The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-08-02
A LIVING WAX FIGURE.

play ed oil upon feytou ,. Symmes, esq, oil
Cincinnati, by Hiram Powers, the Ameri-
can sculptor, now 10 Italy. a. Mr.. Symmes
felt annoyed about il. he wrote to Mr.. Pow
evs to deny il, aud received the following
answer. Il il the best story going:
FLoRENcE, March 81, ls49.
My DEAR SIR: In a letter from Mr.. KEEL
logg, am requested 10 state the facts a. to
an alleged imposition upon you by Mr..
Henderson, the actor. !, has been said in
some Of our papers that you were Of tho
number upon whom Mr.. II. imposed him
self a. wax figure, in the Western Muse
um, some fifteen or twenty years ago, and
my name has been given as authority for
the truth Of the story. /, 10 natural that
you should disrelsh such an impu,ation,
and as the story, % far rs you are concern
ed, is untrue, il is but just that you
should desire this refu, alton from me.
remember to have said, whenever the
story was told, that Mr.. Henderson had de-
signs upon several Of our most respectable
citizens, yourself Of the number; but these
designs were never executed, excepting
upon half dozen or more persons residing
in the immediate vicinity Of the museum.
This was done in order TO satisfy me tina,
the thing was practicable; Tor Mr.. Hen
derson hoped prevail upon me to allow
him the use Of one Of the large glass en-
closures in the museum Tor bis experiments
upon lnrger scale. lie succeeded per-
iectIy in duping tho half dozen individuals
above alluded to, but withheld my con.
sent to any further proceedings, and 20
the matter ended. allowed him the use
Of a small room for performing the expert.
men,-for though. no would fail. and
that thus ] should get rid Of his re-
quest for the use Of case in the museum,
without having to deny him favor.
When Henderson had prepared him
self, one Of his ncquaintances WINS invited
into the room 10 see an unfinished repre-
sentation Of .sliendcrson the actor, in the
character of Sir Francis Gripo" On en-
tcring. the figure was seen standing in cor
ner Of the room, with the head leaning
against an old coat, folded in such a man-
ncr a. To- afford hack ground, and thus
prevent unstendiness, which nigh, lend to
detection. A white wig made &c horse
hair decorated the head. The face was
daubed with ochre, vermillion, and lamp
black; the features were much distorted, 80
much SO, that had my repu, alton Ms an
artist depended upon their resemblance To
the original, ! nigh. have feared Cor the
result Of the examination about 10 take
place. The visitcr, however, seemed dis.
posed to ilatter me; and, grateful Cor the
permission to see an unfinished work,
assured me that had hccn very success.
ful in the likeness. He thought. indeed
that Ind improved upon the original.
begged him to suggest any improvement
that might occur to him. lie replicd:-
''Perhaps YOU nigh. modify that peculiar
cock ri the eve a little; and, if were YOU,
would give him a better leg. instead ol
those spindle shnnks Of his" This last re-
mark occasioned decided change in the
expression ol tho face Of the VIVA figure. Cor
Henderson thought good deal Of his legs
This change. however, was not observed BY
tho visiler. who slil regarded the legs; but
had grea. difficulty in maintaining my own
countcnance, SO ludicrous was the scene.
The wax face had now recovered its proper
expression, when our visiier took up the
lamp, aud, against my dissuasiye remarks,
that the effect was better at distance
that the thing was not ye. finished, and
consequently would not bear close inspec-
tion-he walked directly up to the figure,
and stood within foot Of il, face to face.
II was evident that no trick was even
suspected, MS he held the lamp. now above,
now TO one side, then below, &c., tho bet.
ter to examine the work. The actor 3 eyes
had now been kept 10 long open wi,hou,
winking, TINT moissurs was beginning to
collect 10 the corners. Observing which,
our critic exclaimed: "MnrvelIous! marvel
lous! How in the world did you con,riye
to make these ,ears3 Did you use gum
arabic or copaI varnishi' At this the friend
who stood II my side could refrain no lon
ger, but laughed outright. was obliged
to laugh also, but the actor still maintained
tho ludicrous gravity Of his countenance.
The critic seemed confused for moment,
staring It ~ inquisiiively; but hs soon be-
came aware that trick had bssn played
upon him. and. suddenly turning again up
on the wax figure, he seized il BY the nose,
and the tweak he gave il would have prov.
ed fatal to tho symmetry Of a wnxen pro.
boscis. Az il was, however, il did no dam.
age 10 that organ, but il brought some ad-
ditional moisture 70 Henderson's eyes, and
m exclamation from his mouth Of 'd-n
il. don't! You forget that my nose Is made
Of wax
With pleasant recolIcctions Of your kind.
ness and civilties At Cincinnati, beg you
% believe me, very sincerely yours.
HIRAM POWERS.