The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-19
CHING CHOW FOO'S SKULL.
ONE OF THE HIDEOUS MODELS or 1T IN
a SNOW WINDOW,
| Many Cow iaints Against II, hut none Especiai-
~ Because II IL that Of Famous Pirate.
| whose Motto was "sInk ,Burn.and Destroy"

Many COM pIaints Against IL, hut none EspeciaI-
~ Because II IL that Of u Famous Pirate.
whose Motto was "sink, Burn.and Destroy"
Monsieur A. V. Benoit is in the artists
material line. In his store at 14S Fulton street
arc many copies OF famous works Of art in
Parian and terra Gotta. and his shop windows
which arc unusually deep md lofty. nre filed
with stntuettcs bric-a-brac aud other pleasing
objects. The large window on the left has
copies in terra Gotta Of the Venus de Medci. the
Venus Of Milo. the Apollo Bclvidcrc. Lcda and
the Swan Una and her Lion. and other favorte
subjects.
About three weeks ago NJ. Benoit who. be-
sides being an admirer OF the antique. is pas
sonntolv fond OF the crotcsquo in art. pur-
chased the head Of the famous japanese pirate.
Ching Chow Foo who was dccaptated at Yc1do
in 1850. The head was in terra Gotta. and Of
the finest and most delicate workmanship. The
ashy color Of the skin. tho strained eyeballs.
naitened lids. pale lips. and tho bloody line OF
decapitatiOn were reproduced with fidelity
and attention to detail that re1o tied the highest
credit on the talent aud perseverance OF the
artist The hair was long snaky. and wound
about tho scalp in weird manner that sug-
gcstcd the tabled Gorgan locks Of mythology.
The hcHd recalls ono of those mysterious por-
traits that stare out Of the wall at the sleeper in
the haunted bcdchambcrs Of old English
country houses. II Ia decidedly not a pleasant
subject to contemplate. The history attached
To- the head makes II even moro nrtistically tor
riblo and repulsive than before. Foo was the
Gait. Brande of the China sea at about the time
Of tho War ~ Independence. and no used to
make things unpeasantly hot for the Chinese
anl Japanse junk owners in that quarter Of tho
globe. Sink. burn, and destroy was his
motto. aud il was said 81 him that he was the
only oriental pira;r of his day who could truly
boast Of having never spared n junk or spoiled
IN opportunity to murder lis crew. His favor
u" method % uttuck was 10y night and by the
uid ~ lire -hips. and he is said 20 have been tho
irst pirate In those sens to Introduce tho civil
" ug Spnuish- American custom " walking the
plank. Previous 10 that time he had forced his
cuttiNcs 10 commit hari-knri He was Ut length
captured. anl taken in chains To the Tycoon,
who c9mmnndcd that he be- impaled and then
thrus;ing sword from the top Of the forehead
down through the chin. The cash at which the
sword entered the forehead and that at which it
emerged are 10 u" seen in the model.
The head. with placar,l attached. was placed
r., NJ Bcnots largest. window Just between
The lovers q The antique md The nSI
Immediately turned from the c1ntem plation Of
their old-tino fayurites and bestowed their
,ntr' attention upon the skull Throngs
blocked tho street ia front until an. officer was
sen, for 20 c'car the why. \ casual pnsscr 10y
w1uil nav" said that real head lay among the
marble and terra Gotta. Many strangers in
sisted ON threading their way into the work
shop md forcing from W. Bcnoit then and there
n full history II thc pirate.
Mr. u. \. Cummins II u graduate OF the YER
mont University and pupil ot the late Prof
Iorrey whose theory was that the object Of art
ia 20 trautty and cnbollsh everything with
which deals. to smooth away the rough and
ktuued angles 81 existence, 10 hide that which
l. hidcous and uusecmy mud u nll the mind
WIN visions Of ligAt AMI Joy and sweetness
MIR. Cummns was naturally shocked az tho dis
play 81 th" pirates head. ami he penned the
following communication:
ornc' orii cvrSis'' ArI ~ sg'T .ILAv,
T. =. Mud s n-lA.
.c, he S Septsy S '" b Sa1oT MAJ ~ sa rT'2n
10 e The 'guli Ct JaiAne." prnig-a - ous iolsinr
s9 co TIE S ngn1sr q table, wh9
m1unou,iy ai,ctcd crciv b, wouli ccn mat loki
=, aS @a,T tom ,ah,,Ty ,isndgon, al least
''''D ~ '''''''' ''u'' very ''''''II''F cr-.r.
Complaints also poured in upon Mr. Bcnoit
Ladies prot st"d that itwls an unsccmly object
and ono that might much better be hidden from
view Mr.. CUMMINGS letter was referred 10y
Sanitary SGp.rintcndent Day to the counsel FOR
his DEPUTY who in turn intrustcd il to the care
Of His chief clerk. Tho latter returned 1t to Su-
r"rintrndent Day with the following endorse
H,c''aily !e,arnsd win ,ns 'ss'.uea NAT UNI i
''''''' '''' '''' WINS GO s t,1.ses
Tho testimony for AMI against the skull WIS
tab 'u 50 H'"rt hy q reporter, IA follows
VI. Bruot-n1nt know u Their" Is any law In
THIS country pr'hihtiug exhibitions OF skulls in
the windows of the shopkcrp"rs. Skull lclOnls
g. him. and b" PROPOSES to exhibit u when and
wh' re- he piras"s l. not a real sknIl oi Jalnn.
st. ny, R,rb ~ ii, n n' n,,l'i
VITA IL. and would ndvise Mr.. Cummins %
rad up On ant aud clear he mind Of miso on
every respect tnr Hdics in delicate health. tut
don't hnl " what harm pirates skull properly
mounted can '.o them. Not half So bad NJ casts
81 murderers' h"ad-. taken after death with
o." rope around their neck. and exhibited in
a.. w rdoN ot Fowler 4 Wells IN Broadway
- Nd Cummin- Had no intention 10 hurt VI.
h"uoit- Lettings OF 10 hlunder IN spelling
skull sruu. Is college graduate. and
g..,.uy addicted 10 water. when mas ACCOUNT
| i"r ~" SID Nus warm admiration Tor skulls
~ tH"ir places. but think them oat Of II IN ,hls
NJ TAYLOR uaw partner Of Mr. Cummusl-
| truU'uly aud accurately. without regard To-
| i'ir aesthetic nature 81 tho subject ThMks n .
y. nn.t. ,uIi GA the whole !. -- rrpnls ~ linn
| nSinn.' la ts.tA 81 those there ~ moro or loss
! b.uoash"d and Gony mixed ~ with the sub
/ lnlU. anf 40 one can irgtlfully claim that they
Hr" lseauinui in the sense that Mr.. Cummns
aul rrui. Torr usiston
sanitary superintendent Day-No opinion
| on way or the other As TO tno mcrit- of NJ
! Brnoits skull. Has his own iloas Ms regards
| sNDl.-. Mr.. Cummns's communication was re-
| stnsffiiy referred to rhc counsel not for the
| tain legal olinion from that fuuctiouAry Had
! no opinion TINT Chief Clerks Innocent FUN
! would Eot ln'o papers, or cause Mr.. (uun. rs
/ any un""s in"s~. BOARD WINS clad 10 get all COM
! r,ainis they could from reputable citizens.
| Prof. Siaar oi Fowler A Nrli--Not true that
| the hrm has casts of muldorrrr heads ia frunt
! WINDOW at Ir.-'nt. Had them on "Ahiouon,
| lut removed thcm 10 rear az store al reQucs, Of
several iadios. Put them ia window now
| aud then until novelty wore OIL. ana then
| t9u~ ulonI IA Hgnin. Had - tne plaster skull Il
! churari'r. aiSo. admirable plaster all oi John
! NY iiaN"n before e.ectlonl. with III" order of
| condolences July Developed.