The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1849-07-06
LETTER FROM HIRAM rowrRs.

A capital story has long been in circulation.
respecting hoax said to have been played Of
upon pcyion S. Symmes, Esq, of Cincinnati,
by Hiram Powers, the American sculptor, now
ia Italy A. Mr, Symmcs felt annoyed about
it, he wrote to Mr. Powers, and received the
following answer Il is the best story going
Faoarscf, H8-rh y, 1915.
Nh Dear Sir--in q letter to Mr. Kellogg !
am requested TO state the facts as 10 an alleged
imposition upon you by Mr.. lieudrrson, the
actor Il has been said in seine OF our papers
that you were Of The number upon whom Sir
II Imposed hims, If ~ a icaF GeVrc. ia the West
rrn Museum, SOME fifteen or twenty Years ago.
and my name hss been given as authority lot
the truth of ind story. Il is natural tina. YOU
should disrelisn such an imputailen, and as tho
story, 80 far as you are concerned ia it, is IN
true, II Is but just that YOU should desire this
rcintalion from me.
remember to have said, whenever the STORY
was told that Mr. Henderson had designs upon
several Of our most respectable citizens, our
self Of the number. but these desiHga we're
never executed, excepting upon half dczcn or
more persons residing in tho museum. This
was done IN order 90 satisfy me that the thing
was practicable for Mr. Henderson hoped to
prevail upon me to allow HIM the u-e Of one
Of the large glass enclosures IN the museum
for his experiments upon larger scale, lie
succeeded perfectly in dipping the half dozen
individuals above alluded to, but withheld my
consent 10 any further proceedings. aud 20 the
matter ended. | allowed him The use Of a
-mall room for the purpose Of performing the
cxpormcnt--for | thought BE- would ilil and,
ana that thus shou'd get rid IF hi.''rrqnes for
the use Of case IN the museum, Without haN-
ing 10 deny him favor.
When Henderson had prepared himself one
of his acquaintances was invited iuio the room
to sec an unfinished representation Of +" Hen
der3ou. the Actor, IN the character Of Sir Fran
els GRIPPE On entering, the figure was seen
standing in q corner Of the room, with the bosd
leaning against an old coat, folded IN such a
manner aa to aifor1 Il bsck ground. and thus
prep.ut unstcadness, which might lead to de
lection A white wiz made of horse hair dee
Grated the head The iace was danhcd with
ochrc, ,crmillon and lamphack. the features
were much distorted, so much 50 that had ny
my ropntationns mn artist depended upon their
resemblance tp the original, might have feared
Tor the result Of the examination about "a take
place The yisilcr, however, seemed disposed
10 haitor me and grateful for the permission
10 see au unfinished work. assured me that /
mad beeH very successful ~ the likeness. lie
thought, indeed that had improved upon the
original. | begged him TO suggest any i'm.
proyemon' that might uceur 20 him lie re-
piled, perhaps You might ,audilY that peuu.
liar cock Of tA, eve q little. and, II ! we're tou,
| would give him better ieg, nasiuad OF those
spindle shank4 Of his" This las' remark oeea-
stoned decided change ia The expression Of
the wax hapirc. .of henderson thought good
deal Of his legs This change, however, was
not observed by the visitor, who stll regarded
the legs; but ! hal great difficulty in containing
NV own countenauec, so lHalcr4us Was the
scene The WAX face had Eow recovered its
proper expression, when oar visitor toeh up the
lamp, and, against my dissuaspc rernarks--ihat
the effect Wss best 1t distance that the thing
was mol vet finished and consequently would
not boar close iuspecu0u--he walked directly
up 10 the figure and stood within foot OF .,
face 10 face
II was evident that no trick was oven sus-
pec,cd, rs h. hold the lamp now above. no@ TO
one side. then below, &C., the better 10 examine
the work The actors eyes had nov been kept
SO long open without wink.ng that moisture
was beginning 10 collect ia the corners, OBJ
serving which onr critic exclaimed "Naryc-
lou, Marvellous. How in The world di3 you
coutriyu TO make these tears DID you use
gum Arabic or copal ,arui-h'' At this the
friend who stood nc my side could refrain no
longer, bat laughed outright WIS obliged TO
laugh "a D, but the actef -till maintained tbs
uderou9 gravity Of bis c0uuteunnco. The crit
c appeared confused for o moment, staring 20
MS nqui.iiyoN but be soon bccame aware that
a trick had been PLAYED OF upon ln, and sud-
denly turning again upon the ~ax figure he
.eirtd 1t by Tie nose, and the tweak he gave II
would have proved fatal 70 the symmetry OF a