Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-16
Orchard
s. Wilhelm
Co.

ing my story books, with big dolls for
giants, little ones for children and fairies
and medium ones for men and women.
When l was s years old there was great
agitation on the slavery question, and a
black leather doll was given me to repre-
sent a negro. For some time l failed to
place him.; then l read Robinson Crusoe,
and he became, Of course, Man Friday, then
a little later a slave. My first copy book,
| remember, was covered in Eale yellow
paper bearing a picture of a very black
slave loaded with chains, toiling in the
sugar field, and a tall white overseer with
a whip standing near. l very soon ap-
stracted the steel chain that held my
mothers bunch CT keys, loaded my negro
doll with chains, selected a white doll TO
act as overseer, and finally l allowed the
doll | called after Apollyon in Pilgrims
Progress to run away with the overseer.
cinderella was one Of my favorite play
mates. She was a lovely blonde, as was
her fairy godmother, and the only doll I
possessed that might be called a baby was
a large wax affair that could open and shu,
it's eyes and who came to me on my fourth
birthday in a long, narrow box, lined with
blue satin. My godmotner sent it. and |
was never allowed to play with her ex-
cept when callers brought their children
to the house. On such occasions was
I called upstairs, the wax baby was solemniy
lifted from her blue case. laid across my
arms, her long baby dress fell to my
teet, and | was warned to take great care
OF her. | don't think l gave her a name,
and | don't know what became of her.
When / was 8 years old my story books
were too complex for such Illustrations as
the toys once provided, and / have a dim
memory of a wet Saturday, and Stories
frnr, a. "
funeral pyre within the nursery fender, on
which all the heroes OF my first romances
received the fiery solution. think of
them all tenderly now. There was a pathos
about those graceless wooden toys, some
Of which l can recall with a vividness al
most startling. They still live, though
they never had life, and this is the mystery
which in my next idle hour / must pom
der"
Virginia Dolls.
What Mrs. Barr felt concerning her dolls
and her experiences with them is very like
the affection Mrs, Burton Harrison layished
on hers and the exciting life she led them.
She says up TO the age of 10, when |
put one of them away Ito go into the draw
ing room or our Virginia home to receive
the visit OF two high school boys who had
taken heart OF grace to call), | thought dolls
III lut MOIlu.
acted Shakespeare's plays and old ballads !
with them and at other times Rugged them
TO a truly loving heart, declaring that moth
Ing should ever make me give them up,
no matter what older people said! But out
or the ranks OF my dramatis personae, no
one now arises, alas! more conspicuous
than another"
A New England TOpsy.
Mrs. Mary wilkins was not very de-
pendent on doll friendships, evidently, ror
when obligingly searching her memory for
recollections OF these nursery characters she
can only recall one or two.
There was a black doll by the name OF
which | was very fond Of, and | had
a blue-eyed doll | called Nelly, whose best
dress was a white dotted Swiss. and who
wore beautiful little pink shoes with buck
made by an old lady who lived oppo-
site. / played with my dolls, OF course.
but there are no facts OF special interest
IN connection with them. / never broke
one remember, and Nelly TO be sure al
ways seemed singularly alive to me.
think OF her now as a living COM
OF my childhood, quite unlike two
large dolls who led tranquil, uneyentful
lives and who never ~dIgnihed any warm in
terest or affection"
The Lost Violet.
To near Madam Emma Eames Story talk
o' Violet, one would be apt to conclude that
ms young lady had exerted a marked IT,
luence on the life Of our greatest prima
loEna. And so she did, for doll as she Was.
'he Is remembered as the first and one Of
he lasting loves in Madam Eames' life.
hen Madam Eames tells about Violet ma