FOR THE LITTLE ONES

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 21 (Supplement)

FOR THE LITTLE ONES

OUR TWO PRIZE FIGHTERS, l^' ,; THE FIGHTING CLOTHES PEGS. - My Dear LittSe Friends,— With our champion Tom Heeney back home again the general conversation is about boxer* and fighting men of every description. While father and uncle are discussing boxing in the sitting room, it would be • great if you gave a little demonstration ■with, the fighting clothes- pegs that I'm going to tell you how to make. .Obtain two clothes pegs, and, with the aid of a bradawl bore three little holes in each peg; one not far from the top (to fix his arms to), the next just above the "legs," and the third one right at the toes. Cut.off the two "legs" of the peg, and fix into position by threading a piece of thin stiff wire through the little hole in: the "body_" of the peg, and finally through the hole in the second "leg." To stop the "legs" from coming off, the piece of wiro is bent at the ends. Make sure though that the legs work freely, for unless they do the toy will not work properly. ; ■' When both pegs have been treated thus, the arms can be made; Just two arms, not two each. For these thin pieces of wood the length of a clothes peg are used, and are about as thick as the "legs" of an ordinary clothes peg. They have a hole bored in each end, and one in the centre. The ends are fastened to the shoulder of the "body", in the same way as the "legs" were .fixed into position; it is essential, too, that the arms be free to move easily. ; When the boxers have thus been coin- . pleted, the final preparations are'made. A large pin is tied to a piece of strong black thread about 1 Sin long, and the free end of this is secured to the arm by threading it through the.middle hole and securing it with a knot. Another length of the same thread is tied to the other arm, and is led away to the point from which you are going to supervise the "fight.", , . '■:■ '- ■ ~; When you wish to stage a bout, fix the pin into the carpet, and take the longer piece of thread in your hands; pull the thread tight, and a gentle tug will set the two combatants leaping at each other in at truly ferocious manner." . . It is really curious to see the two pegs fighting each other, for if the light inv the room is not too bright, the 'thread ~,-,-,.;-■..-.,— , ...».-.•••, ~-. - . cannot be seen, and if the person who is ; ' the toy. pulls the thread ' ■ ■ • . jwith his hands behind his.back, ,■'.-' • _■.' JSO. - # iHi*~f the means by which the toy is ' -worked will be quite a mystery to fmJrAlJt*. «2?^^ : ' ; ' - spectators. - - ' . '' -