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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



THE PUBLIC LETTER-WRITER IN A MEXICAN VILLAGE 

 Two-thirds of the 15,000,000 inhabitants of Mexico can neither read nor write 



embroidering a number of costly and 

 pretentious pieces, Isabel makes these 

 diminutive dolls, which in both point of 

 construction and design are the most 

 remarkable in the world. 



The operation of making consists in 

 forming a tiny framework of wire barely 

 three-fourths of an inch in length and 

 winding the same with many turns of silk 

 thread. After the frame has been prop- 

 erly formed it is ready for dressing. The 

 clothing is cut according to the character 

 of the doll and fitted carefully about the 

 small figure. The most difficult work, 

 that of embroidering, is then begun. 

 With a needle that can scarcely be held 

 in the fingers and the finest of silk 

 threads, various designs are actually em- 

 broidered on the clothing, and so cleverly 

 is the work executed that even through 



a powerful magnifying glass the details 

 of the design appear to be perfect. 



After dressing the figures it is neces- 

 sary to add the hair, and what is un- 

 doubtedly an example of the tiniest and 

 most marvelous hair-dressing known is 

 then performed on each doll. Even to 

 the details of the braids and ribbons, 

 the work is completely carried out. The 

 eyes, nose, mouth, hands, and feet are 

 then formed and the doll is ready to be 

 placed on sale in the village shop. 



On account of their daintiness, ex- 

 quisite coloring, design, and workman- 

 ship, these dolls find at all times a ready 

 sale at the ridiculously low price of 25 

 cents each. But two hours are required 

 to make each doll, so it can readily be 

 imagined just how rapidly the work 

 must be done, although the finished prod- 



