Evening star., 1900-12-15
THECHRISIMAS TREE QUEEN
WHERE THE DEAR AND CHEAP
DOLL BABIES COME FROM.
You Can Buy Trunks, Clothes, Furnf-
turc and Jewelry for
Them, Too.

Doll. No matter what else he may have
forgotten, Santa Claus never leaves behind
him disappointment If for little girls he has
dolls enough to go around. The tastes of
boys differ. for even in infancy the tickle,
changeful masculine soul must assert its
characteristics. Some boys will choose tops,
others want drums, while the embryo
savants or scientists crave books or
cameras.
Shopkeepers give more attention to the
quality Of their doll stock than to that of
any other toy they carry, because they sell
more dolls and the demand for new sorts Is
constant and imperative.
Nest of the figures sold are of foreign
make, although their manufacture in this
country is branch Of business that receives
increasing attention.
German makers of dolls lack originality.
They follow almost entirely the designs
brought to them year after year by Ameri-
can buyers. Their dolls are well set up and
durable. but they lack the chic which the
best French makers impart to their goods
German dolls seldom never have good
lair. Tow or any cheap substance that will
serve Is used to represent the coiffure. AS
the average little girl stipulates in her
prayers that Santa will please bring her a
dolly with really hair that she can comb
and curl" many household might be en-
barrassed did not American shopkeepers
provide themselves with wigs of natural
removed from the head of the doll and the
wig fastened on its Uranium, to the great
satisfaction of the small child, but to the
pecuniary Inconvenience Of the fond parent
who must pay from $3.50 to $3.50 for the
wig.
LOvelier Than Ever.
Dolls are this season of greater variety
and elegance than ever before. The hand
soonest come fsom ia belle France" and
have jointed limbs, indestructible heads and
long hair. fine as silk
The dolls are each packed In a pasteboard
box of coffinlike shape and swathed in layer
after layer of fine paper. When the boxes
are opened, some AZ the dolls are found to
be attired, while others are clad In but one
thin white garment
The Paris dressed dolls are the costliest
Of all. Some of them cost $50 apiece
faVorite mode of dressing the dolls is to
array them in a boX-plaited short coat with
a cloth belt to hold the garment down at
the waist. Over the white frock the plated
skirt has a beautiful fare to show the silk
lining of the coat A white undersIeeve pro-
jects from the coat sleeve, and there is at
the throat a tiny white bow. The hat is
usually trimmed with bit of ribbon and a
few feathers.
Any clever woman can dress a doll to
look quite as well the imported figures
When arrayed in a dainty frock. coat, hat
and underwear, the home-dressed dolly can
be scarcely distinguished from the minia-
ture Partisan belle.
TrOusseauX and Trunks.
The craze for boy dolls seems to be over,
for nearly all the dolls in the big shops
wear strictly feminine garments Infants
with long robes, little caps and high chairs
constitute a large percentage of the doll
population.
Baskets filled with dolls wardrobes even
to a powder box and puff and dainty comb
and brush, are prepared to meet the ap-
proval of well-to-do shoppers whose little
maids are fond of dressing and undressing
dolly. The basket usually contains, be-
sides several different frocks, a complete
set of underwear.
Dolls trunks. covered with cretonne and
lined with plain bright muslin, also delight
the eye Of the connoisseur. The trunks
may be made at home, empty wooden
starch box serving as foundation The Gre
tonne. which should be a petite flowered
pattern in some delicate shade is put on
with small nails. while the brass hinges,
clasps and handles of the smallest pro-
durable size. The plain muslin lining should
harmonize with the covering. On the sides
of the lining should be inserted small pock-
cts for the accommodation of the brushes,
handglass and other toilet accessories.
Toilet ReIongings.
Special dressing tables are sometimes pre-
pared for doly's use. They have tiny mir
rors and are draped with muslin and lace
in the French fashion. The various toilet
bottles and boxes Of the modern BELLE
all repeated in miniature, are scattered over
the tables.
Bathtubs for washable dolls, as well as
for those with real hair, are common. In
fact. there is nothing to which the modern
woman of fashion considers herself en-
titled that the fashionable doll dealer does
not provide for his little clients, even to
miniature sets of pearls and diamonds
made up into tiaras, earrings, finger rings
and bracelets.
Fashions for Babies.