Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-11-13
DAVENPORT LADY WHO
BEsTOWs LOVE ON A DOLL

oGO wv . LIZ u yin n OOA6
a highly respectable lady in Daven-
port, who has n pleasant but child
less home, has a large doll baby that
is the object of her affection, and on
which she spends considerable money
every year, says the Davenport Re
publican. Once every year she makes
il an entire new wardrobe. and when
this is done she gives it n party and
invites the little girls of the neigh
borhood to- come and help entertain
the doll. The little people are given
nice lunch and all the candy they
can eat. The doll occupies during
the reception IA pretty chair purchas-
ed for it many years ago, and the
children naturally admire and possi-
bly, envy the pretty wardrobe of the
inanimate piece of bisque and saw
dust. Most of them are not as eX-
pensively dressed because the means
of their parents will not permit the
outlay, but they naturally look for
ward to the dolls party because of
the good things they get to eat and
the pleasures they have of romping
and playing in the large grounds
surrounding that pretty home.
! inlS illllt SlOIN III anu
doll is true. and is only cited to show
that people must have something TO
love. Some women who are childless,
while loving their husbands. bestow Il
certain portion of their affection on
cats, dogs and birds, but it is unusual
for them To pick up an inanimate
object and make il an idol as in the
case cited. The Davenport lady. of
course, gets pleasure out of the care
she gives TO her doll or she would
seek some other pet. She finds it
necessary to have something to idol
iZe in connection with her pretty sur
roundings, and instead of choosing
cat, a dog or a bird, she chose a
pretty doll.
The thought naturally comes, why
did she not take some orphan boy or
girl of respectable parentage and give
! it the affection she bestows on her
doll? Some day there would have
| been return in kindness and appre-
citation that she can never get from
her present pet. Even the grateful
ness of dog or cat should touch the
human heart and il does most hearts.
The purring of the old tabby cat on
the rug on the return of the owner
to the home is music to the ears of
most mankind. But Il doll can only
charm by its beauty. while human
beings, especially in childhood. bring
happiness because of the apprecia
tion they show as a reward for kind
ness. Had the kind-hearted Daven-
port lady CHOSEN helpless baby
some years ago instead of the doll
and cared for it as she certainly
would the music of that child's voice
in her home would now he the sweet
est melody that she ever heard. She
would see the development in body
and mind of a human being, and in
this way see that her love and soil
tude were not misplaced.
This sketch is not written with the
object to criticise, but rather to draw
moral which has already been hint
ed at Nothing should so appeal to
people as the innocence OF child
hood. The little people have their
loves and hopes and pride. and pains
the same as people of mature years.
When denied what is due them they
| feel il, and when bereft of parents
they are helpless. Men and women
possessed of means should seek out
and care for unfortunate children
when they have none of their own
to bless their homes. In this way
they will help mankind and have
mucn more satisfaction than where
they bestow their means and affec
ton on something of an inanimate
nature.