A DOLL RENAISSANCE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2293, 5 January 1900, Page 6

A DOLL RENAISSANCE.

It will hardly surprise anybody to learn that there are fashions in dolls. It may have given them a slight shock to learn that there is a Baby's Club in existence, but fashions in dolls—well, the thing seems almost natural. A child, even the veriest infant, cannot, in reason, be expected to go on loving the game sort of contrivance month after month, especially as, according to a Regent atreet authority, an English child " consumes " on an average six dolls per annum. The movement is chiefly distinguished by a return to wax dolls of English manufacture.

" It is a reaction in the nurseries," said one dealer. " For years French and German bisque has reigned, and year after year they have been getting cheaper, until now a doll which twenty years ago would have cost a guinea can be had, completely dressed, for a shilling. When you consider that about 4,000,000 dolls are sold annually in the kingdom you can see what this means to the doll importers, among whom the late Lord Mayor is prominent. " English dolls have never been so elaborate, so intricate,but they suit our children's character best. The attempt to make permanently popular talking dolls, and eating-and-drinking dolls, was an attempt to beat down the inherent conservatism of English nurseries. " Dolls exercise untold influence on children's characters. Simple, but beautiful, dolla, make beautiful characters: constant association with dolls such as that represented in the opera " La Poupee,'' for example, would render a child exacting, capricious, and wayward. If you remember, her Majesty's greatest love was for a very simple doll -" . ,- • " This Renaissance of simplicity in dolls — it will mean considerable economy to parents, will it not ?" - " Well, not altogether, was the reply. «• Tou see, nowadays, simplicity and economy are not quite the same thing. A simple thing often costs twice or thrice as much as a loud, gaudy affair. Here is a simple, wholesome, natural, English doll, born right within the scent of the clover and hawthorn. Its complexion is natural, and its clothes are of careful, honest workmanship. It is worth 12s. Here is another—a much more dashing, attractive, German doll, for 3s. 6d. " And children would hesitate which to choose ?" , . " Five years ago they would not have hesitated. Now, there can be no doubt of itprices apart—their choice would fall upon the English doll. Call it patriotism in the nursery, call it anything you like talk with the ordinary middle class child, and see for yourself."