The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-08

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street., iast east of Broadway, stands
plain.looking, three story building.
Surrounded by an atmosphere of bust
ness activity, it nevertheless has the APP
peArance within of veritable abode of
silence. None of the hurrying passers-
by would suspect that its front wall hides
from view "a city Of the dead, !" the min.
ItuYe streets of which are lined with the
forms of many who have gone over to
the great ma jority. 1t may be entered
without dismay however, for its "sheeted
dead" are but plaster casts, quite unable
10 Squeak and gibber," though many
have indeed speaking" likeness. Here
may be found the gods and the god
aeascs, the emperors, generals, statesmen
and authors of the ancient world,
nd, famed ones Of the modern
world rs we'll. In the construc-
tive economy of this museum the dis
knction of caste observed in the outside
world are no longer found. On the
same shelf are the COX eyed Juno,
Queen of Heaven" and the "Greek
Slave" Jupiter and the ''Supplicant
YOUTH" Augustus and the ''Dying Glad
iatOr" Nero and St. Francis, the Ma
donna and Venus. Here Mercury is
ever "new lighted on heavenly kissing
HILL" there the heroic Pallas Athene
stands with upright spear, Diana the
Ghaste again starts for the chase, the
Discobulus never quite lets 60 his quot
On the extended arm Of the Fighting
Gladiator the blow is ever coming as of
cid. About are scattered relieves of
fruits, flowers and leaves; animal forms
and heads are jumbled together in
happy family; prizes, medallions, vases,
pedestals and brackets fill up the frac-
lions of the human body, suggested the
following conversation between Trib-
me reporter and the proprietor:
"Does any one ever come here to have
cast made of an arm or leg? and
what is the process and time taken?"
1--WE have frequent calls for casts of
bands; not so much for arms and legs.
The casting varies in regard to the time,
leg or an arm taking much longer, of
course, than foot or hand. The pro-
cess, however, is the same in all these
sases. First, tue hand is covered with
plaster from an inch to an inch and
half thick. We wait till this settles and
grows lukewarm, perhaps twenty min
.tes in the case of hand. Then with
removed. It is now put together again,
the inside hollow having the exact shape,
lines and thickness of that part of the
body to which the plaster was applied.
This hollow is next washed with oil, be.
cause We are now to fill it with plaster.
and this must not be allowed to stick las
i would without the OILY to the outside
plaster first put on. Then the mould,
alma Gl1oI &c 1o,1 Co
20 in the case of hand. Afterward, the
workman chisels away the outside plas.
ter, working down to the hand formed
within. This, of course, requires care
md delicacy lest the inside hand be cut.
The chiselling takes MALT day, and the
vhole operation consumes q day. Two
days are required for leg or an arm"
For what purpose" asked the re-
porter, ARE these casts generally
nsde?"
'.For personal qualification. or for
Surgical operations-a surgeon fire.
qusntly finding ,ast of distorted or
diseased limb useful for study before the
operation is performed. Also, you know,
mt schools need them for anatomical
study. A cast is copied in marble some
imes."
SIS the mask OF the human face ever
hkeu from life?"
"Yes, it is done. We have taken such
mask several times. though we dislike
i and will probably refuse to do so
Hgain. The plaster is put on in three Sec
lions separately, the space around the
mouth forming ope section, and . line
reaching from the center OF the forehead
down to the tip of the nose dividing the
rest of the face into two sections. A
small pipe is passed through the nostril
Tor breathing purposes. The plaster is
liable to stick to any hairs on the face
md hurts q delicate SKIN. Our charge
for this cast is over eight times 20 much
- for . hand; so you see that We regard
i - . matter requiring great care"
II suppose you are called upon to
make masks of dead mems faces?"
Eyes, and busts, too. The cost OF
thsse is rather high; SIS for the mask
sed $50 for the bust, but We have had
ssmber of calls in that department of
esr work. This operation requires more
tine than others, . half day being
needed for applying and removing the
plaster, and then three days, more tor
Ne mask and week for the bust"
''Are there ever cases Of 'monstrosi.
Ges' applying for casts Of thelAselves?"
"Well, don't know that you would
sall this q montrosity, but one woman
recently had leg taken in plaster just
shove the knee which measured twenty
Two inches. Il was to be pat in . show
sass, she said."-[N. Y. Tribune.