The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-12
AusPIcIousLY BEGUN.
The Fair of the Deering Village Inn
provement Association.
Japanese Art and Many Dolls,
Young, Middle Aged and Old.

The third annual fair Of the Deering Viii
lage Improvement Association opened last
evening at Lewis Hall, Woodfords. In
spite OF the inciemency Of the weather
fairly large number Of people we're present
and witnessed an auspicous opening.
The hall presents gala appearance with
its magnificent Japanese decorations, the
work Of an experienced decorator and repre-
senting japanese festival These decor
orations were selected by Mr.. Moore. of the
firm Of Owen, Moore & Co.. In New York
for the occasion, and surpass anything Of
the kind ever attempted In Maine.
Among the attractions are booths Of art
and fancy articles, displaying for sale dec
orative art. dainty needle work and novel
ties Also booths Of domestic articles,
flowers and everything that Is pretty and
ufeful. In the centre OF the upper hall is
large and picturesque booth from which tea
is served by ladies dressed in Japanese cos
tune. On the left near the door is camp
Of Gypsies, represented by ten pretty maid
ems, where fortunes are told for nickel and
all sorts Of fancy articles sold.
The chief and most novel attraction, how
ever. is the dolls reception, held in the room
below. First, on entering the room, we no.
tice small collection Of dolls holding real
o'clock tea on lawn, shaded by the sur
rounding pines. At the ight the gayety Of
the ballroom attracts our attention, and as
we see the handsome little couples in full
dress, about to indulge in the military schot-
tische, we feel a strong desire to join them
on the ballroom floor.
Az xua eyo o1,t Of tho haIlroon. ms. GoH 49,
selves in the hospital. where we see. to our
horror, the operating table. white beds, pale
faces Of patients, blue robed nurses in their
white caps, skillful surgeons and watchful
students. Passing from the beds Of sick
ness, we next participate in the fun Of to-
bogganing, with a merry party wrapped in
| furs and wools; and then we listen with
bated breath for the solemn words Of the
marriage ceremony at the wedding which Is
| going on at the sarther end Of the hall.
In an adjoining room we find another col
lection Of dolls Of all ages and descriptions.
And, talking about dolls, how Is one who
has only taken casual survey OF them 60
ing to tell yon anything about them? Here
are seen big dolls and little dolls, fat dolls
and lean dolls, short dolls and tall dolls. of
all sorts and Of all sizes. They are wonder
full.
Mrs. j. p. Baxter's fine collection Of for
| eign dolls Is one OF the great attractions.
| Among them are to be found the Dutch
peasant with white bonnet aud wooden
| shoes, a Welsh woman In high crowned hat,
the white aproned Alsatian peasant, the
velvet clothed Italian peasant, the Swiss
| maiden, the elegantly clothed Paris lady, a
monk Of the order Of Misere Cordla and the
| typical costumes and faces Of the old world
Little Lord Fauntleroy Is to be drawn by
some fortunate child every child under II
will be entitled to a chance In this wonder
| ful doll on paying the admission fee.
Among other dolls one will notice that Of
Mrs. Eugene Williams. valued at S25, which
| was bought In Paris. Also one Of ''ye olden
| tyne" 20 years old and probably more be-
| longing to Mrs. Bailey; and another whose
| age Is Ga, owned by Miss Ruth p. Smith
| This doll was bought and dressed in Port
land in 1924 There are others whose ages
| exceed 40 years and some OF 80 and 80 years.
Attached to one quaint looking doll one
| notices the autobiography, "My name Is Sal
| ly Maria Lurrey. / am known to be over 20
| years old" There is another doll that has
| visited Ireland, Scotland. England, Wales,
| Holland, Belgium, Germany, France and
Italy, and 1t Is said Of her that she was once
| wont to converse in five different languages.
The committee on dolls are Mrs. James w.
| Winslow, Mrs. DIR. Fred Huntington and
| Mrs. +. o. Bailey.
The fair win continue through today and
| tomorrow. The entertainment last evening
| was opened by brief remarks from the presi-
| dent, @. A. Woodbury., followed by Messrs.
Chase, Elwell and Wilson. Some excellent
music was also rendered by the WoodfOrds
| Orchestra.
Musicales, consisting of instrumental and
| vocal music, will be given In the hall every
| afternoon at o'clock. III fair weather pre-
walls large attendance is anticipated during
the next two days of the fair.