The morning times., 1895-12-15

|
cursion in search OF the quaint and UNUSUAL
one would be certainly beguiled by the
unique advertisement of this shop. 1t
Is small showcase containing dolls in
various stages OF ali infirm condition, and
on the case is inscribed Dolls Hospital"
Who has gotten so far away from his
childhood that he could pass such a unique
index as that or a business that had to do
with the very playtime OF existence? 1t
is enough to make very Scrooce pause
in his flinty course, to reflect for a brief
moment on the phases OF life. And a child
why "a child would be cnraptured with the
humanness OF the notion. A place TO heal
the Ills or dollydom. Oh, what step int
that realm OF Make Believe
| Is there, then, doll doctor? Perhaps it
Is n doll occulst, or q doll dentist, or doll
manicure or pedicure, or a doll general
practitioner. Dear me! Does he feel dolly
pulse or ask to see her tongue?
Then one thinks of the little one at home
with an armful of doh babies. And what
pair of serious blue eyes would gaze
steadfastly into ones own should that
little one be told that there is really a
place TO send Hepsy-Hepsy who has the
measles the very worst kind. And the ex-
cited little bundle of possibilities would
run off to get not only Hepsy, but all the
dolls in the nursery that had lost arms
and had broken feet.
| NahhOW SIAlkW AI.
So the curious passerby makes an inves.
tigation OF love. He goes up the narrow
| little staircase, and before him is the
curious sign again, with a hand pointing
TO another staircase. On up one goes, and
quite uneXpec ctedly runs into the doll
| doctor.
He is a large, strong man, past middle
life, with a kindly twinkle in pair Of
piercing blue eyes. Those eyes seem to
n 1tShE ft-.. .E..I.t 80
matters 10 attend to; don't bother me, you
| know"
| But some way he stops and lets you
bother him. He is very tall ard dignifed
| and wears big white apron and a black
| skull cap. My, but wouldn't this docao or
man impress the children!
The visitor is in very narrow, dingy
little hall lighted by smoky little lamp,
| ami being headed off in front by the doctor
| inquiries, naturally enough, If he is at
the dolls hospital. Yes, you are there.
| You knew that, however, but a door with
| glass window in IL is Srown op,n, and
| an excited little bell ilngles the tidings
| of arrival to whOmsoever may be beyond
| the half partition that makes u little
| box OF a reception room.
| Daughter" calls the doctor; 1.-THE lady
wants to see about dolls"
y very roly-poly OF a sweet-faced young
| woman appeared from behind the scenes.
| 4 very serious affair with her, indeed: and
| on asking to see the patients one finds
| that sick dollies are not 10 he visited at
all as there Is danger of heiglitening their
fever, or something like that, yet coils
never die.
Don't they ever. ever die here?"
mo, they never, never do. They al
ways get well in whatever way they are
crippled. Even if they Lave lung trouble
and are threatened with loss OF voice.
Does Santa Claus come TO see you with
any OF his little charges?'
''Oh. no indeed: never. Only little girls
Gollies are taken in fer treatment, so that
they may be smiling and happy back in
the doll family on Christmas morning."
There were iDnumerable dollies heads
IN a glass case gazing sweetly and trust
ingiy into the very snug little waiting
room. There were Jap dolls, pick
aninny dolls, French dolls, infant dolls
and very stylish Young lady dolls.
HAIR FOR THE DOLLIEs.
Then there were curled wigs like one
Sees in a hair store. Brown and golden
wigs. very beautifully barbered, and mot
curl out of place.
Above the little partition were two
signs. One read, Matches Remedies for
Sale Here" And another read. Dolls
Heads and Trunks Supplied here
A lady came in with big bundle, and
the visitor stood by to see what would
happen. The lady undid her bundle and
displayed two bisquc babies.
what is the uouble?' asked the little
nurse. sympathetically.
"Oh, everything" said the lady. You
see, this dolly can't kick her foot up like
that without jerking her head back. 1t is
very bad case of cerebro spinal meningitis
think. She also has had a terrible time
with her teeth, having lost them all down
her throat. And as a result of all these
troubles she has had her hair drop out with
grlef. DO you think you can fix her up in
health? Her mamma will be overtoyed"
Yes, certainly" And the cheerful
dumping OF nurse patted the dolly and
looked very anliahlyat 1t. till il smiled back.
And this one, poor dear" went on the
lady, mad its foot crushed in an accident.
And one of its eyes is squinted upward in |
a terrible manner. Do younotice its eyelids |
how ragged and red they are?'
''Oh, weli make her look straight out of |
her eyes, and fix her poor little foot"
Then these two looked at each other and |
smiled very cheerfuliy at their little con-
ceit, and the lady wentaway. Thenanother
one came directly with Il serious-eyed little
girl. She asked for a dolls trunk and a |
body was done up for her. But the little |
girl clutched her mothers dress and said |
anXiously.
Where is the trunk, mamma? 1 didn't |
see any trunk" And the explanation pro-
ceeded as they went down stairs.
Then another lady came in, and she had |
n very fine dolly, dolly with wonderful |
eyes aud hair and teeth and clothes-a |
dolly with jewelry aud perfumes. But this |
dolly was seriously ill., 1t had lost its min |
and it talked very nonsensically. Ordina- |
rily it was quite au educated creature. and |
had much more to say about life than the |
frightened scream of most French and Ger |
man dolls suueaking Mamma! Papa! in |
in such an alarming fashion.
HAD LOST IT'S MIND.
But this wise doll now talked at random
The doctor came back with his serious |
glasses to gaze at the doll and to hear her |
talk. And another cheery nurse who was
The Doctors wife, came out, aud we all gath |
cred round to listen to the poor witless doll.
what is she trying to say?" SORROW
fully asked the lady.
We shook our heads as seriously as she
herself. But the doctor asked, surprisedly,
why, don't you know?'
Then he disappeared into the surgery and
did something that sounded like brittle
swapping of wire. We all looked at each
other fearfully, but we heard in a minute
a clear dolly voice saying:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and so
on through the verse. 1t was marvellous
operation, and the visitor is telling you
nothing but the truth aboutit.
As a very last concession, the visitor
took peep into the surgery. Ah, what a
place OF mysteries. Eyes without faces,
teeth without rosebud mouths, dear little
ivory teeth, and talking stomachs, really,
n MI rms nd feet a nd WIGS and Sf,o apd