The Oregon scout., April 24, 1886, Image 8

at
THE TOY-MAKERS.
XJfo Amonc tlio Ingenious Artlsnns
of tho TliurliiRlnn Forest Tho AVny
They AVorlc nnd J,lvo A HrnnoU
of German Industry of Special
Interest to Americans.
A Hoidolsbcrg correspondent of The
Thiladdphia Times writes: A half-
day's journoy from Heidelberg brings
tbo traveler into a rccion as full of
quaint interest and strange sights as
any in Germany, tho land of toys, tho
Sonncbcrg district of tho Thuringian
forest. This world apart in the uni
verso of industry is known very well,
indeed, to a certain class of Americans,
tho toy-importers, better than to tho im
porters of any other nation. Tho
American purchasers arc tho only ones
who. como to tho Thuringian forest to
giro orders on tho spot, "compose"
now dolls out of half a dozen different
sorts, order toys by tho hundred gross,
nnd vanish to return liko tho swallows
at the end of a year. As
long ago as 187G wo Americans bought
in this small forest nest toys to tlio
valuo of nearly half a million dollars,
and in 1880 our purchases had Increas
ed to nearly a million dollars, and yet
how few of us, when wo buy a crying
doll for a Christmas present, a wooly
dog, a noddling donkey, a "farm-yard,"
or any of tho thousand to3's mado of
wood, papier macho, or wax, think of
tlio strango littlo world among tho
Thuringian hills whonco our familiar
objects come.
Back at tlio beginning of the fourteenth
century tho littlo town of Sonncbcrg
had won for itself municipal rights and
sent largo quaintics of wooden wares to
tho Nurnborg jahmarket, had a guild
pi its Orrn beforo tho closo of tho cen
tury, and continued for more than four
hundred years tlio gradual development
oflho toy-making branch which has
mado its productions known in all tho
civilized countries of tho world from
Jiussiu, whither Souneberg sends
Easter oaiblenis by tho thousand gross,
to California, whero Sonncbcrg is re
presented upon every Christmas tree.
With tlio oponing of our own century
camo a now era for Sonnoborg when a
workingman adapted papier macho to
Iho toy trado. Until then it had been
used in Paris for ornaments nnd in tho
monastrics for figures of tlio saints.
Henceforward it was to tako up its
abodo in tho nursery and play-room.
This, invention revolutionized the trade
of Sonneborg. Anyone could do tho
work required by tlio now material,
whoroas tho uso of tho matcrinls beforo
employed had required skill and there
fore an apprenticeship. By degrees the
whole population, from tho decropit
great grandfather to tho tiny primary
school child was pressed into tho sor
vico, and to-day tlio only skilled work
men aro thoso who turn or carvo legs
for toy animals or tho heads of juniping
jacks, and tho carpenters who build liny
wooden stables, theaters, kitchens,
shops, etc., such as the children of our
wealthier American families delight in.
As years wont by tho faotjry system
bogan to creep into Sonnoborg as overy
whoro else. Tho first factory met witli
a popular demonstration of so vigorous
a character in tho revolutionary year
1818 that tlio proprietor was obliged to
nbandon his enterprise, but presontly
tho crying doll was introduced, and from
that momont tho hattlo against tho fac
tory system was lost. The crying doll
became tho staple production of Sonno
borg, and its production employs almost
as many workers as that of all other
toys taken together.
These aro tho two groat changes llvo
centuries hnvo wrought in tho toy dyn
asty of Sonnoborg, tho use of papiur
macho and tlio introduction of crying
dolls, and thoro is small likelihood of
other important changes in tho near
future. Tlio merchants are said to have
no love for their business whatovor, the
toy manufacturers aro conservative bo
fond belief, and tho workingman havo
no money with which to experiment.
Thoru is no industrial museum in tho
district, and tho manufacturers oppose
tho foundation of one beeauso each is
fcfrald that tlio others may appropriate
his models. The solitary manufacturer
who has patented a toy or two and pro
posed somo wholesale improvements of
tcchniquo is so cordially hated that ho
employs a private watchman for his
establishment, and does not vonturo out
alono at night. Yet within tho narrow
limits of its methods of production
Sonnoborg has tho most marvelous ar
ray of varied toys. Thin there aro sample-rooms
with 12,000 to 18,000 sample
oys, and many a Sonnoborg drummer
carries in his samplo-books 3,000 to
4,000 pictures and photographs of tho
roduetions of his lirm or firms. Thoro
Is a sad side, too, to tho diversity; for
It is all tho product of tlio workor.s, of
whoso poverty no ono who has not vis
ited tho town can form an adequate
Idea. Yet theso poor workers have no
protection for their right to thoir own
Inventions, nnd the only remuneration
for their ingenuity consists in tho in
creased number of ordors during tho
wocks or months in which tho inven
tion remains a novelty. Nor is thoro
wry art or technical school in tho d.s
trlet. Every worker must learn as ho
may and tako tho consoquoncos.
Thu workers aro of two-sorts, the fac
tory hands and tho "musters,"' who
work at homo with tho help of an om
ployo or two. nnd of thoir own faminus.
Tho position of the master varies littlo
from that of tho othor workmon. Tito
auster occupies a cottage and has a po
tato patch on tho steepv stony hillside.
But tho cottago and potato patch aro
usually heavily mortgaged, and in or
der to pay interest and taxes tho family
usually rent the best rooms and live in
tho most wrqtchcd closct-liko dens.
The quarter of Sonncbcrg whero tho
workers livo is tlio oldest of tho city.
After tlio Hussites had destroyed tho
city tho inhabitants aro said to havo
taken rcfugo in Gruntlial, a long gorge
under tho protection of the castle. Shut
in by steep hillsides tho Gruntlial, af
fords scarce room enough for two nar
row rows of houses, so that many of
them aro built directly into tho hillside.
Tho dwelling usually consists of a sleep
ing and a living room, both low-cciicd
and heated winter and summer in order
to dry tho wares which stand nbout tho
stove upon shelves and boards. Tlio
living-room, at onco kitchen, workshop,
and nursery, is usually light. But tho
sleeping-room is rarely ventilated and
still more rarely ventilated. It contains
exactly room enough lor two or three
beds so closo together that no one can
pass between them. At night the oc
cupant of the furthest must climb over
tlio intervening ones. Hero two, three,
or four persons occupy each bed. The
poverty and crowding aro horrible, tho
want of dwellings increasing as tlio fac
tory system draws more and moro
hands to tho town. And theso pens aro
expensive, loo; tlio mosi wreicneti oi
them, witli but ono habitablo room,
costs from 50 to 80 marks, and for the
usual sleeping and living room together
tlio workingman pays from 80 to 160
marks. Tho cleanliness of such dwell
ings may readily be imagined, -i no
week's sweeping and sweeping and
scrubbing is confined to Saturday after
noon, when tho wares aro packed ready
to bo taken to tho merchants. The
sleeping-room rarely shares tho benefit
of tho scrubbing. Tlio food of theso un
fortunates consists of potatoes eaten in
tho morning witli a cup of cliickory as
lunch with bread. For dinner, pota
toes with :v herring or somo fat from
tho butcher. The poorest of all go
without herring and tako salt liquor in
which it is packed! Meat is seldom
eaten. In Gruntlial, whero tho popula
tion is the thickest, there are few butch
ers, and theso few find no custom.
Down below in tho town of Sonnoborg
itself the butchers live near together
and kill much and often. At four
o cloeii colloo is taken nram or llio
wator in which tlio butcher has boiled
sausage, which theso unfortunates call
sausage soup. This I hey get tor noin-
ng, or almost nothing, and they cut
slices of potato into il
Tho toy business docs not continuo
unbrokonly throughout tho year.
From the oud of November to tho be
ginning oi iwareii almost compieie
want of work prevails. Theso winter
monthes aro terrible. Tho poor littlo
savings aro gono soon after Christmas,
and tlio family must starve along upon
tho potatoes that havo been hoarded or
fall into tho elutolics of the usurer.
Tho first ordors that havo como in aro
from tho American dealers, who semi
soon after Christmas, because tho
staplo articles which they order, doll
heads or littlo dolls and other such
tilings, aro cheapest then, and at tho
tinio of tho Loipsio Easter fair tlio Yan-
keo purchasers appear themselves.
Tho season of wholesalo export is from
Inly 1 to Oct, 1, when it readies per-
lps seven-fold tho height of tho win
ter export. This brief season must be
mado tho most of by tlio unfortunate
workers if tho family maintenance for
tho year is to bo earned at all, and their
efforts surpass all description, l aney
irking month after month oighteon
to twenty hours, day in, day out, Sun
day and Monday, in such a dwelling,
with such food, and working on Iriday
tho whole n'glit through in order to
lave Saturdnj's task ready for delivery!
After tho Loipsio autumn fa'.r, when
tho urgent orders come, and American
telegrams for Christmas goods literally
cliaso each other along tho cables,
overy human being who can sot at work
is pressed into tho sorvlco of tho toy
industry. Whole families work all
through tho night, and tho heat and
dust and foul air must havo boon felt
to bo appreciated, which reign su
premo hero, whero the tiro is keep burn
ing day and night to dry tlio wares,
where a dozen human beings crouch In
a low-ceiled pen, and at night a cheap
petroleum lamp adds its fumes to tlio
whole.
Tho consequoncos of such a way of
living aro inevitable. In sp'tto of tho
pure forest air that pours down from
tho heights through overy lano nnd
byway, thoso unhappy people aro palo
and feeble; they stoop and cough, havo
Hut narrow chests, and aro small of
stature. Such is tho race toy-makers
in tho Thuringian forest. In tho peas
ant district, but a short distance tlionco,
a hardy race of Thurlngians cultivates
tho soil; but their loan faces, a dry,
bloodless skin, betoken tho wretched
nourishment mid overwork. When tho
children aro a few weeks old they aro
fed with gouts' milk ami bread crusts,
and when a child orlos a rag tilled with
crumbs and sugar is thrust into its
mouth to bo suckod, sleoping and wak
ing. The prevailing cause of death is
consumption for Uiom) who survive tho
lifter nth year, and Ilia percentage oi
deaths of children uml-jr six months of
ago is 2'.'.
To make mutters worso prices aro
steadily fallmir and employers and eni-
ployos' uro luiauimoui iu tho asaortlou
that since 1873 tho prices of tho coarser,
cheaper sorts of toys have fallen 50 per
cent. Tho orders have increased, but
only tho burden of toil has kept paco
with them. Twice as much is produced
as of old and scarcely the old remuner
ation is received.
It is said with truth that one-half of
tho world docs not know how the other
half lives. How littlo wo who buy our
children German toys know of tlio
agony which tlio race for cheapness,
tho pressure of tlio world's competition,
tho struggle to hold tlio American
market, despite the American tariff,
has cost tho men and women and littlo
children who make them.
Carl Dunder's Boy Jake.
"Dot Shako plays somo more games
on me again," said Mr. Dtindcr as ho
entered tlio Central Station yesterday.
"You knows Shako?"
"Seems as if 1 had heard of him."
"Shako vhus a shmart boy. Dot time
ho goes to Toledo he trades watches mit
a confidence man und gels ono twico as
big as his. One time lie goes to Chi
cago und doan' get lost nor meet somo
bunko men."
"What has ho been doing now?'
"Veil. Shako sees some tracks in dor
snow, und no comes to me und says
maybe somo colored bhontleman would
liko to steal our shiekciip. He goes oop
mit a second-hand store und buys a big
bear-trap, und i help him set harpy Iho
dor coop. Dot vhas all right. If somo
colored shcntloinan get in dot trap ho
vhas a gonor. I got oudt und look at
nun nun ju mill rutij iinu wv j is .j
"I sec."
"Wo keep dot trap set two days, und
nopody comes aroundt. Last night
Shako goes out mit der back yard und
sets liro to somo straw in a box. Eaf
crypotly begin to calls 'lire!' und a big
policeman sliumps oafcr der alley fence
und comes down on dot trap. I ncafcr
hear such awful yells in all my life. It
vhas like two hundred lions scrcamin'
out in der night after boof. It takes
four men to pry him oudt, und ho limps
aroundt and shwears und says ho can
lick two tousand men mit ono hand tied
peliind him. he says Shako put oop
dot tiro to make him shump oafer, und
dot he shall tako him to shall for twenty
years. We look aroundt for dot boy,
but ho vhas gono. I guess ho goes by
his undo in Spriugwolls. Sergeant, I
j liko to ask you if Shako haf to go in a
! law-suit?"
"I don't think so."
"Dot policeman says I vhas in der
plot to murder him; can ho send mo to
shall?"
"No."
"Dot makes mo feel tickled liko a
siiild. All last night I dreams of cow
boys und shaiis und supremo courts,
und I guess dot Shako doan' shlec-p a
wink. I goes down aftor him dis after
noon, Sergeant!"
"Well."
"Ylion I get Shako homo I shall tell
him to como down cellar und see if
somo colored sliontloinan doan' steal
our potatoes! You tell dot officer on
dot beat if he hear somo awful whoops
und shrieks und yells to walk right on.
It vhas mo und Shake lookiu' for dor
colored shcntlemans mit a strap!"
Detroit Free Press.
A Texas Horso Ranch.
In Grayson county, live miles from
Whitesboro, there is a horse ranch con
taining ten thousand acres, on which
can be found all modern improvements,
tho most expensive and valuable, be
sides 800 to 1,000 head of horses, princi
pally high grado IVrcliorons; tho re
mainder are thoroughbred Percheron
stallions and mares. A largo number
of lino jacks and several hundred head
of thoroughbred cattle mo also kept on
tho ranch.
This ranch is owned by II. B. San
born, probably tho wealthiest man in
this stale, and it is his ambition to muko
it eventually tho finest and most ex
pensive thoroughbred horso farm in tho
world.
Tho ranch has been established about
oight years, and during the ontiro timo
every outlay necessary to its rapid ad
vancement 'has been willingly made, un
til tho enormous amount of over $1500,
000 has been spent upon it. Tlio dwel
lings, barns, fences, in fact everything
on the pluoe, havo boon finished with a
viow to making It a magnificent coun
try residence, ami Mr. Sanborn, who at
present resides in Houston, intends
making it his future homo.
Enclosures of this size aro generally
regarded as a nuisance in a thickly set
tled farming country such as Grayson,
but such is not tlio case in this instance,
as Mr. Sanborn purchases largo quan
tities of food stuffs from tho peoplo
around him. always paying the highest
market prioe.
Ho regards his neighbors as frionds,
and thoy consider him as a neighbor,
and not as an intrudor.
Mr. Sanborn spends-a groat doal of
time on his horso farm, and always
makes it pleasant for thoso visiting
hint, whether they como on business or
merely to look over the great establish
ment. Besides this ranch, Mr. Sanborn
owns a half interest in a 350,000 aero
oattlu ranch situated in tho Pan Handle
and a 15,000 aei) runoh in Clay County
whioh ho intends converting hit j ii
grain field. Ho was originally a fanner,
and doos not desire to bo known as a
"cattle king;" nor docs ho assume the
airs of foroign nrlstoorata, Taas
I varm and HancX.
LIFE STUDIES.
ltaroy, the horse-trainer, never mar
ried, u redness never makes a mis
take
Needles were invented by a man. It
scans needless to add that he died bald
aded. The altitudinous femalo hat is doing
s-:ly as much to keep folks away
from tho theatres as Sam Small's ser
mons. Men in high places arc getting to bo
drcadf till' reckless. Senator Van Wyck
not only wears paper collars, but glories
in tlio fact-
"The Great Convcrscrs" is the title
of a book by Dr. Matthews. It docs
beat all how even the best of men will
jibe and jeer at tho women.
A woman in Florida claims to bo tho
mother of forty-two children. To a dis
interested party it would seem as though
she ought to know.
The Cliincso languago is mado up of
words of one syllable, tho stove pipo
not having as yet been introduced into
tlio Flowery Kingdom.
It is said that nothing can prevent
Anna Dickinson from returning to tlio
stage. Another reason wliy kissing in
public should be declared unconstitu
tional. One by one tho old landmarks aro
passing away. Manistee, Mich., has
an orchestra that docs not contain a
bald-headed man. It is composed oi
young women.
It lias been discovered that Gcorgo
Washington could play tho fiddle.
Folks who havo never bolicvcd that
George was much of a gun will now be
gin to change their minds.
It now takes but six minutes to send
a cablo message to London and get an
answer, but it still takes an ollicc-boy
something over two hours to jro round
tlio corner and rottirn witli a plumber.
Tho man who years ago vowed that
ho would never shavo or get his hair
cut until certain uncertain political
things happened seems to bo giving tho
fool-killer plenty of outdoor exetciso
this season.
A good imitation of celluloid is now
being mado from Irish potatoes. Noth
ing but tlio apparent indifference of
science stands in tho way of something
indestructible being evolved from tho
modern beefsteak.
Opera glasses arc coming into uso in
city churches. This is a sensible move.
Thoro is no reason why a woman with
weak eyes shouldn't havo as much right
to keep posted on tho delicate shades
in bonnet trimmings as anybody.
An old lady at Mcriden, Conn., has
just been jugged for alleged insanity,
simply beeauso sho seemed to have an
unchangeable belief that lawyers wero
wicked. Queer people, those Nutmog
gers. A crazj' man in Pawtucket started
out tho other day determined to kiss
every woman ho mot on tho street.
His mind is still feeble, but ho seems to
havo more sense about some things,
though he is not near so handsonio as ho
was a mouth ago.
A woman cannot get up in public
and say ten words beforo a dozen peo
ple, but sho can get up beforo ono man
if lie happens to bo her husband and
sho can say moro in ten minutes than a
book-worm could find in a collogo
library in two years of constant search.
A flea is a lively and sportive littlo
jreaturo so littlo, in fact, that it re
quires a good eye and a quick sight to
catch moro than ono glinipso of him in
a lifetime; but mathematical science
feels itself a toddling infant when it
undertakes to figure up and explain
how big it would bo if it could bo
photographed with its mouth opon.
Lige Brown in Chicaqo Ledger.
Tho Craze for Names.
With tho most part of Tliackoray's
oarly work thero was no choico of sign
ing Ids namo. In thoso days noithor
editors nor tlio public had that un
reasoning craze for names which ap
parently possesses them to-day.
"Words, words, words," said Hamlet,
when asked what ho was reading;
"names, names, names, names," ho
might answer to-day. For really to
day, at any rate witli our periodical
literature, whethor it is to bo called
journalism or not, thero seems not only
to bo much virtue in a namo, but overy
virtue By journalism ono genorally
understands the current literature of
tho dally papers, and tlio idea of lifting
tho veil of secrecy already thin enough
in nil conscience whieli surrounds tho
workers iu this busy and important field.
Is to us, wo frankly own, an appalling
ono. Such a custom would not only, it
seems to us, cruelly hamper tho work
man's hands, but would also open a ter
ribly wido floor to those sweet influences,
eo dangerous to moot, so hard to resist,
which aro over on tho watch to guide
the bolts of Jovo. Somo rudo men of
the baser sort thero have been to assert
that this door is oven now not kept so
jealously shut as it slyulil bo; but this
is, of course, a libel. Paris, however,
can furnish somo idea of tlio result of
throwing open tho shrinos of journalism
to tlio profane crowd. Thero tho pa
pers, some of them at least, bristle
with nanios; there certainly publicity
doos not always impose that chock on
rash and inconvenient writing whioh ita
votaries claim for its primo virtue:
I while thoro, unless truth in her passugo
' over tho channel sutlers a soa chango
' Indeed, those sweet intluotieos wo spoko
of aro most undisgulsodly rampant
ilacmillan's Magaxint,
THE
Union Milling Co.'s
TUUL ItOJLiUCR FJLOWU
TAKES THE LEAD
Wherever It has been U led.
For Salo by all tlio Leading Sealers
Everywhere.
Geo. WnionT,
President.
W. T. VTnioirr.
Cashier.
AL
OF
UNION,
OREGON.
Docs a General Bankm? Business. Buys
and sells exchange, and discounts com
mercial paper.
Collections carefully attended to, nnd
promptly reported.
COMMERCIAL
Livery '
Orrosnu Centennial Hotel.
JOHN S. ELIOTT,
PROPRIETOR.
Having furnished this old nnd popular
hostelry with ample room, plenty ot feed,
good hostlers nnd new buggies, is better
prepared than ever to nccommodato cus
tomers. My terms aro reasonable.
GOVE TANNERY.
Adam Cuosbman, PnorniEToa.
Has now on hand nnd for sale tho best of
HARNESS, LADIGO,
UPPER and
LACE LEATHER.
SnEEP SKINS, ETC.
POKTL.AIV PRICES
Paid for Hides nnd Pelts.
WALLA WALLA
BEER DEPOT.
Corner Mniii nnd A Streets, Union.
E.MILLER, - - Proprietor.
Keeps always on hand tho finest brands ot
WINES,
LIQUORS,
nnd CIGARS.
Tlio very best Lnger nnd Bock Beer in
tho market, at 25 cunts a quart. Beer and
lunch 25 cents.
A fine billiard table for tho nccommodn
tion of customers. Drop in nnd bo socia
ble. RAILROAD
FEED AND LIVERY STABLE
Near tho Court House.
A. F. Benson, PnoraiETon.
Union, Oregon,
Pino turnouts and first-clnss rigs for tho
accommodation of tho public generally.
Conveyances for commercial men n spc
cinlty. STho accommodations for feed cannot
be excelled in tlio valley. Terms reasonable.
SMOKE OUR
"PUNCH"
Best Havana Filled
5 Five Cent Cigar. 5
Jones Bros., agents, Union.
E. COLLI NSKY & CO.
SMOKE THE
"ESTRELLA"
KEY WEST Imported Havana Cigar.
NONE BETTER.
Tonsorial Rooms
Two doora south of Jones Bros.' store,
Union, Oregon.
J. M. Johnson,
PnoriucTon.
Hair cutting, shaving and shampooing
done neatly and in tho best tstyle.
CITY v MAT : MARKET
Main Street, Union, Oregon.
Bknson Bno.'s Pnoriuirroas.
Keep constantly on hand
BEEF, PORK, VEAL. MUTTON, SAU
SAGE, HAMS, LARD, ETC
CEMTBNNIAL : HOTEL.
Uuion, Oregon.
Dan. F. Mooiie, PiiorniBTOii.
A well etockud bar in connection with
the house, and nouo but tho beat bruud
of liquor and cig iru kept.
LAItUK SAMt'LK ROOMS for tho ac
inmodation ol commercial travelers.
HOWL AND & LLOYD
Manufacturers ot
FURNITURE,
Main Street, Union, Ore.
Keep constnntly on hnnd a large supply
of Parlor nnd Bed Boom sets, Bedding,
Desks, OUico Furniture, etc.
Upholstering Hone in tlio Itott Stylo
Lounges, Mnttresscs, and all kinds ot
Furniture mado to order.
PATRONAGE SOLICITED.
PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY!
Corner Main nnd C Streets, Union.
All kinds of photographic work done in a.
superior manner, nnd nccording
to tho latest nnd most
approved methods.
Views of residencss Men on appli
cation. 23?"AH work warranted to givo satisfac
tion. JONES BllO'S, Props.
Unexcelled
JT" enn snvo From 150 to $100 on tho
JL OU purcluuo of uu Instrument by
buyiujr throusrh
IV. T. 1VKIGIIT, Agent. Union, Ogn.
Buy the Haywartl
NADE
Fire Extinguisher.
Everybody should havo them. Men,
women or children enn uso thorn. Thou
sands of dollars worth of property saved
every day. They don't freeze, aro not in
jurious to flesh or fabric, and nro nlwnys
ready. You cannot afford to bo without
them.
G. J. Becht, Gen. Agent, 12-t Mnrket St.,
San Francisco, Cal. Cook & Dwight, Agts.,
La Grande, Oregon.
Corner of Main and B streets. Union.
-Dealers in-
GROCERIES,
CANNED GOODS,
VARIETY AND FANCY GOODS,
TOBACCO
AND
CIGARS
CENTS FmiNISHING GOODS.
WATCHES,
CLOCKS,
and JEWELRY,
Glassware, Musical Instruments, Pioturs
FranieB nnd Pictures, Moulding,
Bird Cngca, Baby Car
riages, etc.,
Candies and Nuts,
Stationary, School Books, PeriodicaLy
Novels, etc., of every description.
ALL KINDS OF FRESH FRUITS
AlwuyB on hand.
0
W'e keep constantly on hand everythlnj
usually kept in a first class variety store.
SauOrdera ironi any part oi th country
will be promptly attsnded to.
MASON HnZS5uifctfHeS2H;
HAMLIN teggil
Organs j .hiiS
r,os
are KirTfH
JONES BRO S,