Village Squire, 1979-10, Page 13design or from the hazards of being repeatedly dragged by the
arm across lumpy earth and up bumping stairs by the small
owner.
The colors and wide variety of clothing on the teddy bears
' made the old schoolroom look alive and lively once again. Some
of the teddy bears were left bare but most of them were wearing
outfits. quite often in keeping with the name given them. Not all
the bears were he bears; a few were dressed like the Mother
Bears in story books, and little girl bears.
Teddy bears with their quizzical faces and happy smiles have
enticed people throughout the world to love them for a long time.
If there is a universally acclaimed toy, it must surely be the teddy
bear. Since the first one was created over.65 years ago, millions
of teddy bears have been manufactured in many countries
throughout the world and the popularity of the teddy bear shows
no sign of diminishing.
How did Teddy Bear come into being?
According to stories. President Theodore Roosevelt was on a
hunting trip in Mississippi in November, 1902, and when a little
bear cub cane within his sights, he refused to shoot it. As is still
the custom today, any incidents in the life of the one who is in
power, is fair game for the caroonist. Clifford Berryman drew a
very appealing little bear with President Roosevelt turning away,
his hand raised signifying the little bear was not to be harmed.
Toymakers Morris Mitchum and his wife saw the appealing
little bear in the newspaper cartoon, and with scissors, brown
plush and stuffing they created a little toy bear and, since
President Theodore Roosevelt was affectionately known as
Teddy they called it Teddy's Bear.
The little bear was an instant success and sold as quickly as
they could be made. A letter was sent to President Roosevelt,
accompanied by a little toy bear, asking permission to use his
name. The President gave his permission; and kept his gift of the
little toy bear.
The First Bear now lives at the Smithstonian Institute.
The demand was so great, by 1903 mass production of Teddy
Bears began. First in the hundreds, and then in the thousands,
not only in United States but in many countries throughout the
world.
The first bears were made with a hump on their backs like the
grizzly bear but this was changed by 1906. Most of the early
bears were cinnamon colored but as time went on, they were
made in varying shades of brown and also gold. A few recent
bears are pink and blue ... (but only a few, thank goodness!)
Bears were made with squeakers. Many had growlers and
have received the name of Growler from their owner.
There is no attempt here to analyse why so many people like
teddy bears. They just do! Poems have been written and songs
composed about teddy bears. Several books have been written
about them, probably the top honours vying between
Winn ie -the -Pooh and Paddington Bear.
There are several Pooh Clubs in England and in the United
States there is a Good Bears of the World (Service Club) - "It was
founded in 1975 and has over 1500 members. They are promoters
and collectors of teddy bears and distribute them to children in
hospitals and Senior Citizens in Institutions. A symbol of love
and affection the teddy bear can do much to comfort the old and
young, the group claims, since a half of all Americans growing
up own a teddy bear.
"Local groups are known as dens, and raise money
independently to purchase teddy bears for hospitalized children
in their areas." This is according to Encyclopedia of
Associations.
There is no visible Teddy Bear Club, as such, locally, but in
December, 1977 a Paddington Bear Film Festival was held at the
Stratford Public Library for the children.
Just before Christmas of 1978 a Teddy Bears' Picnic was held
at the library for the children. Teddy bears were registered by
name and there were prizes for everything you could think of:
both eyes, tattered ears, long fur, short fur, etc. and etc. Games
were played and there was a nice big birthday cake, too. This
year August was Teddy Bear Picnic month for the children on the
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Phone • 524.4100
uoc•o,,Y Above Brown , Deco,
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Wallace A.e. N. Phone 291.1461
October 1979, Village Squire 11