The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-23
Miscellaneous.


Some of the shoes are imported, but they
are inferior in style to those made in this
country--notwith,tanding they came from
Paris, and everything from that place is sup
posed supera,ively choice and to be desired
as you are well aware. To the United States
there is ono factory-and but one, so far as
/ could ascertain-which supplies a large
quantity, about fifteen hundred dozens for
the American market, sending them to all
parts and furnishing the toy-stores in Chica-
~ aud other western cities as we'll as New
York, Philadelphia and Boston.
The mandatory is at Bordentown, New
Jersey, and has been in existence about
twelve years, and the value Of stock now sent
out s.about $1,000 year; so much money
for the wee feet that run on no errsnds, and
save no steps for anybody The wholesale
jobbers, Of course advance the price, and in
the retail stores they are higher yet so that
each tradesman through whose hands they
pass has his triAe Of profit in helping to shoe
the feet Of the doll.people. They retail from
dollar and dollar and quarter dozen
TO three dollars and seventy five cents, ac
cordirg to the style.
They run, as the dealers express it, in
twelve sizes; the common dolls shoes (which
means shees for common dolls) vary, howev.
or, from the class made for wax dolls, which
have grades peculiar to themselves, being not
only extra full and wider in the soles, but
numbering fewer sizes, from one to six only
OF the common kind the slippers and ties,
run from one to twelve the others from three,
four or five to that number. They come
packed in regular sizes, full line,' as those for
children do, or in assorted sizes and styles;
in small, square boxes, such as the shoe deal
ers know by the name of cartoon, which is
another word for the French carton, meaning
simply that they are made Of paste board.
The tiniest is not much more than an inch
l)ng, but is perfectly formed and finished
shoe on that miniature scale; aud the largest
is almost big enough for Mrs. Tom Thumb
measuring about four inches, and it: could
certainly be worn by many baby you have
seen.
As for the names they come in this order
slippers, ties, ankle ties, balmorals, buttoned
boots, Polish-buttoned, Polish-eyeletted, and
Antoinette, which is heeled, croquet slipper
in which her doll-ship when engaged in tha
out-of-dorr game can show off her delicate
cocked stockings to advantage.
But what shall l say of the variety in col
Or and trimmings? They are in white ant
crimson, in buff and blue, in scarlet and pur
pie, in rose color and violet, in bronze ant
silver and gold, everything but black, TO
dolls don't like black, except in the tips o
their gay Balmoral or Polish boots. And tn,
stuff they are made Of is such soft materia
as can only be found in goat aud sheep anc
kid aud glove kid, and skivers, which is tn
name for split leather. l strongly suspecte,
that they were all made of scraps left from
large slippers and shoes, but, though this
generally the case, some whole skins have t
be used, but nothing is ever manufactured fo
real people in some of the fancy colors wor
in the doll.word The soles are of leather {
:. very thin kind, but the heels are of what
!. called 'composition'-a preparation of glu
and melted rubber, or possibly, in some style
/ of wax and clay, made firm and hard, an
: they are stuck on with glue, just as the sole
are fastened to the uppers.' The rest of th
work is fine stitching done by hand; and tn
. little things are all shaped on lasts and mad
: inevery way by precisely the same process
any shoes, Except the glued-on heels an
-. soles) being cut out by patterns, in quarter
and all, and the seams, straps, eyelets, lacini
and rosettes done just as for real people.
opened all the boxes, and paraded SON
..-.of. the prettest of each kind in row befol
!. me, and sat and admired them. And cou
not help wishing that had also row ,
little girls to look and admire too. How tho
eyes would have shonc, and what rapture
what explanations, what shrieks of deligl
there would have been! 'Ohl how cunnin,
what lovely rosettesl what elegant bows viii
dear little heels! OIL isn't this such da
ling pair? They are too sweet for anything
], can't tell which to choose-they are all .
be.u-tiful =
That is what they would have said and
great deal more besides. And they wou
have just wished they could have this pair f,
Fanny and that for Claribe, and that Fl
Lady Geraldine. and so on and on; while
should have wished that could make the
all happy by giving them their choice.
49,, But who could choose? The gold and;silv
ones were richest, quite dazzling to behol
md thax bad aI anI
they were shaped like Newport tie; eat
had its minutely scalloped edge, where Il
~ seams overlapped and round the ankle, and
,.- bow of narrow, white corded ribbon with
ornament of jet and gold, or jet and silver
the centre, and they were ftlfor the feet
i fairy queens. The sock-shaped ties, like
baby's soft heeled shoe, looked somehow INC
real of all, as if for the least mite of hum,
baby to wear.on its wee. pink feet, al
doubled up in its wee, pink fist There we
the ankle ties, with the diminutive strap
scaloped and stitched, and set with minu
eyelets through which purple or blue
scarlet braid was passed, and every part
fine as hands could make. There were To-
laced shoes with heels and without. The
were high cut Balmorals with long doub
row of eyelets and end extra high Pol
boots, heeled and laced or heeled and bu
toned; and they were in white and with sc,
let tips, in white with gilt buttons in bron
with steel.
II was hard to tell what there was not, I
: there were boots and shoes and SLIPPERS f
all kinds of dolls. high, low, rich and poo,
to walk in, to dance in, to play croquet i
or to stay at home in; to match their Gu
toms, to match their bair,to match their ey
to suit them if any thing on earth cou
suit. And every doll could be sure sbol
her ''size," for the number is stamped on Il
bottom of the soles; and must not forg
to say that they have also the trademark