The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25


women are nearing the root of all evil
in their discussion on the influence of
dolls. If so, the doll OF the future will
be a most imposing parsonage, not at all
popular with her morsel of mother, who
wants something to love, not to learn
from. The presentation of a doll will be-
come a serious matter, not to be entered
into without due thought of the lessons
to be absorbed from it's face and clothes.
Rag dolls, wooden dolls, wax dolls, china
dolls and all other kinds Of doll have
an influence, each according to its kind
so say the Chicago women, and they were
most severe against the fippants French
doll with her waxen shipper and faxen
hair. They shuddered at the thought of
putting her In the arms of any little girl
and prophesied darkly what that little
girl would become If she were allowed to
cherish the fair foreigner. Vain and
frivolous wer the most pleasant adjec-
tives they used.
with the children it is not question
Of morals. A doll is a doll all the
world over. Minneapolis is but speck
on the worlds surface, and from inquiries
made in the city it would seem that with
the children of the rich the doll is sub
ordina ted to her wardrobe, while to the
children of the poor the wardrobe is a
minor consideration and the doll is pre-
eminent.
A group of wee aristocrats were dis
GUESSING their toys the other morning, and
not one of them told how she played with
her dolls but all entered into minute de-
scriptions Of dolly's clothes with all the
| enthusiasm Of young women planning their
! trousseaux. :s
IT wanted Santa Claus to bring me a
black coachman and a waitress, and be
| did, but the waitress had on a horrid cot
| ton frock and I can't have her in the
playhouse until Auntie makes her a really
truly black frock with white apron like
| waitress ought to wear, and the mite
sighed as if she had the cares Of an es-
Establishment on her shoulders.
| my Santa Claus doll has trunk full
of clothes all satin and silk and fu1
collar and muff, - caroled her playmate.
my mama says silk dresses aren't RICH
for little girls broke in third with al
anxious look in her blue eyes, and so
say they isn't nice for dolls"
Those small women take their dolls tt
kindergarten every time they have new
frock, while in the mission kindergarten
dollie only goes when she has a clear
frock, for one of the great lessons which
the kindergartens teach the poor is clean
illness and many home is kept tidy AM
clean by the presence OF SNUG race
china doll whose mother is most exacting
There is a tiny girl in South Minneapoli
who washes all of her dollie's clothe
| every Saturday SO that she Will be cleal
for Sunday, just as her mother takes car
Of her little frocks
DOLLS do exert a great influence on tn
} children said Miss Stella L. Wood, tn
director Of the kindergarten norma
| school, 'They make a child thoughtful!
} considerable, loving in proportion to tn
way in which they are regarded by tn
older people, Children endow their doll
\ | n
Guile. A laugh has destroyed pleasure in
doll more than once and has robbed tn
! child of something that can never be re
placed. The more primitive the doll Ii
the better the child likes 1t, for it appeal
more directly to the imagination.
"By entering into the child's belief lths
!, the doll is alive, much can be done l
molding the child nature. remember on
little girl who gravely announced one da
that her doll had the scarlet fever. Th
0 child's mother was concerned at once an
> suggested that it should be put in bee
! A few minutes later drive was propose
and the child was delighted. She ran fo
= ! her hat, and when her mother asked anS
> iously: But your doll, can you leave he
when she is so ill?' The child hesitatet
The mother added, Perhaps she is asleep
If you should cover Der up warmly sh
might rest until we come back. The chill
- quickly accepted the suggestion and ra
!, up stairs to return with beaming smile
She's asleep she whispered but COY
cred her up nice and warm and she won
miss me- BY laughing at the child whe
. she announced her dolls ailment, tn
. mother might have hurt her SO that sh
: would have kept her thoughts and play
= to herself and the confidence betwee
mother and child. might have bee
, broken"
= The doll is an important parsonage /
the kindergarten and at Unity House set