New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
TIE Future OF the Doll
1t Can Never Be Banished from the Nursery.
Saws Norwegian Philosopher.

when the education OF children has
really become science and an art, par
ents will watch anxiously the way IN
which little girls play with their dolls. for
this will give them a deep insight into the
womanhood slumbering in those young
hearts"
SO writes Ellen Key, the Norwegian
philosopher, In her latest book, Words and
Souls" which reached these shores about
| ten days ago.
The book is q collection of essays on sub
| jects for the most part far removed from
! the humble interests OF the nursery. bat
| wcdgcd I'm between reflections on Ma"t"r-
linck and Rodn IS this chapter on dolls.
a comforting chapter it Is. too. 20 those
who may have feared that with the tri-
umph of the suffragctto the doll would
vanish from the life Of the female child.
Ellen Key is "A suffragettc, II less fierce
than some Of that sisterhood. She is also
recognized as an authority on the child,
aud Ellen Key says, in this her latest ut
terancc. that little girls Will always play
| with dolls.
"roys and games some" says the essay.
toys and games go; but little boys will
| iOTtNtI htlEul III pldNlllR wa anu VI ''A
playthings dolls will always be the favor
| ties with little girls"
I Instead Of losing prestige, in fact. the
doll is to gain 1t. The doll OF the future,
We are told, will be taken seriously. and
in the light Of the child's attitude toward
1t will parents and educators steer their
course. The essay prOceecs
| when a little girl shows scant interest
in ready made and well dressed dolls, and
| especially displays an absolute indifference
4, to the ladylike grOwn-up-like ones, where
as she lavshes her tenderness on some un-
! slightly rag doll her parents may feel some
anxiety as to her future happiness. She
will belong TO that class OF women for
whom love and motherhood, or both, take
J the character Of a passion and assume
tragic importance. The future holds much
suffering in store for her.
| When, on the other hand, a girl raves
! wildly over every new doll she receives,
| whether it IS a rag baby or a grand lady,
! and fOrSakcs completely the old ones in
| favor of the new, the need is felt OF a re-
! straining, steadyng influence for this but
! teray-like little soul. She would otherwise
! stir up much activity, but also much
! trouble, I'm years to come.
when a girl finds an IncXhaustible
! source OF enjoyment I'm the continuous
dressing up of dolls in different costumes
She may thus cvincc certain talent for
drcssmaking, but She may also bctray a
| IcErcttablc superfciallty.
/ 1T may also happen thai little girl has
a passion for playing school with her dolls.
When the dolls arc continuously sent to tie
corner or spanked or generally abused tho
! parents may infer that their daughter Is
endowed with certain pedagogical ability
moro or loss misapplicd. she may Also
however have an unpleasant disposition
and harsh nature.
"If on the contrary. tho dolls spend most
of their time IN bed and arc woil cared for
during their Va ous illnesses II tho binding
Of their broke limbs. an exploration of
their insides a., tho observation Of the
mechanism thu makes them move or
speak seems the most fascinating pastime
for the little girl, il may hc that she rs
constitutionally predsposod 10 become
physician II may bo also that she is try
ing her hand at che game Of cat and mouse
the game which she will enjoy later on,
playing cruelty with the hearts Of men.
when a mother sees her little girl fire.
ouently worried over the feelings Of her
dolls. fearing lest her lack of kindness may
Eurt them talking 10 them in suhdued
voice when they arc sick or old: when the
child kisses the discolored and hairless
dolls more tenderly than these that arc
fresh and beautiful. to save the less favored
ones the humiliation OF ncglect-then the
mother may well pray for tho wisdom that
will enable her TO protect the little ono
from the many sharp weapons which viii
stab her bleeding heart That sensitive
little being will grow to I've woman for
whom tho suferings OF Others will consi-
tute the solid web ~ NE
n girl brought up in the country with
many sisters and brothers ur surrounded by
mary domestic animals may rot care ycrr
much for dolls. This Indifference does ~;
necessarily reveal lack of lrothcrly feel
ings. but rather keen sense of the rea!.
When there are many living creatures