ANTIQUITY OF DOLLS.

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 143, 17 June 1916, Page 16

ANTIQUITY OF DOLLS.

An article headed "On Toys and Dolls" recently appeared in the New Statesman.. It- contained the following passage:— ''Miniature imitations of the articles ■used by the priests in making sacrifices have also survived, suggesting that pagan children also enjoyed playing at church for the benefit of their dolls' souls. On the other hand, many oE these copies of real things may themselves have possessed a religious rather than a nursery significance. They may have teen, not playthings, but magic likenesses. Indeed, the view has been held in some o.uariers that the word 'doll' itself is in some way related to the word 'idol.' This derivation, it should be said, however, is not even paid the compliment of being mentioned in Sir James Murray's Dictionary, where 'doll' is given, without a hint of there being- any doubt on the matter, as 'a shortened pet-form of Dorothy." In- commenting on this, Mr. E. Tregear, of Wellington, wrote:—"Without believing that the word 'doll' is etyraologically the child either of 'Eidolon' or 'Dorothy,' I think that you are absolutely correct in tho . doll previously Having had a religious significance. It seems to be- 'a far cry' from the dolly of an English child to New Zealand— but the study of primitive peoples sometimes teaches us what our own ancestors were like when they we-re nearer the fountain-head of customs. The Maoris had, before the European advent, almost all -the toys and games which English children use or enjoy—tops, kites, hoops, swings, cats-cradle, skipping ropes., even the 'jmnping-jack,' but the children. nursed.no dolls. Instead; the dolls were resenred for the women, who, when they desired children, carried, about little household-gods, dressed up as puppets. These dolls were sacred and efficient on account of the powerful charms and incantations which had been recited over them. They were supposed to make the women fruitful. So the origin of dolls may bo, as you surmise, in religious o.vprcises. The girl-chilclmi would, aftel' a. while. as religion grow more faint, imitate their mothers and carry dollf. Ths boy* would, (or renioot quite pp' paront, choose other .toy*."-