The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-26

Santa Clans in all his glory, riding atop a
beautiful chariot where he holds "A Christ
mas tree aloft and where he Is surrounded
by n galaxy of toys, dolls and animals
that even the most sedate adult pauses to
examine with much pleasure. A pretty
maiden in blue drives the horse attached
to Santa's chariot, and a real horse-at
least the stuffed skin of what was once a
prancing steed In old Nuremberg town
IL is, too. BY the side of the horse is Carlo,
the big dog, lacking only the barking
from his red mouth and the wag Of his
bushy tail to make him perfect. This dis
play is always surrounded by q large
throng of folks little and big.
There is here q marvellous display of
dolls. The Germans. the Bavarians. the
French and the Swiss show dolls that make
grown women wish they were little girls
again and cause even men to pause and
admire the art and ingenuity employed in
the manufacture of such perfect creatures.
But the doll display which is sure to
take first prize Is the product OF American
hands. 1t IL in the Woman's building,
where 1t was placed by the New York
ladies whose def hands fashioned it. This
is perhaps the most p%retentious and most
successful effort made in the doll world.
The dolls are not SO remarkable as their
costumes, for the latter show the dress
and personal adornments of all the people
who have helped to make America what it
is and of all epochs in the country's his
tory. 1t was q happy idea and has been
most cleverly executed. First to attract
attention, perhaps, is a Spanish senorita
of the time of the settlement of st. Angus
IL. IN sLa n1laat xovrp &. ~.
She is a beautiful senorita, with full skirt
about q body which one may readily
imagine to be 1.-THE and passionate, and a
lace mantle half concealing a piquant face
and a wealth of raven hair.
Near by is a maiden attired as maidens
were In the early days Of New ~England-a
prim little Puritan with a mouth made
for kissing that never was kissed, we fear.
She is a splendid type Of that race of Pris-
elias who fascinated our early John
Aldens and Miles Standishes and who
nave left their mark on the sturdy man
hood and earnest womanhood that nave
peopled, not only New England but large
parts of New York, the western reserve OF
Ohio, and all the prairies and valleys of
the west. This Priscilla wears a brown
homespun gown, with a white kerchief
crossed on her breast. On her head is a
bonnet or cap with strings of black velvet.
There are 40 many other beautiful doll
figures here that the average visitor finds
himself lingering by the hour to look at
them. The prettiest Of all, many think, is
New York belle of the year 1850, when
New York was a mere village at the lower
end of Manhattan island. Her costume,
oddly enough, is not so far different from
the fashionable apparel Of u own day.
She has a gown of green silk, n long, fur
trimmed cloak, n black velvet hat with
nodding plume and n great muf which
hides her little ~doll-hands. Much simpler
but quite "a comedy is n demure Quakeress
in n gray satin garb with just n dash of
coquetry in the bow under her chin.
Every one stops to admire a representa-
ton of a lady of the court Of Washington
who Is so perfect and SO stately that she
might be Lady Washington or Nellie
Curtis herself. Apetticoat of white satin,
with long coart train Of white, brocaded
In gold and bright c%olors, pearls around a
slender throat and powdered hair In curls
that are looped back with pearls, make a
picture of rare loneliness.
This is a comical looking little lady in
crinoline, n Dutch fraulein Of the early
days OF New Amsterdam, an exact copy Of
the portrait Of Mrs. William Beekman,
who was the belle Of New York three
quarters Of n century ago, and several
costumes Of the present day. The whole
display Is unique and beautiful. And
these things hat ] have mentioned form
but a small part Of the exhibits which are
Of special interest to our friends and
lovers, the little men and women Of
America RoBERT GRAvEA