The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-12-17

have an engagement with Mr. W t,
90 to Evanston tomorrow and attend a.
entertainment: but I'd rather come anc
sit for the bust than so there and NEE
Il lot OF college professors and Others, al
strangers to me. And | will be obligeC
if you will 90 to Mr.. vs. Office ant
get me released from the engagement.
will wait here till YOU come back
SO off posted, but Mr.. W wou!c
not release him. because he said it woulo
be a great disappointment to the peopl,
he had invited Mr.. Lincoln looked quit,
sorry when reported to him the failure
Of my mission.
well. he said, - suppose must 90
bnt I will come to you on Friday morn,
ing.
He was there promptly-indecd. he
never failed to be on time. My studio
was in the fifth story and there was no
elevators in those days. and soon learn,
ed to distinguish his steps on the stairs
and am sure he frequently came up two,
if not three steps ut a stride. When he
sat down the first time in that hard.
wooden. low arm chair which still pos
sess. and which has been occupied by
Douglas Seward and Generals Grant and
| Dix, he said:
Mr.. Nolll. | have never sat before a
sculptor or a painter-only for daguer-
reotypcs and photographs. What shall
do?"
I told him | would only take the meas
urements of his head and shoulders that
time. and next morning, Saturday.
would make cast of his face, which
would save him number of sittingS.
He stood up against the wall and | made
a mark above his head and then measur-
ed up to it from the floor and said:
= You are Just twelve inches taller
than Judge Douglas. that is Just six feet
one inch
| Before commencing the east next morn
ing and knowing NJ. Lincoln fondncss
for story, told him one in order to re-
move what | thought an apprehensvc
expresson-as though he feared the oper-
alton might be dangerous: and this is
the story:
occasionally employed little black
| eyed. black-h haired. and dark-skinncd
| Italian as a ,tormnt2r in plaster work,
who had related TO me a short time before
that himself and Il comrade ina -vender
We're doing Switzerland by hawking
| their images. One day a Swiss gentleman
asked him if he conld make his likeness
in plaster ''Oh. yes. signpr: / am 4
scuptor,' SO Matteo Mattel such was
the name of the pretenier-got some
plaster. laid the big Swiss gentleman on
his back stuck quill III each nostril for
him to breathe through. and requested
him to close his eyes. Then Mat" as
called him, poured the soit-plaster all
over his face and forehead: then he pauS-
ed for reflection; as the plaster was be-
ginning to set he became frightened. as
he had never before undertaken such 4
job, and had neglected to prepare the face
properly, especially the gentlcman's huge
beard. murtachc, and the hair about the
temples and forehead, through which
of course, the plaster had run and be-
came solid Matt made an excuse to
90 outside the door then" said he,
Il run like -"
saw Mr. Lincoln eye twinkle with
mirth.
How did he get it OFF," said he.
answered that probably. after reason
able waiting for the Sc"jpt"re, he had to
break it Off. and cut and pull out all the
hair which the tic nacious plaster touched.
the best way no could Mat " said he
took special pains to avoid that particu-
lar part of Switzerland after that artistic
experience. But his companion, who
somewhat rescmbled him. not knowing
anything of his partner performance,
was soon after ovcr-hauled by the gen
tleman and nearly rudgeled to death.
Upon hearing this. the tears actually
trcllled down Mr.. Lincoln's bronzed
cheeks and he was at once in the best of
humor. He sat naturally i'll the chair
when | made the cast. and saw every
move ! made in ii mirror opposite. as
put the plaster on without interference
with his sight OF his free breathing
through the nostris. 1t was about an
hour before the mould was ready to be
removed, and being all in one piece. with
both ears perfectly taken, it chung pretty
hard. as the cheek bones We're higher
than the Jaws at the lobe OF the ear. He
bent his head low and took hold of the
mould, and gradually worked it off VI it'll
out breaking or injury: it hurt little,
as few hairs ot the tender temples
eyes water: but the remembrance of the
poor Swiss gentleman evidently kept him
in Il good mood.
lie entered my studio on Sunday morn
ing. rcmarking that Il friend at the hotel
(Trcmont House, had invited him to at
tend church: i" but said Mr.. Lincoln.
Il thought Ia rather come and sit for
| the bust The fact is. he continued. -
don't like to hear cut and dried sermons.
No-when hear man preach, like to
see him act as if he were fighting bees!
And he extended his long arms, at the
| same time suiting the action to the words.
lie gave me on this day a long sitting
Of more than four hours. and when it
Va Included. went to our family apart
mentS, on the corner of the building
across the corridor from the studio, to
| look at a collection Of photographs which
| had made in 1S-I-G-t. in Rome aud
| Florence While sitting in the rocking
chair. he took my little son on his lap
and spoke kindly to him, asking his name,
age etc held the photographs up and
explained them to linn, but noticed Il
! growing WEAKNESS. and his eyclids closed
occasionally as if he We're sleepy and Were
thinking OF something besides Grecian
and Roman Statuary and architecture.
Finally he said: These things must he
very interesting to you. w. \oll>, but
the truth is | don't know much Of his
tory ard all | do know Of it have learned
! from law books
The sittings were continued daily till
the Thursday following, and, during their
continuance, he would talk almost un-
most laughablc of stories, but he talked