Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-13
PERFECT DOLLS
NOT INCH LONG
Marvellous Skill of Mexican In
dian Maiden Told by
Traveller in South.

This is the story of Isabel Belaun-
saran, maker of the smallest dolls in
the world, who is the Quaintest figure
| in Mexico's quaintest town, Cuerna-
vaca, as told by Russell Hastings Mil
ward in communication to the Ma
| tional Geographic society, at Washing
| ton, D. C. -
This little girl is called queen, of
the needle,''' writes Millward. 'The
natives of the village will tell you
| that no cleverer Mexican Indian maid
en- has ever been known. The diminu.
tive dolls she makes, both in point of
construction and design, are the most
remarkable in the world.
1.-THE operation of making consists
in forming a tiny framework of VIE
barely three-fourths of an inch in
length and winding the same with
many turns of silk thread After the
frame has been properly formed it is
ready for dressing. The clothing Is
out according to the character OF the
doll and fitted carefully about the
small figure. The most difficult work.
that of embroidering, is then begun.
With a needle that can scarcely be
held in the fingers and the finest of
silk threads, various designs are actu-
ally embroidered on the clothing, and
so cleverly is the work executed that
even through a powerful magnifying
glass the details of the design appear
to be perfect. After dressing the fig
ures it is necessary to add the hair,
and what is undoubtedly an example
of the tiniest and most marvellous hair
Irne inv In f- Yhn,
each doll. Even to the details of the
braids and ribbons, the work is COM
pletely carried out. The eyes, nose,
mouth, hands and feet are then form
ed and the doll is ready to be placed
on sale in the village shop.
"On account of their daintiness, ex-
quisite coloring, design and workman
ship, these dolls find at all times a
ready sale at the ridiculously low
price of 25 cents each. But two hours
are required to make each doll, so II
can readily be imagined just how rap
idly the work must be done, although
the finished product shows no signs
other than those of artistic skill and
extreme patience. BY working stead
lily for 10 hours the sum of SIPS may
be earned So constantly has this lit
tie maiden used her eyes that she is
beginning to lose her eyesight.
Miniature roses are embroidered
on the dresses and hung about the
shoulders of the dancing-girl dolls.
Ornaments are arranged in the hair
and the tiny limbs are formed in
graceful and iifelike attitudes of dane
ng. The costume of the matador doll
S gaily embroidered in colors and its
lair dressed in Spanish style, inelad-
ng the conventional cue. The flower
girl dolly are provided with small bas-
1ets woven of fine hair filled with
lowers of variegated colors. 1t is diff
icult to believe that human hands
could have fashioned such wonderful
title. figures. The first dolls of this
lind made by Isabel were secured by a
several of the royal families.
"A German traveller criticised thief
Tolls one day and told the little In1
liam maiden that in Germany they had
teas fully dressed and trained to per-
orm the most wonderful feats. Yes
answered she. 4 remember my father
cling how those trained feas We're
irst sent to your country from Mexi-
%. We cannot dress the fieas so COM
,Jetely as the dolls. however. as me
annot make them stand still long
noueh. l suppose she added, naive
Y, YOU can make fieas stand stu as
ong as you like in Germany kes
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