The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-24
NEWS FROM TOYLAND
By FREDERIC ! H4SKIN
IV-DOLLS OF ALL NATIONS

small enough TO go into an ordinary
vest pocket, and yet is perfectly made
in every detail
IL is said that the toy dealers Of
England seem TO think all dolls are
TO be married during the coming
year. Those exhibited on the Eng
lish counters are nearly all dressed :.
in their wedding garments. but no one
has suggested an explanation OF this
strange fad. Dolls frequently have
figured In the affairs OF the heart of
real people. Everybody is acquainted
with the novel method OF announcing
engagements with doll tea parties, but
a new use for dolls has been found by
several brides In New York, who have
had dolls made that are exact NINA
ture images OF themselves. These
are dressed by the lady's tailor and
the milliner who made the bridal out
At, in exact reproduction of the bridal
clothes themselves. Even the slip
pers, the veil. the jewelry and other
furnishings OF the bride are exactly
duplicated for the doll. These BRIDE
dolls are presented to the bridesmaids
as souvenirs of the wedding.
Many teachers take advantage OF
the great number OF types OF dolls
10 teach their pupils geography and
history. One OF the first pedigogues
TO adopt this plan was the tutor OF
the then little Queen Wilhelmina OF
Holland. He was anxious that she
should grow up thoroughly familiar
with the history of her people and her
subjects beyond the seas. To this end
he had images made of the people OF
Holland from the foundation OF that
government and also of her subjects
in Dutch Guinea and the Dutch Settle
ments in Africa. With these dolls
and manikins he was able to lead her
along the paths of history and ge0g-
raphy during her playtime. The mu-
scum OF natural history in New York
takes advantage OF dolls for this same
purpose. II has dolls which represent
every race and nationality on earth.
These are atHred exactly as the types
they represent, and are placed amid
surroundings exactly like those in
which the traveller would find their
prototypes.
Dolls have figured in the supersti-
tons of many nations. Among the
Eskimos of our own continent are
found fetish dolls which are supposed
TO scare off evil spirits. They are
dolls which have had their heads torn
from their bodies. When deer and
other game are scarce they place
images of Eskimo men on high poles
to watch out for and to attract game.
No such image is complete until a
headless doll Is fastened TO It's outer
clothing.
In Japan when a little girl Is born
there must be bought for her a COL
lection OF dolls representing the en-
peror and the empress and the I'M
portant functionaries Of the royal
court. These dolls are treasured and
pass from one generation to another.
| There is an annual feast OF dolls
, known as Hina Matsuri. Tiny inifa'
tions stamped with her own seal are
sent out 10 her little friends by the
child. This feast lasts for three days.
On the first day all the dolls which
participate are arranged according to
| their rank, and each must have It's
full equipment. The little manikin
men must have their swords and their
court dress The lady dolls must be
/ as faultlessly att.red as II they were
court function.
In many Catholic countries services
| are held in which the figures in the
/ life of Christ are represented by man
ikins. The manger scene Is one or
those depicted. Here one may behold
the infant Christ, Mary. Joseph the
Wise Men, angels, shepherds and even
the animals The Passion Play is said
to have grown out of the scenes por-
trayed by manikins.
The little girls OF the United States
will have no trouble to prove that
| Collector Loeb of New York, is
sworn enemy of Santa Claus. There
is a tariff on china and also a tariff
on dolls. The tariff on dolls and parts
of dolls is only about half as great as
that on china but Collector Loeb de-
clared that china doll heads must pay
a duty of 60 per cent when they come
into the United States. on the ground
that they are china. His superiors
over.ruled him and declared that they
are parts OF dolls.
Tomorrow-Selling to Santa Claus.