The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-16
DOLLS OF FAMOUS WOMEN.
MISS CLARA BARTON SAYS SHE
NEVER OWNED 4 DOLL.

Miss Mary wilkins, Miss Susan b.
Anthony, Mrs. Kate Douglas Wig
gin, Mime. Emma Eames, Mrs. Anne
lila Barr, Mrs. Burton Harrison and
Mrs. Ruth McEnery Stuart Write
EntertuiningIy of the Rag, Wax,
Wood and China Babies They
Nursed and Loved During Child
hOod-Mrs. Virgins, Whose
Achievements in and Devotion to
the Principles of the Kindergar-
ten, Are Only Second to Her Fame
as "A Writer, Says She Was So Harsh
Doll Mother.
New York, April 14.-There was only ona
out of eight leading American women, re-
Gently interviewed who confessed that
dolls had played no part in her childish
life, and love of them had found no place
in her particularly warm and tender heart.
1t is no less interesting a person than
Miss Clara Barton who admitted that she
had nothing to add to the store of doll lore
for the simple reason that she never had
3 doll.
Il never played with dolls consequent
ly have no experience TO Offer" writes
Miss Barton. and in explanation adds: 81
suppose the tastes of children are to some
extent educational, and as mine were
never educated along that line 1 couse-
quently did not develop in that direction"
For all this paucity of doll affection in her
youth. Miss Barton very clearly makes 1t
understood that the lack of mimic babies
never saddened in the least her play days.
Please don't receive the impression
from my doll-less state" she cheerfully in
sists, that 1 lacked abundance of whole
some amusement, fort remember my
childhood with grateful tenderness. 1t no
doubt contributed in some degree to the
life that has followed, as I am sure is
the case with the little prema ture mother
who loves and nurses her family of dolls.'
Miss AnthOny's Cloth Babies.
4 very genuine doll lover indeed was
Miss Susan B. Anthony. in fact any good
bit of promising material that came into
her hands in the nursery DAYS was ant
sooner or later, to be folded into an imi-
tation of portable infant and coddled and
cosseted with f1attering care.
my earliest recollection of dolls" re-
piled this leader of her sex, sis a simple
rag bs&y, made of a bit of cloth and
folded and pinned to have the appearance
of a mead. These primitive treasures were
made in the twinklng of an eye by my
mother, and very often the little blanket
from the crib of my mothers own gay
colored shoulder shawl was literally press
ed into duty Those were my first dolls,
and I'll venture 10 say that we three SIS
tors and playmates, Guefma, Susan and
Hannah, were just as happy with our i'm
promptu babies as are any three little wo-
men of to-day with their fun grown wax
beauties, dressed in the highest Paris fash
ions Later on in life my doll was less
elementary creature. She had a head and
bust made of cloth stuffed very hard With
sawdust or wool. and eyes, nose and
mouth We're drawn out in pen and ink on
the face. This may seem a great improve
ment, but now | come to think of Ii, l
always liked my shawl or blanket charge
best, and can not recall any greater happi-
| ness that these highly improved babies
| gave me-
Stat Children.
It was Mrs. Amelia Barr who. of all the
literary women appealed to, confessed the
strongest influence of dell character on her
| childish days, and her love went out to a
strange assortment of inanimate play
mates.
THE dolls most in use when I was n
| child in Yorkshire and Lancashire" writes
| the popular novelist, were wooden ones,
a round head, square body. legs and arms
| of thin Stats of wood, fastened TO the body
with wire; thus making the limbs flexible
| and movable. They varied in size as in
| price, some being only a half penny, 9th.
! ers twelve half pennies The faces of every
| one were painted with wildly red cheeks
and lips and intensely black or brown haii
| and eyes. l possessed number of all sizes
| and don't think l used them in the ordi
nary way. l valued them as entities fol
| representing my story books, with bis
| dolls for giants, little ones for children an(
fairies and medium ones for men and wo
| men.
When l was years old there wa,
| great agitation on the slavery question
| and a black leather doll was given ms
to represent a negro. For some time
| failed to place him; then / read Robinson
| Crusoe, and he became, of course Mar
| Friday, then a little later a slave. M
| first copy book. L remember, was cover
ed in pale yellow paper bearing a pictur,
| of very black slave loaded with chains
toiling in the sugar field, and a tall whit,
overseer. with whip standing near.
very soon distracted the steel chain tina
LITTLE human being, for whom every sym
/ pathy is aroused.
Violet was little Emma's favorite of al
- ~ % q "a