The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-01
Lincoln sits for a Idfe-Mask

December. fc r. - q 80. = - ~
He was there promptly-indeed, he never
failed to be on time. My studio0was I'M the
:. fifth story, and there was no elevatsrsin those
: days, and l soon learned to distinguish bis
steps on the stairs and am sure he frequently
came up two, if not three, steps alta stride.
when he sat down the first time in that hard I
pwooden, low armed chair which still possesss
q and which has been occupied by Douglas,
: Seward, and Generals Grant and Dix, he
said: ase ls
d.. Dir. Folk, have never sat before to sculp-
tor or painter-ony for daguerreotypes and
photographs What shall do,d KS
q told him would only take the neasu re-
ments Of his head and shoulders that time,
ana next morning, Saturday, I would make 4
cast OF his lace, which would save him mum
j Der 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 twelve inches taller than
4 Judge Douglas that is, just six feet one ineiI
Before commencing the cast next morning.
and knowing Mr. Lincoln's fondness for
story told him one, in order to remove what
thought an apprehensive expression-as
though he feared the operation was danger
Gus and this is the story
i occasionally employed little black-eyed. I
black haired, and dark skinned Italian AZ a !
| Jorm0*ore in plaster work. who had related 10 5
me short time before that himself and a
| comrade image-vender were doing Switzer-a.
land by hawking their images. One day, = 4,
Swiss gentleman asked him if he could make
MS likeness in plaster. oh, yes, signor,, i
am sculptorf- So Matteo Mattei-such WAS
the name of the pretender-got some plaster, d
laid the big Swiss gentleman on his back, 81
stuck quill through each nostrilfor hin, to
breathe through, and requested him to close
bis eyes Then Mat, as called him, poured 4
the soft plaster all over his face and forehead q,
then paused for reflection; as the plaster was n
beginning to set he became frightened o rs hs,
had never before undertaken such job, and
had neglected to prepare the face properly, es-
pecmlly the gentleman's huge beard. mustsche
and the hal 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 Il run
like a. sAa. d
Il saw Mr. Lincoln's eyes twinkle witt,
mirth Ma
How did he get it off 2" said he
Il answered that probably, after reasonable
waiting for the ~eu1tofe he had to break it of, .
and cut and pull out all the hair which the ten
aclous plaster touched, the best way he could.
Mat said be took special pains to avoid that
particular part Of Switzerland after that arts
tic experience. But his com panion who some
what resembed him, net knowing anything Of
his partners performance, was soon over
hauled by the gentleman, and nearly cudgeled
to death 'f-f
Upon hearing this, the tears actually trick =
led down Mr.. Lincolns bronzed cheeks, and
he was at once in the best of humors. He sat
naturally in the chair when | made the cssi,
ana saw every move made in mirror oppo-, I'd,
site as put the plaster on without interfer-
ence with his eyesight or his free breathing
through the nostrils. II was about an hour
before the mold was ready to be removed, and
being all in one piece with both ears perfectly d,
taken, it chung pretty hard, as the cheek bones
were higher than the jaws at the lobe ofthe ear.
He bent his head low and took hold eTthe mold,
and gradually worked it Aoff without break Is
Ing or injury; e,hurta little rs few hairs of "a
the tender temples pulled out with the plaster
and made his eyes wafer; but the remember
ance OF the poor Swiss gentleman evidently y
kept him in good mood ,-.s E. -s,@
The last sitting was given Thursday morn
ing. and | noticed that Mr.. Lincoln was in d,
something of a hurry / had finished the head, 10
but desired to represent his breast and brawny y.
shoulders as nature presented them; 50 he
stripped of his coat, waistcoat, shirt, ecrayat
aud collar, threw them on chair. pulled his
undershirt down short distance, tying the
sleeves behind him, and stood mp for an hour or g
SO without murmur. / then said that / was}
done and was 1t thousand times obliged to him &
for his promptness and patience, and offered toa
assist him to dress, but he said No. can z
do it better alone ] kept at my work with
out looking toward him, wishing to catch the
form as accurately as possible while it was %
fresh in my memory. Mr.. Lincoln left hur- "a
riedly, saying he had an engagement, and
with cordial Goodbye! l will see you again
soon, passed out A few moments after. / Z
recognized his steps rapidly returning The
door opened, and in he came, exclaiming
Hello, Mr. Volk got down on the sidewalk
and found had forgotten to put on my un -
dershirt and thought it wouldn't do TO go
through the streets this way. Sure enough,
there were the sleeves of that garment dang.
ling below the skirts of his broadcloth frock-
coat. | went at once to his assistance, and
helped to undress and redress him all right,
and out he went with a hearty laugh At the
absurdity of the thing