Cloth or rag book, Saalfield Pub. Co, 1904
Cloth or rag book, Saalfield Pub. Co, 1904
Baby's friends are stereotypical children from many countries (a British sailor boy, Dutch Peter, Russian Ludmilla, Picanniny Sambo, etc.). The Japanese and Chinese "Friends" show a strong confusion between the two nationalities. On the one hand, foot-binding seems to be attributed to the Japanese girl (though the illustration correctly shows geta, I think):
However, it is the Chinese boy whose illustration includes Japanese dolls! Note the name, Wing Ling Foo, very similar to Wingy Wing Foo, a doll in a poem illustrated by a Japanese doll.Ichino, a wee Japanese Maid,
Always carries a big sunshade;
Rides in a jinricksha wherever she goes
Wears tiny shoes and pinches her toes.