St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-13
IN THE DOLL FACTORY.
CuriOsities of a Business Which
Seeks to Please Babies.


Seeks tn Please Babies.
Cassell's Family Magazine.
There is much that may be seen bv a
visit to doll factory that would have for
many people all the force of revolution.
Few probably realize what number OF
processes are necessary before even the tin
lest of dolls is ready for the nursery. There
Is certainly bewildering number of suit
able substances. Besides the various kinds
OF wax, from the best English to the
commoner foreign sorts, there are
spermaceti and various kinds of compost
ton; india-rubber, gutta-percha, wood and
rags, not to mention various judiciouS
combinations of these and other materials.
But the best dolls are made only of the
best English wax. Then come the COM
position dolls, which are much more
durable, and some Of which have their
faces protected by thin piece of muslin,
and so on Though the whole list. 1t is,
however, the waXen dolls that appeal most
powerfully to the affections and the admira-
ton 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 plas-
ter OF Paris, the various sections being
DEITY joined together with such nicely as
TO leave but few marks of the joints. Into
thlS 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 so that the molten wax
Ill the center may flow out But although
THIS rough mask is fairly complete in
point OF outline, much remains to be done
before 1t can be regarded as possessing
those charms which are commonly believed
to be dolls rightful inheritance. The
roughnesses have to be smoothed down, a
distinctive character has to be given to the
mouth and nose, the eyebrows have to be
delicately penciled in, and we may well
cease to wonder thai Shakespeare's lover
Shouid have written an ode ito his mis-
tfeSS eyebrow" when we see the wonder
lsu effect produced on oll's face by var
lOus arrangements of brow and lash
lhen the eyes. which are like beautiful
shells, although they can be bought by the
gross, OF any color and size, have to be
nXed In, which is done by plastering them
at the back with little soft wax The
method of fastening the hair so as to give
IL natural appearance is one of the best
tests OF the care with which a doll
has been made. In the best dolls almost
every strand is attached separately to the
wax itself, while in the cheaper kinds
a wig is roughly stuck on the dolls head.
This is very important point, which doll
worshtpers will properly appreciate, for is
not the most delightful part of dolls
daily toilet the brushing and combing of
her hair? Then there are many qualities
OF hair, from the best mohair to common
flax
We have said little about the tinting of
lips and cheeks, processes which involve a
nice appreciation of effect. So far doll
fanciers seem to be believers in the ruddy
hue of health, for we have never yet seen
an interesting" doll with cheeks of the
color of underdone pastry. But it would
be rash to speculate upon the future, for
the new science of taste may yet influence
even the nursery and the doll trade.