The evening times., 1898-06-15
SWKLL DOLLS
AND THEIR COST
Two Women Make Handsome
Incomes Dressing Them.
The Little Children of the Rich Own
Waxen Beauties Carl ed In COST
licst Satins md Lace.

Making doll dresses and fitting out ba-
bies is the vocation followed by two young
women of this city. says the Chicago
Evening Post, with success which DEM
onstrates the possibilities in this field for
those who have gift and liking for dain-
ty needlework. They find the good old
fashioned sentiment which DEGREES that
a mother should find pleasure in person.
ally preparing the wardrobe of her expect
ed baby to be far from arbitrary in its
application. And their experience also
goes to show that child finds quite as
Keen enjoyment in dolly c:othes'' from
the hands of professional doll dress
maker as in those garments crudely fash
ioned by her own small fingers, despite
many fond traditions to the contrary.
The fiat in which Miss Ada Hasell and
Miss Ethel Townsend live and pursue
their novel profession is a sight to make
girl who has not passed the doll ag"
dance with delight. and to bring smiles OF
pleasure and appreciation to the face OF
every woman who possesses Il spark OF
maternal instinct. The tables. beds and
dressing cases of this apartment are COW
cred with tiny and immaculate garments
of the most delicate fabrics and exquisite
oiiiy tut tApNticitOu itiH-
inine eye can discriminate with absolute
certainty between the dainty apparel in
tended for the largest of dolls and the
;iniest infants. Certainly the most am
bilious creations of poor Jenny Wren.
Dickens pathetic little doll dressmaker of
Our Mutual Friend" who leaned upon
her crutches and spied upon the grand
ladies' as they came from receptions and
parties, in order to reproduce their beau
tiful gowns, were not to be compared with
the sumptuous trousseaus in miniature
which are designed and made by these
young women for the fortunate children
of wealthy homes ia the large cities OF
this country and Great Britain-for the
dolls dressed in this South Side fiat have
found their way into the nurseries OF
some of the most artlstocratic houses Of
England and Scotland.
In this peculiar field Jf feminine effori
| Miss Townsend is undoubtedly entitled tc
the honors of pioneer. When asked
how she came TO think of doll dressmak-
| ing a profession. Miss Townsend said
From the time l was old enough 10 re-
| ally enjoy doll, / cherished the mental
| PICTURE of a dollhouse such as l had new
er seen in any shop window, store, ba-
zaar or nursery. As 1 grew older l fully
decided to realize this childish dream. /:
seemed to me the ideal doll should be
ate and well made as that of a child In
a fashionable home. The sham and film.
| siness characteristic of all the doll cloth.
| ing l ever had seen disgusted me with
| dress dolls for church end charitable en-
| teItainmentS. The more of this work
| did the stronger became my liking for |.
| and the greater were the possibilities
| which opened before me.
II studied the whole problem in a seri.
| Gus way. and persistently kert at my ex.
| periments until fairly assured that they
! We're thoroughly practical from a pro-
| fessionai standpoint. Three years ago
| came TO Chicago and began to put my
| theories 10 the test. l went from store Il
| store. only 20 find that the managers die
not share my enthusiastic opinions re-
| gardirg the possible market for high
| priced and elaborate doll trousseaus. Bu
| did succeed in getting orders for sever.
| al gross of fancy paper coll wardrobes
| This was a beginning. and a little later
| found sale for trousscau of fine materi
| ais and careful workmanship. Since ther
4 | have made wardrobes for nearly all o.
| or quite 2JD0 dolls. These have been or
| private orders for elaborate and eNpen.
| sive trousseaus and wholesale orders from
| the best stores.
| The first thing done with every dol
| which comes to us from an outfit is &c
| wash its face and hands and comb Its
| hair. This is to give us an idea of how
| 1t may be dressed most becomingly. fol
every dress is specially designed for its
| individual wearer. and the utmost care