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I did some research on this.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) developed out of the International Women's Congress against World War I that took place in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1915.  The first WILPF president, Jane Addams, had previously founded the Woman's Peace Party in the United States (won the Nobel peace prize). The movement is still active.
The European Balance (L'Equilibre Européen) was a peace concept that appeared in the 1800's (and earlier) that the European powers could coexist without one being dominant.

Honoré Daumier was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor, whose many works offer commentary on social and political life in France in the 19th century.
I could not find that specific print, but there are two well known with the same title from 1866-1867.

As he produced thousands of works, I was hoping to find one with tops, but no luck so far. I would bet the sword drawing was inspired by a Japanese katana-koma performance.

snap start is something I'd really like to be able to do. will be looking for some pointers in Miamisburg on this...as well as some other tricks. we are just one week away from the event!

I think the women were threatening to chop up the men's tops with a big sword if the peace and liberty the women were after failed to materialize. Would've gotten my attention.

Or it could have meant that a top spinning on a sword may not have much to do with peace and liberty, but it's still pretty cool. 

A true string stand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qU_0NEgRfo

The park (Haung Xing park) was a 10 minute walk from my hotel. On one side of the street are the sports fields which I didn't visit, but on the other side there are mostly trees and trails, plus a large lake. I went 3 times, but I would have gone every day if I could have, always before 8AM because of the heat. I went looking for kongzhu, but I found mostly groups doing Tai-Chi, Chi-Kung, and many other Chinese disciplines, sometimes using fake swords or fans. The vast majority were older people, but the ratio between men and women appeared to be pretty even. On my second day, asking for kongzhu and moving my arms as if I was playing, I found a group of about 7 people, including some women (yes, they play kongzhu). They were very kind and gave me some tips (using gestures). This was one of my teachers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWM1FwePWAM

I was surprised that all their kongzhus had one-way bearings. After I demonstrated some top tricks with my Hollow Point, one of them grabbed the top, tried to rotate the tip and was surprised that it was fixed. So I gave him a bearing top, but he was still puzzled. Only when I gave him a one-way bearing top he seemed satisfied.    As I said before they recognized a whipping top, but unfortunately they told me that at that park there were none (I'm guessing it's more a winter activity).
 
On my last day I joined for a little bit a couple of groups that were doing ballroom dancing to Chinese music  . Farid and another Colombian were with me and they joined something like group hackey sack with something similar to a badminton shuttlecock. Great vibe all around the park (on some parts there were speakers with relaxing music).

Sounds cool, where will people be friday to throw tops..

In recent years, butterfingers and I have arrived on Friday afternoon at the University of Cincinnati to enjoy the tour of the facilities with John Marcus, and see how he produces his amazing spin tops.

I've not heard specifically that this is the plan this year, but I imagine it will be.  If you have never done the tour (and, even if you have), it's a "must do".  John only sells his tops in person, and that's an opportunity you won't want to miss.

Has anyone heard from John about this for this year?

I'm so jealous, hope I will be able to take the tour and the festival one day ...

Hmm not so clear for sure, my guesses, that may be pretty obvious: it's an image of the weakness of peace in these dark ages, maybe the shape of the sword could say more... (this could be a kind of warning from one country using these swords?)

That's actually a very nice picture we want more of these!

Unfortunately, I have a conflict and will be unable to attend the Miamisburg event. I'm disappointed. I'd like to see everyone and the competition, not to mention throw tops non-stop.

Miamisburg 2019 or bust.

Sorry to hear there was a shortage of places for top spinners to throw.  But then, there was no shortage of security.  That had to feel weird.  Both of those situations will be totally different next year in Cleveland.

Such a big city and it is still only #2 in the world.  The list I looked at had the top three all from China.

I look forward to your report of the kongzhu players.  From what I have seen, it seems that they are all men and all older.  I look around the rec. centers in our area (since I am male and older) but have yet to find an exercise group like that around these parts.