This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX SOME REMARKABLE COLLECTIONS IF it be true that the history of a nation may be traced through a collection of any one thing belonging to it, what history there must be in a collection of dolls which represents and repeats customs, costumes and periods. The history of such a collection embraces certain of the arts and sciences; touches upon literature; reaches into the historic past and gilds each manikin with an air of reality. One of the largest and the most important collections in the world belongs to Her Highness, the Princess Mother of the Queen of Roumania. It is usually spoken of as belonging to the Queen herself, but the credit of it must be given to the Princess Mother. This collection numbers over a thousand dolls, thirteen hundred to be exact, many of them lifesized, dressed in national and historic costumes. In many cases they are arranged in groups showing the occupations of the people and often the process of some manufacture. Swiss dolls and a Persian. They are different in complexion. but they serve the same purpose In 1899 this collection was exhibited in the palace of the Margrave at Karlrush, when it attracted great attention from all parts of the world, not only because of its size but also for its wonderful lessons in sociology. It reflected in a most interesting manner the mutability of fashion, and proved a pleasing commentary on the taste of past generations. The nucleus of this collection was a number of dolls showing with great exactness the fashions of former centuries, particularly those of the Black Forest region. As the costumes of many of these dolls had no counterpart even in the historic collection of costumes, Her Highness conceived the idea of rescuing the dolls from an undeserved oblivion by...