.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 266, 19 November 1901, Page 4

The Street Toy.

NOVEL STEP BY THE PARIS CHIEF OF POLICE. Paris, Oet. 2. Parisians were not a little surprised this aftornoou to seo displayed on the walls of the capital a large poster inviting designs for original and ingenious toys, intended to bo sold on the boulevards during the Christmas and New York holidays. The competition is meant to stimulate the inventive faculties of those who provide the trifles which are so eagerly bought up while they are now and amusing. For some time, however, it has been remarked that the stock-in-trade of the street vendor showed a sorry lack of novelty. Not only Parisians, hut visitors from the provinces, have grown tired of the mechanical policeman, tho soldier, the street sweeper, and tho lumping rabbit. Even the Boor and the Englishman, the dum-dum bullet, and the Santos Dumont have grown stale, and in default of something really interesting tho street vendor has fallen back on objectionably notions, mostly made in Germany, which could never bo placed in the hands of children. In the presence of such a regrettable state of affairs IM. Lepine, the paternal chief of police, came to the rescue. M. Lepine is a terror to evil-doers, and the merchant of tho pavement holds him in righteous dread. But he has just disclosed the kindly side of his nature by organising this toy competition, and the regulations attached to it bear his signature. No article that is already known will be admitted to tho competition, and the entrants must be all of French nationality. Prizes in money, diplomas and medals in gold, silver, and bronze will bo awarded to those who display the greatest originality and ingenuity. Tho toys must be cheap : that is to say, they may range in price from a halfpenny to half-a-crown ; and they must be prepared with tho object of selling on the streets at Christmas and New Year as presents. Tho competing toys must be lodged with the authorities not later than November 20, and, after examination by a jury, which is at liberty to request tho inventor to make a reproduction of tho toy before them, the articles will be exhibited to the public for a fortnight, and then will be distributed among tho children of certain Paris schools and dispensaries. Parisians are charmed with M. Lepine’s happy idea. The street vendors are already congratulating themselves and each other on the golden harvest in view, and the children, who will benefit more than anyono else by the Prefect’s competition, are delighted at the prospect of the novelties that Santa Claus will bring them this Christinas.