Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-07-07
LETTER FROM HIRAM POWERS.

A capitol story has long been in circu-
lation, respecting hoax said to have
been played off upon Peyton S. Symmes,
Esq, of Cincinnati, by Hiram Powers,
the American sculptor, now in Italy. AS
Mr.. Symmes felt annoyed about it, he
wrote to Mr. Powers to deny it, and re-
ceivcd the following answer. 1t is the
best story going:
FLORENCE, March 27, Ie49.
My Dear Sir: In letter from Mr..
kellogg, am requested to state the facts
as to an alleged imposition upon YOU by
MIR. Henderson, the actor 1t has been
said in some of our papers that you were
of the number upon whom Mr.. III. inn
posed himself as wax figure, in the
Western Museum, some fifteen or twentv
years age, and ny name has been given
as authority for the truth of the story
1t is natural that you should disrelish such
an imputation, and as the story, so far as
you arc concerned in it, it is but lust that
you should desire this refutation from
me.
remember to have said, whenever
the story was told, that Mr.. Henderson
had designs upon several of our most
respectable citizens, yourself of the num-
Der; but these designs we're never execu
ted, excepting upon half dozen or more
persons residing in the immediate vicinity
OF the museum. This was done in order
TO satisfy me that the thing was practca-
bic; for Mr., Henderson hoped to pre-
vail upon me to allow him the use of one
OF the large glass enclosures in the mu-
scum for the experiments upon larger
scale. He succeeded perfectly in dupine
the half dozen individuals above alluded
to, but withheld my consent to anv
further proceedings, and so the matter
ended. Ialloved him the use of small
room for performing the experimentation
| thought he would fail, and that thu, /
should get rid OF his request for the use
OF case In the museum, without having
deny him favor.
When Henderson had prepared him
self, one of his acquaintances was invited
INTO the room to see unfinished represen-
tation of Henderson, the Actor, in the
character of Sir Francis Gripe.'' On
entering, the figure was seen standiue in
corner of the room, with the head lean
ing against an old coat, folded in such
manner as TO afford back k-ground, and
thus prevent unsteadiness, which might
lead to detection. A white wig made of
Aorse hair decorated the head. The face
was daubed with ochre, vermillion, and
lampblack: the features were much dis
torted, SO much so that had my reputation
as an artist depended upon their resem-
blancc to the original, might have feared
for the result of the examinal ;on about
to take place. The visitor, however,
seemed disposed to flatter me; and, CRATE
full for the permission to see q. unfinished
work, assured me that had been yery
successful in the likeness. He Thought
indeed, that had improved upon the
original. begdcb him to suggest any i'm
provement that might occur to him. He
replied Perhaps you might modify
that peculiar cock of the eye little: and
if were you, would give him a better
Leg. instead of those spindle shanks of
his" This last remark occasioned a de-
cidod change in the expression of the wax
figure, for Henderson thought good
deal Of his legs. This change, however
was not observed by the visitor, who still
regarded the legs; but had great diff
Guilty in containing my own countenance,