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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Birth of Teddy bears
One of the most popular cuddly toys is the Teddy bear. Teddy bears have not been just playthings, but have also lent a touch of security to many little ones. Many kids go to sleep at night cuddling a Teddy and wake up reaching out for it. You may be surprised to learn that the Teddy is more than hundred years old! It turned 100 two years ago. The Teddy bear, which comes in different shapes, colours, sizes and names today, has an illustrious history. When and how did the Teddy begin its life? Well, the legend surrounding its birth goes back to 1902 and is connected to the US President Theodore Roosevelt. The story goes that one day President Roosevelt went bear-hunting in Mississippi. When no ferocious bear could be found, his companions decided to do something about it. They captured a bear cub, tied it to a tree and asked the President to shoot it. Did President Roosevelt oblige? The answer is NO. He absolutely refused! Whether or not this story is factually correct, the invention of the teddy bear is attributed to the US President. After this incident, an American cartoonist named Clifford Berryman drew the President and the bear in a cartoon titled 'Drawing the line in Mississippi'. Thereafter, Berryman featured the President with the little bear in many of his cartoons. Who ultimately decided to create the cuddly toy? A Russian immigrant living in Brooklyn. Inspired by the bear-hunting story, he manufactured furry stuffed bears and called them 'Teddy Bears.' They were an instant success and were manufactured in thousands worldwide! **** Who invented Paddington Bear? Michael Bond, a former television cameraman born in 1926, invented the bear when he wrote the first book in a series titled 'A bear called Paddington' in 1958. The bear got his name from the Paddington Station in London, England where he was found in the first story.Paddington books have now been translated into over 20 languages and the bear has become the hero of a television series. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Children have been devoted to their dolls and cuddly toys since time
immemorial. There are many adults too who still have a craze for dolls and
cuddly toys.
