The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-09-15
The Japanese Fea.t or the Dolls.

The Japanese Feast OF the Dolls.
Ruhaman's Toxic Letter TO st.
Louis Globe Democrat: Last week
came the Hina Matsuri, or Feast of
Dolls, the gala week for all the small
girls In Japan. The festival properly
falls on the third day of the month,
but after the good old Japanese fash
ion, the gayeties are prolonged for a
week or two. In declaration of the
season toy-shops and doll-shops are
suddenly doubled in number and take
on dazzling features. and children in
gay holiday clothes animate the streets
Little girls with their hair elaborated
dressed and tied with gold cords any
bright Grape, and arrayed In gowns
and girdles of the brightest colors, are
like SO many animated dolis them.
selves, and this holiday week is the
time to see Japanese babyhood in its
fullest charm. The tiniest toddler
wears the same long gown and long
sleeves as its mother, and IL is this
costume in miniature that makes them
such quaint and comical little figures.
All the colors OF the rainbow meet in
their gay patterned Grape kimonos.
and with countless inner garments of
contrasting colors, showing an edge
here and there, and obs shot with gold
threads they are irresistible. Nothing
could be gentler, more docile, or sweet
er than these Japanese children, and
no country more charming play
ground for them. The streets and
temple grounds were crowded with
these lovely children every pleasant
afternoon, and each little maiden in
her gay gown carried small image of
herself in her arms or fastened to her
back in true baby fashion. Poor, rag
ged children, with coarse clothes and
flying hair, looked enyiously at the
pretty children and wistfully nc the
doll-shops running over with dolls,
and it happened in two or three neigh
borhoods that benevolent foreigners
appeared. bought penny dolls by the
handful, and rained such favors of
fortune upon poor little girls.
Indoors the Dolls Festival takes on
serious and elaborate character, and
i'm the houses of the rich 10 is only
second 20 the New Year in its obsery-
ances. The family don their richest
clothing and keep open house for tho
week for the benefit OF the little girls
of the family The choicest pictures
and art treasures are displayed, but
the features OF this domestic festival
are the hina. or the images that have
been preserved from grandmothers'
and great grandmothers' time, handed
down and added 20 with the arrival of
each little girl. these dolls, which
generally represent the Emperor, En-
press, noblemen and ladies Of the old
Kioto court, are numbered by dozens
sometimes, and all are dressed In cor
rect and expensive clothes During
this holiday season the dolls are rang
ed in row on a raised shelf, like an
altar or high dais, and food and OFFER
ings are placed before them. The
tiny lacquer tables, with the rice
bowls, teacups, teapots, plates and
trays are the same table furnishings
as grown up people use, but all in
miniature and Of exquisite work
Each doll has nc least It's own table
and dishes, and often full set of
tableware, with which TO entertain
many other dolls. and amazing prices
have been paid for sets Of choice old
gold or richly decorated black or red
lacquer or chased silver doll dishes.
Collectors who have found In these
dainty toys some Of the best examples
OF certain art work have been much
chagrined on taking them abroad or
attempting 20 sell them abroad TO ind
that in other countries they could get
no serious attention paid them. The
practical, literal and aesthetic people
Of the Occident could only manage the
one fact, that they were dolls dishes,
and even fine workmanship and ex-
quisite decorations could not beguile
them into such purchases.
In the court circle the Hina Masturi
has been celebrated with two weeks
fete at the house OF Count Saige.
Countess SaIgo has sent out the doz-
ems and dozens of exquisite images
that her children possess. and each
doll or group of dolls has a table and
thimble-sized dishes, with houses,
] kitchens. kaQos. ilnricklshas and