Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-12-24
Lincoln and the Sculptor.


magazine:
lille was there promptly-indeed, he
never failed to be on time. My studio
was in the fifth story, and there were no
elevators in those days, and l soon
learned to distinguish his steps on the
stairs, and am sure he frequently came
up two, if not three, gteps at q stride.
When he sat down the first time in that
hard, wooden, low-armed chair, which
still possess, and which has been occu-
pied by Douglas, Seward and Generals
Grant and Dix, he said:
"'Mr. Volk, / have never sat before
TO sculptor or painter for daguer-
reotypes and photographs. What shall
fIdop'
81 told him / would only take the
measurements of his head and shoulders
that time, and next morning, Saturday,
| would make east of his face, which
would save him number of sittings.
He stood up against the wall and made
mark above his head, and then meas
ured up to it from the floor, and said
"tYou are just twelve inches taller
than Judge Douglas, that is, just six
feet one inch
"Before commencing the cast next
morning, and knowing Mr.. Lincoln's
fondness for a story, l told him one, in
order to remove what | thought an ap-
prehensive expression-as though he
feared the operation might be danger
GUS; and this is the story:
81 occasionally employed a little
ck-eyed, black-haired and dark
skinned Italian as a formatOre in plas-
ter work, who had related to me a short
time before that himself and comrade
image-vender were doing Switzerland
by hawking their images. One day, a
Swiss gentleman asked him if he could
make his likeness in plaster. 'Oh, yes,
signor; am sculptor' So Matteo
Mattei-such was the name of the pre-
tender-got some plaster, laid the big
Swiss gentleman on his back, stuck a
quill in each nostril for him to breath
through, and requested him to close his
eyes. Then Mat as / called him,
poured the soft plaster all over his face
and forehead then he paused for rehec-
ton; as the plaster was beginning to
set he became frightened, as he had
never before undertaken such a job, and
neglected to prepare the face properly,
especially the gentleman's huge beard,
mustache, and the hair about the tenn
pies and forehead, through which, of
course, the plaster had run and become
solid. MAT made an excuse to 60 out
side the door them said he Il run
like
81 saw Mr.. Lincoln's eyes twinkle
with mirth.
"'How did he get it Off said he.
81 answered that probably after rea,
sonable waiting for the ScultOrc, he had
to break it off, and cut and pull out all
the hair which the tenacious plaster
touched, the best way he could. Mat
said he took special pains to avoid that
particular part of Switzerland after that
artistic experience. But his companion
who somewhat resembled him, moi
knowing anything of his partners per
Torrance, was soon after overhauled oy
the gentleman and nearly cudgeled tc
death.
"Upon hearing this, the tears actual
" trickled down Mr.. Lncoln's bronzeo
cheeks, and he was at once in the bes
of humors. He sat naturally In the
chair when 1 made the cast, and saw
every move L made in mirror opposite
as put the plaster on without interfer
ence with his eyesight or his free breath
ing through the nostrils. 1t was abou
an hour before the mold was ready tC
be removed, and being all in one piece
with both ears perfectly taken, it cluns
pretty hard, as the cheek-bones wer'
higher than the jaws at the lobe of thu
ear. He bent his head low and tool
hold of the mold, and gradually worked
it off without breaking or injury; it hur
a little, as q few hairs of the tender TEN
pies pulled out with the plaster ant
made his eyes water; but the remem
, brance of the poor Swiss gentleman ev
E identity kept him in good humor."
Q "The last sitting was given Thursda..
morning, and l noticed that Mr.. Lin
4 coin was in something of hurry. Iha'
a finished the head, but desired to repre-
=, sent his breast and brawny shoulders a
a nature presented them; so he strippe'
: off his coat, waistcoat, shirt, cravat ant
4 collar, threw them on chair, pulle'
e his undershirt down short distance
: tying the sleeves behind him, and stoo'
r up without murmur for an hour or so
n then said that l was done, and was
t thousand times obliged to him for hi
d promptness and patience, and offered t
g assist him to redress, but he said: INC
. can do it better alone.' l kept at m
e work without looking toward him, wish
o ing to catch the form as accurately a
e possible while it was fresh in my memo
= nv. Mr.. Lincoln left hurriedly, sayin
I he had an engagement, and with col
il dial 'Good-by! will see you agai
e soon,' passed out. A few moments al
q ter, recognized his steps rapidly II
|. turning. The door opened, and in h
It came, exclaiming: Hello, Mr.. Volk!
5, got down on the sidewalk and found
!, had forgotten to put on my undershir
" and thought it wouldn't do to go throug
u the streets this way Sure enough
! there were the.sleeves of that garner
a dangling below the skirts of his broad
n cloth frock coat! went at once to h
assistance, and helped to undress an
redress him all right, and out he wen
with hearty laugh at the absurdity
the thing"
: Prof. Langley, the astronomer, he
returned from his trip to New Mexlo
under the Government auspices. III
I conclusion he arrived at went to sho
! A. IL. -. fksDlar. nj