Katharina Buczek
Now, Holt reportedly knew the land very well and was determined to help Roosevelt locate a black bear. By the second day of their trip, this goal appeared to be coming to fruition, too.
After Holt spotted a black bear, though, he realized that Roosevelt was much further behind. So, Holt made the decision to tie the bear up and wait for Roosevelt to arrive.
Once Roosevelt reached Holt, though, he was shell-shocked by what the guide had done. In fact, he reportedly did not appreciate his guide’s efforts and claimed that hunting the bear while it was already restrained would be unsportsmanlike.
Then, following Roosevelt’s hunting trip, word of his compassion and commitment to sportsmanship spread like wildfire throughout the country– even prompting a classic historical cartoon to be created by Clifford Berryman of the Washington Post.
Rose and Morris Michtom, a couple from Brooklyn, New York, also ended up seeing that very cartoon. And since they already owned a penny candy shop, the couple decided to make a stuffed plush bear for fun. Then, they opted to display it in the window of their shop in order to honor the President. To make the toy, Rose cut up some pieces of fabric, sewed on button eyes, and named it “Teddy’s Bear.” And once the toy was displayed in the penny candy shop’s window, it was an overnight success.
In fact, Rose and Morris’ teddy bear became so popular that they actually had to ask President Roosevelt if they could use his name. Thankfully, Roosevelt agreed, and the Michtom’s business ultimately took off.
The idea of plush teddy bears was actually so successful that Rose and Morris decided to scale back on selling candy. Instead, they decided to launch the Ideal Toy Company– which eventually produced a decades-long love of teddy bears throughout the United States.
And now, with Valentine’s Day in just one week, there are countless different teddy bears to choose from in retailers, big and small. From various sizes and shapes to colors and patterns, teddy bears have become the go-to gift for showing love to both children and adults everywhere. But, the next time you head to the toy store, remember that the classic brown teddy bear is what started it all.
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