The Grenada gazette., 1888-05-05
FACTS ABOUT DOLLS.
Where and How Those Used by American
Children Are Made.


Germany is famous for the manufac-
ture of toys and dolls, and the small
town of Sonnebcrg, in the Thuringian
forests, alone produces articles for the
amusement of children to the value OF
$3.50, 600 yearly, and enough to fill the
toy shops of every quarter of the
globe. The different processes in the
manufacture of wax dolls can there be
seen from beginning to end. German
ladies are expert doll-dressers, and
there is yearly Christmas exhibition
of dolls at Berlin. A great deal ID
made of this Berlin doll exhibition,
and society turns out in large numbers
to patronize it. There are whole towns
in Germany that do little else but make
dolls for American children. They are
mostly simple country folks.
There was a time when there We're
no fashion journals, Just as there was a
time when there were no newspapers
or magazines OF any sort. The French
people then as now originated most of
the ladies' fashions for all the world,
and, as they had no way of making
| pictures of their new styles, or papers
to describe them in. they made up dolls
of the latest French fashions and sent
them all over the world. These pou-
pees, as the French called them, were
thought of so much Importance in
England that they were allowed to be
imported without hindrance, even in
time of war. These dolls not only
showed the cut of the costumes, but
also reproduced faithfully the materials
and trimmings.
Whether or not any dolls were
brought over by the Puritans who
landed at Plymouth Rock no body
knows. There are said to have been
some brought over in the Mayflower,
and possibly the claim is true, for the
good ship sailed from a Dutch port,
and Dutch children have for centuries
had the best dolls the world affords.
Still, there is to be taken into account
the prim notions Of the Puritans. They
had no time for play of any sort, and
they were such practical and work-a-
day people that it is doubtful if they
ever allowed their children to play with
dolls.
Not even the most fashionable Ameri-
can emporium can display dolls of home
manufacture equaling in pinkness of
complexion, in wealth of lace, founces
and frillcrics the dolls exhibited in
Paris. In the manufacture of small
porcelain dolls, arrayed as brides, ba-
bies, shepherdesses, beadles and gen
darmes the French are also wonderfully
skillful. The more expensive dolls,
arraycd in the latest fashions, comes in
many instances. from Paris, but there
are professional and amateur doll-dress-
ers enough in England who can sue
cessfully compete with the French.
Puppet shows became exceedingly
popular in England in the early part of
the last century, but none more so than
those conducted by Robert Powell,
whose performances were not restricted
to London, but We're given in the sea-
son at Bath, Oxford and other places.
In London Powell's puppet show was
set UP under the piassa ut Covent Gar
den. The latter is very ancient mark
eft, but is far more famons from the
opera house that is over the market,
where the finest of operas are given
during the fashionable season.
Dolls seem to have been well known
in the days of the Pharaohs; for, in the
tombs OF ancient Egypt, figures of
painted wood. of terra Gotta, of ivory
and of rags have been found whose
limbs were made movable for the de-
light Of children. 1t is quite probable
that Pharaoh's daughter threw aside
q mimic child for the real baby which |
she discovered in the famous bulrush
basket.
The ancient Greeks were experts in
the manufacture of puppets, including
wax dolls, and several of their poets
allude to offerings of dolls to Artemis
and Aphroditc made by maidcns before
their marriage. English children buy
almost one million dollars worth of
dolls from French and German doll
makers. while the American children.
not quite all in dolls, however, buy
double that many dollars worth every
Chica0O Mems.