Page 42 - May1954

NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN May, 1954

THE I/ITTITE IEASERS

Once again we turn to the attractive children's story book entitled
"'Allerlei Schnik-Schnak" published in Leipzig in the 1860s. The forty-
eight black and white illustrations were drawn by Oscar Pletsch and bear
his interlocking monogram. The
PaPer for this 7 tlrt'xljt7rrr $s6k is
good and heavy, the very kind needed
for a heavy work-out by children.
As the title suggests, the book
contains a medley of pitter-patter.
The illustrations are of children
sometimes playing with toys or ani-
mals and sometimes with other
children.
On two occasions we found
button identifications in this book-
"Day Dreaming" and "The Little
Cnirassier" as noted below on p.228.
This time it is "The Little
Teasers." The picture shows a very
saucy little boy. and a very annoyed
little girl. They are speaking to
each other not in their best polite
German, but in their provincial
dialect and from their remarks we
shall see why this is appropriate.
The German lines are:

Denkt sie denn, denkt sie denn. Medchen sind theuer?
Funf vor'n Pfenk, zehn vor'n Zweer, fufzehn vor'n DreierI
Donkt er denn, denkt er denn, Jungens sind theuer?
F ufzehn vor'n Flederwisch, sechzehn vor'n D'reier!
To translate, the boy is saying teasingly: Does she think, does she
think, girls are expensive? Five for one cent, ten for two cents, fifteen
for three cents!" And she answers: "Does he think, does he think, boys
are expensive? Fifteen for a feather-duster, sixteen for three cents!"
The photostat is a reduced version of part of a page drawing that is
interspersed with artistic ornamental pen work. The brass button is shown
in exact size; it was loaned by Mrs. Lillian Crowley. The book is in the
author's collection.

GOOD NN\}yS T'ROM NEW IIE-\IICO

A letter from Mrs. Ernest Bros'n of this State says-"If anyone should
say to you that there is no button to be found anymore-tell them of our
button club that is only a year old this month. Our members, eight in
number, have found three wonderful old button strings; one is over six
feet long, the second over nine feet long and the third is not long but it has
the most beautiful perfect glass buttons that anybody could dream about.
\ -e found another string but it cannot be bought. We found these strings in
different parts of the country. So, buttons can still be had-if you look
for them."