Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
NURSERY MODELS
DELIGHT CHILDREN
Mrs. George 0. Totten Tells
How She Conceived Idea of
Mother Goose Models.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

Bringing to children the beauty and
poetry of Old Mother Goose by means
of vivid little figures of cardboard cut
out and colored, with jointed limbs
movable in realistic manner and set up
on metal stands, is the work Of
Mrs. George Oakley Totten of 1888 Six
tenth street, socially prominent, al
ready known throughout this country
and Europe as an artist and sculptress.
One might almost say that Mrs.
Totten has brought to life the famous
characters of the old nursery book. For
several years, plaster figurines of Mother
Goose and her children have been made
with success by Mrs. Totten, who seeing
them, conceived the idea that by max
ing figures which could be moved and
twisted about, the children would enjoy,
in even greater degree, their favorite
characters and the unforgettable iingles
of Childhood.
Develops Love for Art.
Children love to take beautiful
things in their hands," said Mrs. Totten.
They like to be able to play with the
things they read about. Beautiful things
about them also unconsciously develop
love of art"
1t is almost impossible to realize that
out of bits of jointed cardboard, painted
with water colors, one could create the
things of beauty which have resulted
from Mrs. Tottens inspiration. No
mere paper dolls are these playthingS.
Executed with skill and vigor, each face
and figure bears a stamp of distinct
| individuality. Stretched out on table
as on parade, there passes an unforget-
table pageant.
Led by Old Mother Goose, who can
wave her cane or turn her head to look
at the gander following her, one sees
all the characters known from infancy;
Little Bo Beep, Mary, Mary, Quite Con-
trary; Little Boy Blue and every other
favorite loved by the little ones through
out the world.
Particularly fascinating, even to the
grown-ups, will prove Mrs. Totten's
conception of Simple Simon Seated
above his mothers pail" Simon Is
holding a fishing line, which can be
drawn out Of the bucket disclosing
plump little fish on the end of the
hook, much to the delight of the
children.
Gets q Gold Fish.
II felt so sorry for Simple Simon,
who went forth to catch a whale in
his mothers bucket" said Mrs Totten,
that I decided to let him get a nice
fat gold fish on the end of his line"
George Porgy is also to be seen kissing
two pretty little girls, whose hands and
arms are able to be moved about accord
ing to the Interpretation of their owner
Either little girl may put her hands
to her face in shame or she may throw
her arms responsibility about George
Porgy's neck. 1t depends entirely upon
the personal idea of the child playing
with the figures. Little boys can have
the time Of their lives soaring little Miss
Muffet, whose spider. sitting down be-
side her can be made to crawl in most
realistic manner. Others, may heartily
envy Jack Horner eating his Christmas
pie, as th9 plum he pulls out has been
most lusciously painted on the end Of
Jacks thumb.
A tiny Baby Bunting" has been
cleverly cut out of tin by Mrs. Totten
and placed in a cradle which really
rocks. Mrs. Totten says that her figures
have already proven so popular with her
own children and those of her friends
that they are beginning to show the
result Of energetic manipula ton. AS a
result, she is considering reproducing
them in metal, such as the Baby Bunt-
ing in tin, which can Withstand the
attentions Of the most strenuous little
players.
Deep Inspiration.
Mrs Totten has had the deepest sort
Of inspiration for her lovely work.
Hanging on the wall of her living room
is the picture of a gayly colored Viking
ship, whose sails are blowing merrily in
an unmistakable gale. The picture was
made by Mrs. Totten's 7-year-old son.
George Oakley Totten. 3D. Not only has
he shown the awakening of genius
through the medium of painting, but he
can play on the piano most entertain
ingly little bits Of his own composition