Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Allure of Toy Soldiers

But you can best believe that we don't dress in uniforms and play with them.

Onaward. From Dallas. ADG II

12 comments:

Gretchen said...

Yah, you're right. That would be pretty stupid. But sacrificing a Barrel of Monkeys in a volcanic explosion and imagining said monkeys to be some of the colleagues at the office/nosy neighbors? Cathartic!

CeceliaMc said...

Who knew that young Michael Jackson played with toy soldiers...

old said...

Collecting toy soldiers is my oldest hobby. The posting caused me to recall Robert Louis Stevenson's poem - The Land of Counterpane

When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay,
To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.

Anonymous said...

Max, what a perfect day to salute The Soldier. I had already awakened more than a bit soldier-reverent, this being the anniversary that it is, but your opening frame, that magnificent painting, it took me off guard and I've been caught up in it longer than seems reasonable today. What a masterpiece it is, what mysteries it holds; extra thanks to you for including the title of the painting in your jpg ID, otherwise I'm not sure I'd have been able to research it further. Get on home.

Anonymous said...

Completely off the subject of toy soldiers....I have a sartorial question I hope you can help with. Bought my husband a lovely cashmere blazer at Brooks Bros. but I hate the blue buttons. Is this just me ? What do you think would look right ? and where would I look ? Ben Silver ? Are you a fan of 'brass' buttons ? Thanks for the help.
Pat

Anonymous said...

"The posting caused me to recall Robert Louis Stevenson's poem - The Land of Counterpane"

Magnificent! Thank you...

Anonymous said...

I'd expand to toys in general; possibly because I have two roomfuls of LGB trains, carved decoys, toy cars and boats, and more. For me as an adult I enjoy their colors, quality and ambience.

Anonymous said...

I love you "old. You brought me back. Made me weep. RLS is the essence, not only, but especially, in this context. Tnx.

SFBayArea

Easy and Elegant Life said...

Old -- that poem hangs in the bathroom at my pediatrician's.

Fine pic of little ADG in his horizontal striped socks and spectator boots!

Anon 10:21, a tortoiseshell button might be nice if you wanted something different from the metals. I think that I would wear the combination exclusively with brown shoes though.

Easy and Elegant Life said...

ADG, forgot to ask. I read that Wellington once upbraided the Grenadier Guards for charging one wet day with umbrellas deployed "Damned unmilitary....!" I would love to see those lead soldiers. Do they exist?

ADG said...

"Barrel of Monkeys in a Volcanic Explosion"...I'm branding that concept. The sh_t we did with lighter fluid, a tin coffee can and plastic soldiers was riveting and dangerous many years ago.

The RLS story/poem is a brilliant one.I also love the Counterpane painting that Malcolm Forbes had to accompany his toy soldier collection.

jrandyv...I would but I ain't got no money.

AnonButtons...Chris...Eleganto has echoed what I would have offered as advice.

pylgrym said...

"Time was when the little dog was new, and the soldier was passing fair;
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there ..."
.... Eugene Field