NO toy for a long while has enjoyed such continued popularity as the Teddy Bear. A toy of this kind which will climb a string all by itself merely by alternately pulling and releasing the string, as shown in Figure 1, can easily be made.

Figure 2 shows the Teddy Bear with one of the cigar-box sides so that the mechanism can be seen, also the bear completed and some of the separate parts.

The arms P are fastened securely by nails m to the body part of the bear. The two arms stick out in front and have between the paws a loop of chamois skin C, as shown in the small drawing, with a string running through the loop. A small nail driven through the paws and through this chamois skin holds the string tightly between the arm pieces. The leg pieces L are pivoted on a nail at N and have between them, - outside of the body, - two little round wooden pieces r. These disks have grooves around their rim and act like pulleys which do not turn.

The string which runs through the chamois skin runs under the piece r nearer the body and over the second one out in the heel. Details of this construction are shown in small sketches.

On one side of the bear are fastened two nails T with a rubber band between. One is in the arms above, and one - a small tack - in the position shown in the leg piece below, so that when the lower leg piece L is up in the position shown in the lower drawing, Figure 2, the two nails T and the pivoting nail N are in line.

Now when you pull tight on the string, as shown in Figure j, the chamois C and the lower outer roller r are in line. The pull on the cord tends to pull the two rollers r into line with C, but the string cramps on the rollers and will not slide, so that, as you pull, the chamois allows the string to slip through it, and the paws move up the string. This stretches the rubber R which has been fixed between the two nails T.

When you release the tension on the string, it becomes slack and has no friction on the rollers r, although the chamois C is still tight enough to hold the weight of the toy. The rubber band is now free to pull the legs up to the horizontal position again, allowing the string to slip past the rollers, and the lower legs to climb up a step. Thus, by alternately pulling and releasing the string, first the paws and then the legs slide up the string, and the bear quickly climbs to the top. This toy is very lifelike in its movements and very funny.

In making the bear, enlarge the patterns and shape shown in these drawings, on cigar-box wood, and cut them out with a jackknife or fret saw.

When fixing the chamois skin in place, get the nail in just tight enough to hold the weight of the toy without slipping. A slight tap on the paws with a hammer will tighten the hold at any time, and you can loosen the adjustment by prying apart with a chisel or knife.

Have the rollers r tight between the lower leg pieces; these you cut of cigar-box wood, making the central hole first. The nails go through this hole, and these hold the legs far enough apart so that they do not bind on the body part.

When the toy is done, cover it with fuzzy cloth as shown, - Canton flannel will do, - and you will have a very lifelike bear. This was first made by a boy friend of mine and worked perfectly. I have seen dozens of them since made by other boys, and they were all great successes.