The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
A DUTCH DOLL.

- LIZ vi 1--'
"What can Dutch doll be?' II won
der whether it is anything like French
DOLL "With regular trousssau!" "Oh,
how long the time seemsI' we're few OF
the ordinations that burst forth from
some children clustered expectantly
about the tightly closed doors OF draw
ing-room in New York city.
"Mamma promised me a surprise for
my birthday" Ella Young was saying to
her impatient guests, when suddenly the
folding doors slid open.
Upon the floor at the far end OF the
room the children saw queer, dumpy,
white.robed little figure about two feet
in height, with gloved hands meekly
clasped over it's breast, whose charcoal
eyes, nose, and mouth contrasted comic
ally under it's big sun bonnet with sus-
piciously white complexion.
"My dears, allow me to introduce to
you Fraulein Spookenpuppe," said Mrs.
Young, who was standing by large table
just behind the homely, quaint figure.
although stranger just arrived on our
shores, she understands our language per-
fectly, and possesses marvellous COM
prehension. Dolly, bow to the COM
pany."
The doll bent slowly forward.
'Play the piano, Dolly"
Dolly's ten little fingers strummed
loudly upon the floor.
"Can you whistle, Dolly?"
Dolly shook her head.
"Hold up four fingers of your right
hand"
Immediately four fingers of we'll de-
veloped right hand wee wildly clawing
the air.
Scratch your head. Dolly" and the
bonnet was almost torn from her head in
her frantic endeavors to prove her intel
ligence and obedience.
Then the children took turns in pro-
pounding questions to the talented stran-
ger, until finally, becoming tired and
leased, Dolly suddenly dismembered
herself, kicked pillow high into the air,
and rushed into the midst of her delight
ed audience, and chased them scream
ing from the room.
Like the children at the birthday party,
1 feel that the readers of Harper'S Young
People will be curious to learn exactly
how the Dutch doll was made, so give
an explanation Of it.
The materials for Dutch doll are
pillow, a string, hood or a sun-bonnet,
a piece OF charcoal, a pair of gloves, and
night-gown.
A boy lies on his face beneath table,
which must touch the wall on one side
while from its top a cloth falls to the
floor, completely draping the remaining
three sides.
One of the boys legs is drawn up tight
ly against his body, and the other one
from which the boot has been taken) is
bent at the knee, and stands upright out
side of the hanging table-cloth.
This foot and leg are inserted between
a small, longish pillow and it's case-the
leg being separated from the table-cloth
only by this latter; the upper corners of
the pillow are drawn backward and PIN
ned together at the heel, while string
tightly tied around the center of the
pillow and leg divides the head and
body of the doll. Across this pros
trate boy crouches a second child, facing
the upright leg, with his hands and arms
extending from under the table, one on
each side of the pillow. The night-gown
is then put on, the arms well introduced
into the sleeves; the gloved hands clasp
ed in front at the dolls waist, and finally
upon the head is placed the hood or sun
bonnet, and nose, eyes and mouth are
outlined with a piece of charcoal. Par
ticular care must be taken in the arrsng-
ment of the night-gown where it touches
the leg of the boy, so that even Dolly's
lowest bow may not suggest too Don the
secret of her Harper's Young
People.