DOLL SHOW IN FRANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22149, 2 October 1935, Page 17

DOLL SHOW IN FRANCE

A MAORI AT ARETTE Two children from Arette, in 1' ranee, where an international doll show has been held, by way of expressing their pleasure at the arrival of a Maori doll sent by the Junior Red Cross, Wellington, have forwarded the. following clever little “ talk ” about the doll: “ It is L Maori, the doll from New Zealand. For some time I saw everything as if in a dream. What a long journey ! What praise when 1 got to my destination I The people I have seen pass before me! And all that, yes, all that really exists. . “ I was born down there, right at the end of Oceania, on a big island in the Pacific Ocean. I loved my country and I thought I would spend my whole life there peacefully, potted by a little girl of my own land. I was happy while skilful hands "were dressing me in a skirt of frayed dried grass with flesh-coloured stuff, a cape of woven straw, and a feather collar. Gently a little girl put be into a travelling box. Curious and anxious, 1 listened, and I understood that 1 was going to France! It was a great joy to me when J felt myself being carried on to the wharf, i

“ I finished my journey in a train, and got to Paris. I opened my eyes in a room full of dolls. There were all sorts; big, small, peasants, fashionable ladies, antique shepherdesses—in fact, a whole world of my sisters in varied costumes. I was put between an English and a Yugoslav. A great many visitors in costumes different from ours stopped in front of me. I didn’t understand what they said, but by their bright eyes and their smiles I was aware of their curiosity and often of their admiration. Beautiful ladies thought me original, little girls looked enviously at mo. • ■ . . “ I heard them praise the services of the Junior lied Cross, by means of which children of different countries get to know, and to. love one another. 1 was proud to' bring to little French children the greeting and friendship of Now Zealand. I felt myself already loved in France, where I had been So warmly welcomed. Was I going to finish my life in this beautifullydecorated room among my sisters who were not at all like me? No. The exhibition finished and I went to a little village in the Pyrenees. I saw daylight again in a light, well-decorated classroom. I was welcomed with cries of joy by about 30 pupils with white skins ami fair or brown hair. “ A little girl presented me to tiro pupils of the classes, where the children were grouped according to age.

From the playground I saw a range of mountains on the horizon, green with thickets, and away in the distance glaciers. I shivered at the sight and thought bitterly of the cold I would have to bear. r <Vh, how far away it was from my native land. I would have been very homesick but for the intervention of my new , friends, who introduced me .to dolls from Estonia, Yugoslavia, America, and Japan, and of my two travelling companions. We all understand one another wonderfully. I hardly regret any more the warm sun of New Zealand—which, however, I will not forget. “ Every morning before lessons begin one of tlie girls of the school undertakes to look after ns. She is proud to arrange our cots and to make our toilet. ; When it is time for class I see these little French girls march past in lightcoloured dresses; they sing very gay, attractive songs. I listen to the lessons that they have. I admire their work. To-day I heard cries of joy and I saw my little friends round their mistress. She, opening a parcel from the Red Cross, presented them with the doll Itchirna, the little Japanese who has been made such a fuss of. She has just taken her place beside us. We are the pride of our little friends. u With them I can shout: ‘ Long live New Zealand; long live France.’—For the Arette branch (signed) Anna and Andree,”.