The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-08-19
How Dole are made.

There is much that may be seen by q
visit to doll factory that would have
for many people all the force of rev.
citation. Few probably realize what
number of processes are necessary be
fore even the tiniest of dolls is ready
for the nursery. There is certainly q
bewildering number of suitable sub.
stances. Besides the various kinds of
wax, from the best English to the
commoner foreign sorts, there are
spermaceti and various kinds of COM
position: lndia-rubber, gutta-percha,
wood. and rags, not to mention va
rious judiciOus combinations of these
and other materials. But the best dolls
are made only of the best English wax.
Then come the composition dolls,
which are much more durable, and
some of which have their faces pro-
tected by thin piece of muslin. and
so on through the whole list. 1t is,
however, the waXen dolls that appeal
most powerfully to the affections and
the admiration of the girls of England.
The construction of the mOlds in
which these are made involves some
knowledge of modelling. The molds
are made of p]aster of Paris, the var
ious sections being deity joined to-
gether with such nicely as TO leave but
few marks of the joints. Into this the
melted wax is poured while still very
hot. and thin film Immediately adj
heres to the sides of the mold. which
Is quickly inverted in order that the
molten wax in the centre NAV flow out.
But although this rough mask is fairly
complete in point of outline, much re-
mains to be done before it can be re-
garded as possessing those charms
which arc commonly believed to be q
dolls rightful inheritance. The rough
nesses have to be smoothed down, a
distinctive character has to be given to
the mouth and nose, the eyebrows have
to be dclicately pcnciled in, and we
may well cease to wonder that Shaks-
pcare's lover should have written an
ode ITO his mistress eyebrow, whom
we sec the wonderful effect produced
on dolls face by various arrange
ments of brow and lash.
Then the eyes, which are like bcauti-
full shells, although they can be bought
by the gross, of any color and size,
have tu be fixed in, which is done by
plastering them at the back with a
little soft wax. The method of fasten-
ing the hair so as to give it natural
appearance is one of the best tests of
the care with which doll has been
made. In the best dolls almost every
strand is attached separately to the
wax itself, while in the cheaper kinds
a wi g s roughly stuck on tho dolls
head: This is very important point,
which doll-worshipers will properly
appreciate, for is not the most delight
fal part of dolls daily toilet the
brushing and combing of her hair?
Then there are many qualitiesof hair,
from the best mohair to common flax.
We have said little about the tintine
of lips and cheeks, processes which in
volve nice appreciation CT effect. So
far doll fanciers seem to be believers in
rudy hue of health, for we have never
yet seen an :'interesting" doll with
cheeks of the color of UNDERGONE pas
try. But it would be rash to speculate
upon the future, for the new science
of taste may yet influence even tho
nursery and the doll trade.-C asscU's
Family Magazine;