The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-01-10


how true il is, that none but men who have
made the most Of their time know what time
is worth
He again charged his pipe, and smoked
till he almost fell asleep, Notwithstanding fire.
quent efforts 10 arouse himself He appear
ed exhausted, but he would have sat the
whole time, doubt not, had not told him,
| could proceed without him.
Pm glad Inc replied, for l am not well to-
day, but will try TO sit better for you to-rnor-
row.
The day following,as he laid down his pipe
on the mantle-piece, when he was leaving,
asked him ifhe would give me the pipe he
had been using. 1t was II common clay pipe
although it would have been esteemed Jack
son pipe, perhaps.
why, Mr. Powers said he, with a smile,
lit is Il valueless thing, and not worth your
taking but have a very beautiful pipe in the
other room made by an Indian, and would
give il to you with great satisfaction if you
would take IT,
replied that it was not the Indians pipe,
but General Jackson's pipe ] wanted.
'Ah, well Sir he replied with laugh, you
shall have it with all my heart lie then
took il from the mantle-pieee, and stepping
forward, presented it TO me with all that dig
nifty and elegant courtesy ofmannor,ofwhich
sion called for it.
! Just before finished the bust, Major DON
aldson paid me visit, as he had done often
before during the progress ofthc work, and
hc remarked that perhaps had copied the
peculiarities ofthe mouth too faithfully; al
leging that the General had lost his teeth, or
rather, laid them aside, and that his mouth
had fallen in, which left him, in that respect,
unlike his former self But | liked the eX-
preston of his mouth even as it was; for its
II remarkable fact, that when nature is defeat
ed by age, accident or infirmity, of her orig
inal design, she will find some means of re-
producing it, and such is particularly the case
with General Jic'Ison. The same firmness
and nilcXibility of character his mouth eX-
pressed in the prime fife, is to be found
there still, though the forms are entirely
changed. It's an error to suppose that tea-
lures are accidental, and nature makes them
mp nj hup-haZurd; for the face is the true in-
deX ofthe soul, lcbere everything is tcritten, hdd
zee the reason 10 rcdd IL. We can and we do
read its mysteries by instinct, and we form an
estimate of mms character from the first i'm
preston ofhis features, though we may not
know how this is doue,--the heart, and not
the understanding, reads it. The truth is, the
mind forms the features after its own fashion,
ing, and they vary, as mans character va
ries. This any one may know who has at
tentivelv watched the progress of Innocence
to vice, or ofvice 10 reformation; the features
keep pace with the progress otthe character.
The suggestion ofMaior Donaldson was
kind;but did not think it advisable 10 act up
on it. determined, however, to mention il
10 General Jackson, and ascertain what he
thought about II.
Make me as am, Mr. Powers he replied,
and he true 10 nature always, and in every
thing. It's the only safe rule 10 follow i
have no desire to look young us long as | feel
old: and then it seems to me, although | do
not know much about sculpture, that the on
ly object in making Il bust is to get represent
tution of the man who sits, that it shall be as
nearly as possible perfect likeness. If he
has no teeth, why then make him ,cah teeth ?
This was the last sitting, and he stood be-
fore the bust and examined it for the first
time.
But after all have said he continued, 'of
course, I'm no indigo. don't profess 10 Un-
dcrsand these things. Il can't Judge either,
pcrhaps,so well ofmy own likeness as could
of anothers. But Col. Earl can tell more IL
bout it, and ladvise you to get him TO look at
it
He babe me adieu, wishing me every sue
cess with my picture.
have never had a moro striking subject for
doubt ifthe whole range of subjects would
furnish another like it.
| had no difficulty in obtaining the consent
of most hepublic men lapplicd, to model
them buSts, as soon as their time would adj {
NIT. Webster, Adams, Calhoun, Col. Preston, l
Col. Johnson with several others, not only sat t
for their busts, but did great deal to serve 9
me; and certainly feel for all those gentle
men, and many others with whom was then d
brought into intercourse without distinction
Of party, the highest admiration. {
To friend who applied to Mr. Webster in
my behalfi for Il sitting, he said, he was warm
v attached to art and artists, Il would not on /
Y sit for me, but do all in his power to prevail :
III others TO give me commissions. am but !,
90 happy to say that afterwards had ample !
proofs ofthe sincerity of that great states
nan. He could not sit ut Washington, but he .
,aid TO me, Come TO my farm at Marshfeld, !
ny dear Sir, and will try to make you COM
ortable, and give you as many sittings as you h
want. We shall be in better frame to APP !.
,reciate art; there we are in the country, with :
DOL breezes from the Pilgrim seas, and we y
AN enjoy ourselves so much better than we "
AN here among these brick houses and poll II
icidnS.' p
There was a peculiar emphasis laid upon >
his last word, which kept me laughing the O.
est ofthe day.
Not long after visited him at his country
eat, and number the few days spent there W
mong the happiest of my life. l never u
ave been in the presence of man who left
pom my mind an impression of such intel 70 <,
,ctual power. No familiarity with him ev- +
r abated this feelng.-He always made me "a
link of Michael Angeles gigantic statues; y;
atural, but one ofnatures eXaggeratons; out :"
fher common way of working, but still her a. u,
wn work. "
He sat for me often, till felt had done q