Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-04-15
images In Ice.

'COme out here" said the coinage man,
leading the way to his back yard, "anC
| III show you some work am doing now.
The ice-image mans back yard was moi
larger thar the average Philadelphia back
yard. 1t had the conventional brick paving,
and upon this paving were strewn various
| tokens of the image mans calling First
and foremost there was a huge square
block of ice, fresh from the ice-house.
Next there was large pile of ice shavings
and small crumbs, the immediate result OF
the latest effort in the way of a large ice
globe which at that instant sat on the top
of the table, not yet relieved from its base,
the image man having been, in fact, enga-
ged upon this piece of work when the ring
at his door bell called him away for q mo-
ment. Next there was a three-cornered
chisel and large knife, and lastly, there
were number of tnbs standing around in
the yard, all covered with heavy pieces of
canvas.
''Now there, said the image man, point
ing out his latest work, sis globe. That
is made to 60 on this-I'll show you" He
went to barrel and lifted up the image of
a crooked-ba individual in his SHIRT
sleeves and with his arms bent akimbo and
his head bowed as if he had the world on
his shoulders 1t was Atlas, a gentleman
not unknown to those versed in mythology
On his back was smooth place for the
globe to rest.
snow that" said the image man, indica-
ting the globe, ''goes on here. We make
a hole in the back Of the image and leave q
10 lNx~lN a. Il
the globe and slip it in, which joins the
two firmly together.
The globe had been followed out until
it was perhaps about one inch in thickness.
In the top was hole large enough for O
ten. year old boy to thrust his fist in-any
boy who has ever pdrloined his mothers
preserves from slender er-mouthed Jar will
understand this-and inside there was A
capacity for about half gallon Of raw
oysters, the use to which these Ice images
are mostly applied at banquets, entertain
ments, weddings, or other festive occasions.
After exhibiting this, his latest product inn
the line of art, the image man. growing
more enthusiastic as he saw the interest OF
his visitor on the increase, went to one Of
the several tubs, raised q canvas and dis
played O wooden cover on which was
placed lot of ice chips to keep that which
was beneath cool; then he raised the cover
and disclosed the image of an ice swan
afloat in large dish of water. The wings
were carved in the most slkilful manner,
and were almest as thin as glass and nearly
as transparent. While the interest was
centered on this object the basement door
opened and the image mans wife, like the
good wife she was, came out to share the
admiration which was being lavished ON
her husbands work.
"'Taint nothing like it would be if the
ice was good and clear. Sometimes, when
he has good ice, you can't tell his image
from glass
''Yes," said the image man, 'this ice
referring to the yet uncut block that stood
in the yard-''is not as clear as have been
used to working up. make up things in
many different designs-elephants, camels,
diamond dishes and Aliases, as you see
here. | have some diamond dishes, said
the image man, going down into tub,
(which look very much like glass"
He brought up one of the dishes in ques-
tion, the sides of which were nicely orna-
mented by the carving of flowers and vines
thereon. THAT dish, he said, isn't as
clear as sometimes make them. Must have
crystal ice to do good work in that way
81 do wish the gentleman could have
seen the elephant, said the wife, whose
interest in her lords work had not been di-
by repeated descriptions; it was
beautiful. Had Hindoo sittln' on sad
die, and in this saddle was hole where
the oysters went in. And there was
camel, that elephant and that camel, do
think, were the beautifulest things L ever
saw in my hfe."
Further talk revealed the fact that the
image man had amonopoly of the business,
and combining it with his vocation as q
caterer drove quite fourishing trade. Out
side of the immediate demands for various
demands that came to him
directly from headquarters, he did an ex-
tensive business in the image line through
the various caterers of the city, who inva-
riably went to him for supplies on great
occasions His designs were in many cases
the result of instructions from those order
ing the images; they would give him the
ideas and he would work them up. Some
designs would be popular at this place,
while others would be more appropriate In
that place. His best work lies in the di-
rect;on of camels and elephants with Hin
docs on their backs. Here he is entirely at
home, as he also is in fashioning out mytho-
logical characters, in all of which the utili-
taran and the ornamental spirit are happily
combined. The quadrupedal and the fish
designs are usually sold as receptacles for
raw oysters; the designs in the way of
and Bohemian vases are some
times used for fruit as well as for oysters.
The business of making them during the
past year or SO has grown in Importance.
The image man during the fashionable sea-
son before the advent of Lent used up on
an average $500 pounds of ice a week in
image making alone. The cost of ice during
the winter has been twenty cents a hun
dred. He sells the images for from $I50
up to $5 apiece.