Traditionally he is a character in many children's stories. He is said to sprinkle sand or dust on or into the eyes of the child at night to bring on dreams and sleep. Hoffmann (1776-1822) created an inverse idea of the lovable character inThe Sandman, which showed how sinister such a character could be made. The protagonist of the story associates this nightmarish creature with the sinister figure of his father's associate Coppelius.