The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-12-08

"He was there promptly-indeed no
never failed to be on time. My studio
wa. in the fifth story and there were no ell
evators in those days and soon learned to
distinguish his steps on the stairs, and am
sure he frequently came up two, II not
three steps at stride When he sat down
for the first time in that hard, wooden,
armed chair, which l still possess, and
which has been occupied by Douglass,
Seward and Generals Grant aud Dix, he
said;
Mr. Volk, | have never sat before to
sculptor or painter only for daguerreo-
types or photographs. What shall do'
told him l would only take the meas
urements OF his head and shoulders that
time, aud the next day, Saturday, ] would
make cast of his face which would save
him number of sittings He stood up
against the wall and made mark above
his head, and then measured up to 1t from
the floor and said
You are just one foot taller than Judge
Douglass, that is just SIX feet one inch.
Before commencing the cast the next
morning, and knowing Mr.. Lincoln's fond
ness for a story, / told him one in order to
remove what | thought an apprehensiye
expression on his face, as though he feared
the operation might be dangerous; and
this is the story:
occasionally hired little black eyed,
black haired and dark skinned Italian as
foymatore in plaster work, who had related
to me short time before that himself and
O comrade image vender we're doing
Switzerland by hawking theis images.
One day a Swiss gentleman asked him II
he conil make his likeness in plaster %.
Yes signor. | am sculptor. 50 MatteJ
Mattel such wes the name OF the pretend
er--got some plaster, laid the big SWISS
gentleman on his back, stuck quill 10
each nostril for him to breathe through,
and requested him to close his eyes Then
Mat poured the soft plaster all over his
face aud forehead; then he paused for re-
lection; as the plaster was beginning to
set he became frightened, as he had never
before undertaken snch job, and had ne.
elected TO prepare the face properly es'
pecially, the gentlcmaus huge beard and
mousiache and the hair about the temples
and forehead, through which OF course the
plaster had run and become solid Mat
made an excuse to go outside the door.
Then, said he, 4 run like -
saw Mr.. Lincoln's eyes twinkle with
mirth.
How did he get it Off? said he.
answered that probably, after reasona-
bic waiting for the scuime, he bad to break
il of and cut and pull out all the hair that
the tenacious plaster touched the best
way he could. Mat said he took especial
pains TO avoid that part OF Switzerland af-
ter that artistic experience. But his part
ner, who somewhat resembled him, not
knowing anything about his comrades per
formance, was soon after oYerhanled by
the gentleman who nearly cudgelled him
TO death.
Upon hearing this the tears actually
trickled down Mr.. Lincolns bronzcd
cheeks and he was at once IN the best OF
hnmors. He sat naturally Ia the chair
when made tho east, and saw every move
made in mirror opposite, As | put the
plaster on without any interference with
his eyesigbt or his free breathing II was
about an hour before the mold was ready
TO be removed and being all in one piece
With both ears perfectly taken. il elune
pretty hard as the cheek bones we're high
or than the jaws At the lobe OF the ear.
| He bent his head low aud took hold Of the
mold and gradually worked it of without
breaking or injury; it hurt little, as I
few hairs Of tie tender temples pulled oui
with the plaster and made his eyes water
but the remembrance Of the poor svisi
gentleman evidently kept him Ia good hn
NOR.
Ia the information eolnmn Of some o
our exchanges the startling assertion tha