Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-10-09
Crlticising a Wax Model.

Upon reading "The OWL Critic" printed
in Horper's Magazine, I ain reminded Of
an occurrence good many years ago in
in Cincinnati, when the great sculptor,
Hiram Powers, was yet young and had
time of it to make both ends meet. He
was then engaged at Dor6eulle's Museum
in modelling plaster and wax figures re-
presenting noted characters of that day,
anu had about completed model of
the then popular comic actor, Aleck
Drake which it was understood was to
be an exact representation of the actor
In complexion, stature, and even to the
nice details Of costume, as he appeared
upon the stage while singing the comic
song entitle "Love and Sausages."
There were some empirical critics, es-
pecially one dilettanti, whose approval Of
work of art had come to be regarded as
necessity to a painter or sculptor, if the
latter hoped for success in that communi-
ty. Powers resolved to break away from
these critics, or to weaken their influence
with the public, Aleck Drake being
his confident and confederate in the
plan.
The embryo sculptor notified a few of
the patrons of art OF Cinc1nnati-Nicho
las Longworth, Jacob Burnet, Pevton
Symmes, the dilettanti included, ct al.
to meet in the museum studio on given
day, when he would have prepared for
their inspection the proposed exact wax
counterfeit of the noted actor. The in
vited persons appeared. The room was
dark; the wax model was screened bv a
calico curtain. All being in readiness,
to each person was given a lighted tallow
dip or candle (there was no easlight
there in those days, and REQUESTED to
examine the statute, and pass their
opinions.
The curtain was removed. With the
lighted candle in hand the art critics
passed around and about the figure, Civ
ing interjectional observations from time
to time. One thought the figure did not
naturally stand upon its left leg, the right
pedel appendage being too far in advance:
another thought it was not a very strik-
ing resemblance to brakes nose, it was
too short; another discovered that the
ears sat too low down on the head: and
still another took exception to the cos
ooAAS3 ~ AOn6 wv AOUoC upOu GuC DOuy,
and so on, tor quantity. Nicholas Long
worth, who had been quietly taking Oh
observations, and listening all the while
here. broke in with: "Well, Powers.
whether the objections Of these men be
well taken or not, I must say never
saw such eyes as those in. an inanimatc
form in my life," and reaching his can
die close to the models face, he exclaim
ed: "Look at. those eyes, they fairly
twinkle, and seem filled with tears '
Whereat there was a sir-the wax
model stepped down from his pedestsl,
greeting the astonished critics as he
moved forward with: "Well, these are
real tears, and I guess you'd have shed
them, too, had 700 been compelled as
hsve, to look SO long intently at that
knot-hole in the door. Gentlemen, come
to the theater tonight, and hear me sing
"Love and Sausages."' ,s,ss, a:a g., -. .~,r.,~
! It was this same Nicholas Loueworth.
now deceased rest his good soul -
who, at his own expense, sent Powers to
italy, and there! maintained him until
that aculptor'segenius was recognized by
all the world of art. III" 9'~~- ea5F