The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-06-30
The Lincoln Life Mask.

The Lincoln Life Mask
Mr.. Leonard Volk, the well-known
sculptor, of Chicago, contributes to the
Century Magazine very interesting
article on the Lincoln life mask, and how
it was made. After detailing the Incl
dents of trip to Springfield, where he
met Mr.. Lincoln, Mr.. Volk proceeds as
follows:
/ returned to Chicago and got my
studio in the Portland block in order
and ready for work, and began to consid-
er whose bust should first begin In the
clay, when noticed in morning paper
that Abraham Lincoln was in town-re
tanned as one of the counsel in sand
Lar" trial, in which the Michigan Cen
trail Railroad was either plaintiff OF de-
PENDANT at once decided to remind
him of his promise to sit to me. made
two years before. / found him in the
United States district court room Gin a
building known at the time as the Lar
mon block his feet on the edge of
table, one of his fingers thrust into his
mouth, and his long, dark hair
standing out at every imaginable angle,
apparently uncombed for week. He
was surrounded by a group of law Jers,
such as James F. Joy, Isaac N. Arnold,
Thomas Hoyne, and others. Mr.. 4.rnold
obtained his attention in ny behalf,
when be instantly arose and met me out
side the rail, recognizing me at once
with his usual grip of both hands. He
remembered his promise, and said, in
answer to my question, that he expected
to be detained by the case for week.
He added:
81 shall be glad to give you the sit
tings. When shall 1 come, and how
long will you need me each timer"
just after breakfast, every morning,
would, he said, suit him the best, and he
could remain till court opened, at ten
o'clock. I answered that I would be
ready for him the next morning.
He 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 I soon
learned to distinguish his steps on the
stairs, and am sure he frequently came
up two, if not three steps at stride.
He sat naturally in the chair when I
made the cast, and saw every move
made IN the mirror opposite, as [ put
the plaster on without interference with
his eyesight or his free breathing
through the nostrils. 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 were higher
THAI the Jaws at the lobe of the ear. He
bent his head low and took hold of the
mould, and gradually worked it off with
out breaking or injury. 1t hurt little,
as few hairs of the tender temples
pulled out with the plaster and made his
eyes water. u
The last sitting was given Thursday
morning, and noticed that Mr.. Lincoln
was in something of hurry. I had
finished the head, but desired to repre-
sent his breast and brawny shoulders as
nature presented them; so he stripped
off his coat, waistcodt, shirt, cravat and
collar, threw them on chair, pulled his
undershirt down a short distance, tying
the sleeves behind him, and stood "
without murmur for an hour or so.
then said that I was done, and was a
thousand times obliged to him for his
promptness and patience, and offered to
assist him to redress, but he said, "No,
I can do it better alone" I kept at my
work without looking at him, wishing to
catch the form as accurately as possible
while it was fresh in my memory. Mr..
Lincoln left hurriedly, saying he had an
engagement, and with cordial "Good-
byi I will see you again soon," passed
out. A few minutes later I recognized
his steps rapidly returning. The door
opened, and in he came, exclaiming,
"Hello, Volk! I got down on the side
i walk and found that I had forgotten tc
iFput ON my undershirt, and thought il
/ wouldn't do to go through the streets
this way" Sure enough, there were the
sleeves of that garment dangling below
the skirts of his broadcloth coat!
went at once to his assistance, and
helped to undress and redress him ali
right, and out he went, with hearty
laugh at the absurdity of the thing.
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