INVENTOR OF 'BILLY OWLET"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1970, 29 January 1914, Page 2

INVENTOR OF 'BILLY OWLET"

' TIJK XKW TOV. if it is not possible to achieve success I in oiio branch of art or business, it is | as well to try and do. so in another, f This at least was what led to success in | the case of Mrs. Sanderson, tho young I widow of a Dorsetshire clergyman, wlio | found herself suddeulv at a loss how best | to bring'up lier child.''' i "For some time," she said,. "I tried j to write for the papers,- but, that is slow work at first at all events, as you know, and does not bring in anything like a good living. So at last a suggestion c-amo to ma to try whether it .was not possible to invent some new species of toy. I. knew, that if I made a hit in this lino I would do well, because there is always room .for new toys, and 1 the buyers from the largo shops are alwuvs on tho lookout i'or such things, so I resolved to bend all my energies to this object. "The only plan I could think of was to write a story and introduce my idea into it—that is, if I could get- hold of a. good idea, for 1 knew that would be tho best' way hi jjyr case at least to make my thoughts clear to myself, and with this objeqt in view I set- to work to think-out a plot and an idea for some new thing. My thoughts began to shape themselves towards the inventing' c>t' same new species of doll, for teddy bears were gotting played out, and so were gollywogs, for, though no doubt many of tlscm will still bo sold, they have bflcomo old-fashioned:forms by this .time, and so something new might bs welcomed. , "Turning I h<j idea over in my mind, I went down to stay in Oxfordshire in a rectory which stood near an old,-church, and, being obsessed with tho' plan of trying to. succeed in somo. sucfi way, I found 1 could not sleep well. Qno night in particular £ was. very wakeful, and was leaning out of the window—for it was a hot night last summer—when i the old church clock struck midnight, j "Just-at that moment an owl . flew j out of -tower of tho church, wliero no doubt bo had made his home, aud gave- a wild, unearthly screech, for a moment I was startled, but then it occurred to me that perhaps the idea j wanted su badly might somehow be connected with the bird 1 had hoard just before, and I wondered if an owl could be turned to account in aiiy way. Gradually the idea matured in my mind, and J I shaped a-story of which mi ovvlot was I the hero, and during: the writing of | it the idea of the 'Billy Owlet,' as my toy is called, became clear in my own J mind. { "Next morning i did my b&st to draw j my idea on paper, and,., as my powers ill this branch of art are not great--, I had 'Some tr'onblo to make my design perfect, as I bud coiiccived it; but at last it was finished to ray own satisfaction, and tho next thing to bo dono was to try and get the idea seen and approved in the right- quarters. "Gradually I found out tho names of several largo makers to whom tho bu.y ers apply when they want to sec nsw toys, .ami one of these thought so well of my idea that ho undertook *o bring it out, and ho' therefore began by -making one or two specimens for me to see. Olio of these 1 chose, and had tho inspiration to di;ess,. iir patriotic -colours, ami it .was this fact which 1 think has accounted for- its success. You er,n sec that tho owlets are dressed, as John Hull, with a long swallow-tailed coat, of blue, white trousers, and a red. . waistcoat, and a greeii'bmv; so-that Irc•laiKl'slmll not' t siitl 'the' idea «traß'gfel>\ One writer wh-cS# isami> is strongly suggestive of Billy Owlet,,, has. written a, • . niftst kind letter conccrning his namesake, and many other strangers., hayc. also written to.me about my invention. Some pccplo think I have already mado , a, h\igo fortune, and J receive endless begging letters, but this is not'the case, yet, at .all events. ■ , ' "But the manufacturer assures mo ho • cannot possibly cope with tho orders which are. now coming' in,' and almost all the large toyshops have 'given very largo orders for Christmas, and it seems to have become a regular rage. I attribute this in part to the fact that my owlet lias appeared in print, and also bceauss the City Rifles have- adopted it as their mascot,' wliieli 1 .'consider is .a very great c-omplimcnt. Also there will bo an owlet at the Christinas pantomime, so you can see it has already attained a wide cckbrity. Moreover, I have been asked to write, up the story in which the idea first cftme to me, and this will, I believe, shortly appear with tho Billy in the place of hero, and fcliis , ■has pleased me immensely..' The owle.ts arc ef many sizes, and range in price from little owlets of one' shilling to huge toys as large as some of tho little ehiloren who rcccivc them this' Christmas,, and a group of them look most effective, I. consider, one advantage being . that they can cither' sit <or stand, for their tails form a tripod with their two legs, so that they can be grouped in many different ways. "What makes me so thankful is that now I hope I have got a start, and that after this there will not be so much difficulty in making myself known.-The author of Billy Owlet seems introduction enough in many cases, and I li-cpo my worst times are past now. As to, whether 1 shall ever invent a new toy, 1 cannot say.' Of course, Ido not even wish to do so at present; a new one might 'knock out' this one, though I do not think it likely; but at all events it' ever I do it it' will bo easier,' I bclievo, to get an idea considered, awing to having mado a Start, and at all events I am -sincerely grateful for all the kind encouragcmkit I have rcceivcd for m> venture both from, friends alid strangers." It may ' be- mentioned. in conclusion that only the other dav Mrs. Sanderson received a- letter from Buckingham Palace, asking lier to send 100 of h«r new-toys-to-the Queen for Christ-mas presents to the hospitals, in which _ He-, Majesty takes a personal interest. Dr. and Mrs. Clements. Murphy, who have been visiting Wellington, returned to Auckland on Monday. The scalp was given yon. to grow hair, •make it do its work. MISS MILSOM, Hair Physician, will' diagnose yonr case, (free of char®); and prescribe the necessary preparations, and teach you how to use them; whether your hoir bs too dry, too greasy, grey,, thin, damlruf?, irritation, etc-. .There is not a preparation exiatent lit itself that will make hair {rrow, but-long expmeiiee, study in science, of hair, and suoces'sfal treatment, with the combination of proper preparations, has solved the secret. AH treatments, shampooine, £»<* massage, dipping, manicuring, nairdressiag taught.. Hair-work of' every description. Natural Haiti Parisian Kings (used instead of Jiot pads.)' Advice gratis by mail. Miss Jlilsom, .King's Chambers, Willis Street, Wellington. Telephone SH.*