New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-30
THE QUFEN'S DOLLS.
vICTORlA'S LITTLE COMPANIONS.

VICTORIAS LITTLE COMPANIONS.
In the new number Of The strand Magazine" Mo
Fmncrs Low describes the large collection OF dolls
dressed BY Her Majesty when girl at kensinston
rslacr tn" article has been read and revised by the
Queen who sent. through Sir Henry POnsonby. the
following memorandum:
"IIer Majesty was very much devoted to dolls. and
indeed played with them until She was nearly four
teen wears old. Her favores were small dolls-smalt
wooden dolls. which she could occupy herself with
dressing. and who had house In which they could
be placed None OF Her Majesty's children cared for
dolls a, she did but then they had girl companions,
which she never had. Mrs. Victoria COnrOy latter
ward Mrs. llammrr) came to see her once week.
and occasionally Others PLAYED will, her. but with theSe
exceptions she left alone with the companionship
Of her dolls" In postscript >ir II. Ponsonby adds:
since writing the above have been Informed that
II Is not correct that OF Her Mnjestys children
cared for dolls ~ the four eldest Princesses were
very fond Of Them" In subsequent note Fir Henry
adds: 1.-THE Queen usually dressed tlI" dolls from
costumes she either In the theatre or private
lifc."
There IS. indeed Miss Low writeS) ample evidence
In The and attention layished upon I'll" dolls OF
the immense importance with which they were
guarded by their royal little mistress and an additional
and Interesting proof Of this is 10 he found In whae
might call the "dols' archives These recor's
are 10 b" fObndt In an ordinary copy-l0oA' now
little yellow with years. the inside rov,r OF which
/, written in q child sh. Struggling but determined
handwriting: List OF my dolls Then follows In
delrate feminine writing the name OF the doll. by
whom It dressed. and th" character 1t repre-
s-nted tholgh this particular IS sometimes omitted
When the doll represents actress. the date and
name OF the ballet are also given. by means OF which
Is enabled TO determine the lat" OF the dressing,
which must have been between 1e3l and 1o:i3. when.
SIR Henry SAYS III" dolls were packed away OF
The -. dolls preserved. the Queen herself dressed no
fewer than thrty-two. In few Of winch she was
helped by Baroness Le7en. fact that Is scrmpuously
recorded In the book and thej deserve n be handed
down to poshrity rs an rxamp" OF tie patience and In
gcnnitv and exquisite handIworl Of a tweve-ycnroId
princess.
The dolls Ct the most mnir6misihg material,
md would ID" REGARDED with scOrn by III" average
board school Il IL. OF to-day Int il the pleasures Of
mad CITATION anything II planning and creating
and achieving are in themselves delightful 20 child.
and IT." emitting and making Of "d0Ilys clothes
ESPECIALLY Charm 10 l:iilr girl only second I" nu>-
liv" baby then there Is doubt that the Prin-
cess obtained many more hours OF pure happiness
from her extensive wooden family than II II had been
launched upon her ready dressed by tn" most expen.
sv. OF Partisan modiSteS. Whether expensive" dolls
were not oLtainalhr NJ that period or whether the
Princess preferred these dro little wooden creatures.
rs suitable for the representation OF historical
aud theatrical rei>onag's know not but the whols
collection Is made OF them, and they certainly make
admirable little puppets. being articuatrd at the
knees. thighs. joints. elbows. and shoulders, ana
available 70: every kind OF dramatic gesture and
attitude. II mast he admitted that they are not
ac,thrilrally beautiful with their Dutch doll-noo
Durch-type OF face Occasionally, owing TO chin
being little more pointed or no'e little blunter.
there Is slight variation Of expression: but with
the exception Of height. which ranges from three
Inches to nine inches. they precisely the same
There Is the qucerest mixture VI infancy and matron
illness In their little wooden faces, due 10 the COM
bination Of small sharp noses and bright verminoo
cheeks consisting of big dab OF paint In one spop,
with broad placid brOwS. over which. neatly parted On
each temple, are painted elaborate elderly. geylsh
r,rls The remainder ot the hair Is coaiback. aud
* relieved b, - Tiny yellow comb perchsd upon the
back VI tile head.
I'm. dali. dressed by Her Majesty for the most
part theatrical p"rsonas", ANA Court ladies' anu 10.
GUIDE also three male, ,"i "uoi' irit are Only some
,ry,u or eight ia The whole cOl"ctOnl. ana a lew
ltt, bani-, Iiny creatures mad" Of rag with painted
muslin fncs,. III" workmanship IN the irocks -
.ImuX rxnui.i,r: liny rtmrS sewn with Hairy
stitches. We. pork'is on apron; az must De oHrne ~
mind for dolls OF nv" ar 'N Inches. are aencaly
finished OH with minute bows: littl" handkfrchieis
than naf an Inch ,iar, are "nvIoat anS
there are charlan~s OF whit" and gold bead, 50 small
thai they alno,, slip out OF ONE, LANDS ~ snnsr n
ihr unw,s,ri-i patience that must hay" been pos.
>",s.d by he youthful fa,hi"ncr :. Who'll" group q
doll, represent, chnra' l"r> IN III. lart OF krnil-
worth" which performed In i.''I. at me famous
king, Theatre. II would l~ Interesting 10 hno"
whether Her MAJ e>ty was herself ik"ll 10 Inc operh
f. She went the opera and saw III" ballet y! wnlrn
sh. WIS very fond. several times. Not" Wv IN"
Queen or whether he costumes w'r" described 10
her or whether ihr knowledge WAS obtained from
Icin, {. None "vi,i"d.v. r.. which latter theory.
owiny 10 The mInlt"nrs> Of detail. seems IN" most
ur,,a ilr TO this the Princess Victoria cOntrf.
hutrd Two OF the clara,irr>--ROlert Dudley Earl ~
Leicester and Amy Ro,sart.
ANY Rob. ART uhp Va paved IN r." bairt ny
Nile ErOcnr,l. q popular dare r ~ IN" period.
hn, = long narrow riding habi' al green >afin with
short habit bodice of the material trimmed with
nalr " gold line down the front, and ,nlng 10 point
M the waist Her sleeves ti-it, and she wears
large broad -lrinmrd black velvet Tat Of the Dt
Vernon >hap' with white curling f.ath'rr falling ~
20 Nor forehead This is Of Nh" most Realistic 4
aI the dolls ard III" d">> was no dubt an exact re-
pr auction Of the worn by tn" actress. Queen
Y,Iza,"h +, this billet arr' Sod b. Baroness Lehzcnl
with ruH4l .e v,.S anI heavy girdi' # gold beads.
II.r tr. ind tain h.ngng from l"r shoulder Il
,,adn Of tho Stne material trimmed with ermin" ana
lined with bright Crimson plush. also her Shoes:
Round her icrk. she wears pearl>. aud wonderful
little crown Of crimson pii>h. Will point OF ghI
rap,r festOprrd with pearls. adWns Tho ROYAL head.
There ar. several little tables and 'arS covered In
i K ard clint. and some fascinating tiny bead trim
knt, and little cry >tal tea services IT In" knd sold IN
boycs sore twc' " year. AGO: hut wI'lch arc very
difficult 10 procure NOWADAYS. \ word ~ mention
must ba uinde az 2 small whit" Satin crnds' made
from a rardb ard box. containing SET oi twins ana
Of numerous variety Of satin quilts edged With nce.
and silk and satin cushions. no doubt Used For the
drawing room sofas.