The Press: Paper Dolls

“J. Pierpont Morgan, the world banker, whose hobby, my little readers, is gardening but who also loves midgets, money and other ‘m’ words, like muchness.” Thus did Vanity Fair in its current number dedicate “Vanity Fair’s Own Paper Dolls,” a new one-page feature. In the centre of the page was a drawing of Mr. Morgan in underclothes (see cut). In the four corners were costume patterns to fit Mr. Morgan’s moods. One was a tattered brown suit, patched with green and purple, which hung loosely on a headless figure holding in his hands the cup and pencils of a street beggar. A miniature girlish figure clung to the belt. The title was: “Investigation Suit, with Midget Attached.” Another pattern, “Office Uniform, Neat yet Impressive,” showed the dummy clothed in a blue suit, white waistcoat and wing collar, a prominent gold chain suspended across the expansive stomach. “Fancy Dress Costume, for Fete Days on His Yacht” showed a headless Long John Silver clad in pirate’s costume, a crutch tagged “1929” under one arm, a bag of money in one hand, a hat bearing skull & bones and the word “Corsair” (Morgan yacht) on his head. The fourth costume was striped trousers and shirt, a green-flowered apron, blue gloves, green-rimmed spectacles, shears, trowel. Title: “Gardening Frock, for Horticultural Moments.”