The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-10-04
Wild Dolls.

Wild dolls are curious and interest
ing. Let me tell you a few l have
seen.
The little Moquis girls have wooden
dolls of different sizes and degrees.
The best have arms and legs, are dress
ed in one garment of coarse cotton,
and instead of hair have feathers stick
ing out of their heads, like the ends of
a feather duster.
A lower grade of Moquis doll has no
limbs, but is gayly painted in stripes,
and wears beads as big as its fist would
be, if it had one. This looks as you
would with n string of oranges around
your neck. The poorest of all, which
has evidently been loved by some poor
little Indian girl, has in place of
head Il sprig of evergreen. How did
the white man get hold nt Il treasure
like this? Is the little owner grown
up? Is she laid To sleep under the
daises? Or was this doll left behind in
a hurried flight of the Moquis village
before an enemy?
1t isn't an Edison doll; it can't talk,
so we shall never know.
The Sitka girls have dolls of leather;
black, greasy-looking creatures, l re-
gret to say, with beads for ewes and
mouth, and dresses of fur. They have
also Il poorer doll, of clay, with the
nose formed, when the clay was soft,
by the summary process of a good
pinch in the face; and a lavish display
of beads made by small punches in the
same soft material. The dress of these
Sitka babies is simple-a piece of
coarse Indian cloth wound around the
body and tied on with a rag.
Another leather doll belongs to the
little Micmac girl. This is finer than
the last named, however, for the leath-
er is light-colored; and it has nose
not pinched up in front, but pinched
out from behind, and held in shape by
something hard. 1t has black beads
for eyes, and mouth and eyebrows of
black paint. In dress it is quite grand;
moccasins, leggins, and calico gown,
with a liberal amount of bead trim
ming and necklaces. The small Sioux
maiden also has a doll of leather,
black. and with beads for eyes and
| mouth.
A Neg Perce girl has contributed to
us-whether willingly or not her
dear doll in its cradle of basket-work.
1t is a rag-baby about eight inches
long, and as tightly tied into the
cradle IS the poor little Nez Perce girl
herself was tied into hers. Many a
long, happy journey has this eight
inch papp0ose taken, slung over the
back of its loving mamma; many q
swing has it enjoyed. hanging from a
bush; and many a greasy dinner has il
shared with its little owner,-at least,
so one must Judge from its looks.
The dusky damsel of Alaska has al
ivory doll. 1t is carved from walru'
tusk, any length from one to six inches
with nose carved, and eyes, eyebrows
and mouth of black enamel. Ever
the inch-long baby has features care
fully made. She has also doll o
wood, six or eight inches long, witt
its face carved and a curious ornamen
lust below the corners of its mouth
This is a blue bead, and it is in imita
ton of the fashion of her tribe, o
making in the lower lip an opening
like button-hole, through which an.
desired ornament may be thrust
None of the Alaska dolls have joints
but this unnatural stiffness was appar
emily not altogether satisfactory to TIL
small damsels, for some are carved il
a sitting posture.
The most humble doll is simply
stick with head carved on the end
But the most elaborate of all the India
dolls have seen belongs also to Alaska
1t is carved from dark-colored wood
with mouth open, showing three whit
teeth, and it has real hair. in locks 81
inches long, stuck into holes in tn
wooden head, with the drollcs
.'patchy" effect OtiUer Ih0!7aa lW'tc'
IN 81. NichGld.