Chapter Synopsis

Memoirs of a London Doll
March 23, 2009

Chapter 14: The Lord Mayor’s Show

As the day approached for the lord Mayor’s Show, Marco determined that Brigitta should see it. They rise early to get a good place to view the show. Maria will also attend, but the organ will stay home as there will be lots of music and carrying the organ will be cumbersome with the crowds.

Because of the large crowds Marco decides they should overlook the festivities from a burned out building. It was indeed a grand event and they had an excellent view. The streets were lined with soldiers holding the crowds at bay. There was music, and fine horses, men all dressed in colours and silks and ribbons and gold lace; and coaches with fat figures in cocked hats sitting inside. Maria had trouble seeing everything, as the person behind her was wearing a cape that kept covering her face, but she did manage to see the Lord Mayor in his very fine coach, with the wooden Sword-bearer and the gingerbread Mace-bearer. The coach was so fancy, Maria thought it made of glass and reminded her of the coaches seen on Twelfth-cakes.

Maria noticed a number of beautiful fat ladies in feathers, with diamonds and rosy checks, the fattest and the most beautiful of which was the Lady Mayoress. Maria thought it was so kind of everyone in the procession to take the time and trouble to dress for the crowds to see them.

All of a sudden there was a great crack and someone yelled that the wall of the burned out building was falling. Everyone needed to get out, quick. Marco suddenly seized Maria and thrust her headfirst into his pocket where she remained for two or three hours and was taken out when they were arrived safely back home to their little room.

DISCUSSION:

The Lord Mayor’s Show must have been a real source of entertainment to the throngs of people. Apparently it was more of a parade than a show. I imagine there was lots of pickpocketing going on in the crowds.
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I just want to say that I feel bad that Marco and Brigitta are on their own. Marco seems a very reliable, smart little guy. He certainly takes good care of Brigitta and that speaks very well of him. Though times must be hard for them, he always manages to have food on the table, and they have a home to go to at night. Brigitta's care seems to be the first thing in his mind, and she seems such a lovely little girl and very happy.
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I have found this book to be most enjoyable--but I prefer Hitty. It is funny, because on the surface, they are both so similar. Both involve wooden dolls; both dolls have many adventures and many homes; both have the little dogs, Gog and Magog (which I goggled, and found they were Biblical references, but still, for both books to have it, along with a wooden doll?); and both have a portrait painter...but there is something more engaging about Hitty than Maria.

I did enjoy these two chapters. I felt that it was still weird to imagine the two children on their own, but I am trying to place myself in that time and that mindset, and realize this was probably all too common. I do like in this book (as compared to Hitty) how she is given away so many more times, instead of lost. That seems very sweet.
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I've been thinking (too much) about the way it seems that the poor children give the doll away and the wealthy ones are careless and lose her. I wonder if it's meant to be one of those "moral" tales that were so common then. (e.g.: Poor But Plucky). It seems a bit biased, and unreal. Hitty seemed real.

I don't care for this London doll as much as Hitty, it doesn't seem like she has a personality; she just goes along with the events.

I also wonder why the writer never wrote the other books as planned (Memoirs of: country doll, French doll, Dutch, German etc...Etc...), although books, especially for children, weren't as popular as they are now. Wasn't it Beatrix Potter who broke that barrier? But in truth, I think it's because Maria Poppet just didn't have enough personality.
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I had not thought of that--it probably was a moral tale. Moral tales are often lost on me, anyways. But now that I think about what you said, I agree.

I thought it was a nice book, but on a scale of one to Hitty, about a four and a half.
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Yes, a good story but not as good as Hitty, although I would still have liked to have seen the write the other stories. Maybe he would have improved?
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It was probably the time period. The author probably didn't want to offend little ears. The book was almost "pretty" in parts and not quite realistic, whereas I think Hitty was more realistic and certainly more modern thinking.
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I can see that may have been her motive. I just don't feel attached to this doll, and I suspect it's the lack of feeling on her part (couldn't be mine!); or maybe she just doesn't stay with one person long enough to get attached?
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I, too, had some difficulty attaching to Maria Poppet. Hitty seems to have had more feelings.
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That's funny, because I am kind of attached to her. I think she is "feeling" at least to some degree. She seemed to love all her mammas. And she seems to be pretty well pleased with her life in general, and grateful to those who have helped her and loved her. There is always the lingering fear when things aren't going right and she is afraid she will be lost or left behind. Maybe the book just doesn't read as well as Hitty as the writing is perhaps a little more formal?? I snuck a peak at the Christmas Pantomime chapter and Maria gets to see a lot of people that have passed through her life so that will be interesting. All in all, I really liked this little book. I would read it again just because I miss things the first time through - just like movies, ha ha.
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I agree that it's a pleasant book and would read it again...because I've read it before.
and at least nothing horrible happens! I just get the feeling that she's just being passed around. Sisterhood Of The Traveling Doll?

Really I think the writer would have improved as he wrote more stories. Many times there is a writer that I like but their first book isn't their best. Tony Hillerman comes to mind, and Jennifer Chivarini. With both those writers I read their third books first, then went back to find the others. When you know they get better you don't mind the early ones.

So maybe he would have improved....although...I guess since the book is actually written by the doll herself, maybe she's the one responsible?
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Yes, that seems about right to me, too. I sometimes have a hard time with books written so long ago, and have to make myself remember that social mores have changed!
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I went back and read the Introduction again about the author. “Mr. Horne was one of twenty Assistant Commissioners chosen to investigate child labor in England’s mines and factories, and he contributed to some of that country’s outstanding humanitarian labor legislation.” Very interesting. Now some of the “pretty” parts in the book make more sense to me. After seeing what he saw in his investigations, he wrote the chapters about the poor children, Ellen Plummy who went to Aunt Sharpshins, and Brigitta and Marco, so that they would not be disturbing to children. He kept their demeanors happy even though they were not in the best of situations. Even little Columbine, the actress, and her grandmother, who definitely were hard working people, were of happy dispositions and seemed to enjoy their life.

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