Evening star., 1941-05-25
Those Who Pass Tests
Get to Keep Dolls.

Having passed a preliminary test
for foster motherhood" she is per-
mitted to take the doll of her choice
home for two weeks. At the end OF
that period, she returns to the GEN.
ter, and If her care of the doll has
been satisfactory, she is permitted
to have it for keeps"
Teachers and workers in the varl-
Gus centers open doll schools for
the little foster mothers" For two
weeks they are taught the rudimentS
of child care and sewing, health
rules and physical culture. They
have stories read and learn courtesy
In play. while they have good times"
dressing and undressing their new
babies. Many of the dolls are wash
able and the children are taught the
proper way of bathing the baby.
Frequently one doll will have COM
plete wardrobe, including street and
party dresses, night clothes and SUM-
suits. Often materials are given
them with which to make additional
clothes.
Miss Russell, who has given many
years to social welfare work, de-
clares the doll schools cannot be
surpassed as CenterS for the dis
senination of information to older
members of the families. Nearly
every Washington community, she
pointed out, offers useful services,
such as libraries, clinics, churches
and Fairgrounds. They are placed
there for all the people who may
need them, but are used by only
about per cent of the persons for
whom they were created, she said
Many children who adopt dolls are
members of families newly arrived
in the neighborhood, she added. and
at the doll centers they learn about
the helpful services in their neigh
borhood.
Information is carried home to
the older people, and teachers at
the centers learn about the fani-
lies of the doll mothers. Names
Of parents are secured, and helpful
literature on child care. hygiene
and other domestic interests are
mailed for their use. They learn
that a clinic is just around the
corner, where Mary can go and
have her teeth fixed" or are told
that visiting nurse is not far
away and will come and see what
is wrong with the baby who is
fretting and feverish."
Men and Boys Donate
Dolls to the Project.
The summer doll project has be-
come so widely known and its con-
structiveness so highly approved
that many men and boys have
wished to participate in the effort
and have donated dolls for their
mothers, sisters and wives to dress.
Business and professional women,
who have not the time to do the
dressing, are glad to contribute dolls
for the project. Many of the dolls
are sent to institutions, where old
people delight in dressing them.
Dozens of dolls will be sent this
week to the Lutheran Home for
the Aged, the Methodist Home for
the Aged and the Baptist Home for
the Aged.
Mrs. Harold B. Rogers is general
chairman of the doll adoption pro-
gram and will direct the community
teas which will be held in Is differ
ent areas next month. Mrs. George
Ross is president of the Council of
Church Women and has been active
in promoting the spread of the doll
adoption program.
Among the chairmen she has ap-
pointed for the doll centers to be
opened in July are: Mrs. j. w.
Graves, Anacostia-Cong Heights
Randall Heights area; Mrs. T. H.
Young, Bloomingdale area; Mrs.
John E. Jones, Brookland area;
Mrs. Clyde Reed, jr., central area;
Mrs. Dwight Jones, Chevy Chase,
Bethesda area; Mrs. E. A. Back,
Cleveland Park, Wesley Heights
area; Mrs. E. p. Myers, Mount
Pleasant area; Mrs. Roberta Gra-
watt, Northeast area; Mrs. James
Coffey, Southeast area Mrs. Au-
gene Fugitt, Southwest area, and
Mrs. T. w. Marshall, Takoma Park
area. Other area chairmen will be
announced within the next week