New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
DOLL DRESSING FOR PAY.
A Fascinating Occupation with
Good Financial Returns.

They were passing shop ginso., =.
which a galaxy OF dolls in suppo sedlv ~
nifcent ra.ment was displayed. bu, 49,.
cheap bunchy clothing seemed to %, -
the nerves of ore OF the two obseryors
II would IKE to ask that merchant to y,
me soothe the feelings OF those little IasI..
with a few pretty things" she remarked =.
her companion. II think they mus; ho
bit vain. lie the rest Of ~. | have knos.
a great many dolls and / understand ,he.,
feelings.
You see. I used 70 Crcs5 them rrofessio,.
ally" eh. continued. and a r.oro fsscl,,,
ing occupation cannot imagine used ;,
feel al tie Joy o: an artist over a mas,o,-
piece when had turned out a particularly
attractive doll beauty.
81 20. i-to the work quite by accidsn,
An acquaintance rushed up to me In IA.
partment store one day and told me an.
was buying materials to dress lot q,
dolls for p church fair. She was quite Be-.
side herself with worry, as the time wa,
drawing very near.
IF told her would gladly help IL could
ard I wont home that afternoon laden with
materials for my work.
MY sister and / had always been en-.
thuslas,ic over shocking as a decoration
for chtldren's dresses. blouses, ETC., and I
determined to experiment with these tiny
frocks in the same way. y pattern for the
dolls similar 20 the one we used for the
children. was cut and II was very little
trouble 10 put II together. The result was
hotter than | had expected. The dolls
,ookod too tempting for words In their
] fresh little shocked linen dresses and their
J 5ainty undertaking. At the sale my little
rrotAgGes were the very first TO leave the
: booth for homes OF their own. Thus came
! ,no insniration. felt that II the dolls
p,o,,Id take at a church fair they might b
saIable elsewhere.
! at first purchased only small ones, It
% cents apiece These had the Dutch CROP
ca now I'm dolls at that time. and were
very cunning little people. Dressed a
BOYS. in smock and boomers OF PINK o.
hin. soisette (Which is obtainable In beau.
tiful shades), they were most attractive.
A deep. round yoke OF the shocking eX.
tended almost 10 the shoulders and the
same combination Of stitches was used In
tho wristbands. There was a fat collar 81
white linen. divided front and back A
little underwaist to which the bloomes
were buttoned, and white half-hose (nads
from a woman's white Isle stocking) above
the brown shoes completed the costume.
These dolls were placed on sale at the
Industrial Union and were marked rs
The union asked % per cent commission
The demand for them was Immediately Is.
tablished.
| Encouraged by this success, / took my
sister into the firm and We ordered
larger dolls from abroad, through dry.
goods house that let us have them a,
wholesale These were gorgeous beauties,
with compilations Of cream and roses and
! luxuriant hair Most OF these We dressed
as girls, in shocked dresses OF sosstts
or linen, and set Of undergarments con.
sisting Of chemise. little French drawers
shirred at the knee, with tiny RUNE, and
a fluffy pettcoat. For some We went into
the millinery business and made fetching
hats to match their warm cloau.
"Of course. these sold for more. but they
! took quite as we'll as the first. As tho
trade grew We imported whole cases Of
dolls direct from Germany. remember
one special order, a wonderful person. With
! flirting eyes that moved from side to s.ts
| She cost us about 81. but when she wu
dressed in her lovely white linen froek.
| with cap and coat Of white fur and lace
trimmed underclotnes. she was worth the
SO received for her.
1T was fascinating work and paid well
and 1 believe | should be running quite
an establishment now had not my Mus.
band objected so strenucusly 10 my sweat
shop and had We not suddenly decided 10
| move West But l still keep my interest
In dolls and can't bear TO see the poor III.
tie peOple unDecomlngly dressed"