Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-04-12
10 THE POOR INDIAN
AND OTHER IMPRESSIVE FIGURES ON
= THE THORoUGHFAaES.

= THE THOROUGHFAaES.
Facts About the Manufacture of Dummies.
+ The Wood Used for the Purpose-Cost
of the Noble Savage and His Associate
Craven Images.
In recent interview with a citizen Of
Brooklyn who makes dummies, acquired
considerable information relating to this
branch of the art of wood carving which
proved entertaining as well as instructive.
As I entered his place of business he was
busily engaged in putting the finishing touches
of color on huge, grim looking Indian,
which vainly tried to look me out Of counter
ance during my conversation with its owner.
~ always finish them up myself" said he,
"for no two painters tastes, are alike, and /
like to have them finished to my taste as
nearly as possible The fine, big fellow goes
to New Orleans tomorrow, and will bring
me neat sum, too"
ORIGIN OF FIGURE CARVING.
'I suppose hard wood is always used for
figures" said l, "on account of having to
withstand all sorts of weather and tempera-
tureg'
''You were never more mistaken insyour
life. We use soft pine for carving en-
tirely. get my logs from spar yard down
in Erie basin, pay from 80 to 60 cents per
running foot for them, and they are mostly
ends which have been detached from logs in
constructing spars and masts in the yard.
The only thing we find to contend with is the
number of knots always found in pine logs,
but it's the only kind that's ever been used,
SO 1 take it for granted it's the best"
"What was the origin of dummy carving,
or is it not a trade in itself, but a branch of
the common wood carving trade?"
II don't know how dummies in the first
place became associated with the tobacco bus
mess, but this do know: Figure carving is
a complete trade in itself-a trade in which ar
tstic instinct is essential to success, and with
out which no workman can become proficient.
It descends from the now obsolete art of fig
urehead carving for vessels in ancient times,
and requires equally skilled workmen to prop
erly execute the designs now used. At least
twelve or fourteen years apprenticeship is
necessary to become proficient in this branch,
even though possessed of the necessary talent,
and considering the wages paid it's little
wonder no apprentices are to be found now
and that very few men follow it for liveli-
hood"
''How do you commence work on afiguresn
asked.
''It is the simplest thing in the world. The
log is suspended horizontally between two
blocks, just high enough for the carver to
reach handily. He draws with pencil the
outline of front and back of the proposed
figure, and hews it out roughly to within half
an inch of the line Then the log is turned
over and like process is gone through re-
garding the sides, which completed the fine
work begins. The sharp tools are produced
the carver puts his thinking cap on, and in
the course of o few days perfectly formed
and expressive face will have made its ap-
pearance. The rest, of course, is easier, the
most difficult part of the remaining work
being the pose, for poor attitude spoils the
effect of the most perfect facial expression"
A KING FOR $3.50.
"How long does it take to turn out an In
dian, from first to last?n
''For an average five foot warrior about
five days is required for the carving and as
many more for painting and finishing up,
but for a monster like this fellow" pointing
to the fierce visaged chieftain he had just
finished touching up, "nearly month is re-
quired for it's completion. It's tedious work,
but figure like that will bring me about
$3.50, and an average sized one from $25 to
500, according to design"
"What do you pay your carvers after their
spending so many years acquiring the neces-
sary knowledge"
''Four dollars per day is the highest rate
paid, and as steady work can never be assured
1t is a very low price for the work done"
SIS your demand mostly home trader
"Not by any means. have plenty of re-
pairing here, but sell very few new ones, as
figure with moderate care lasts lifetime
My demand is mostly from inland cities and
mostly for Indians, which will always be the
substantial stand by in way of design. Iget
occasional orders for clowns, or darkies, or
dudes, or some such speciality as Pickwick
or king, but rarely. The finest job ever
turned out was likeness of King William l.
several years ago, for which received $780,"
''What was the most novel design, in your
opinion, that you've yet undertaken?'
II think the most ridiculous figure ever
got up was one ordered by a st. Louis man
couple of years ago-a likeness of Knox Dun
lap the dude, a character in Mestayer's we,
Us 6, Co., which was very popular then in
the west. 1t represented a very homely
young man, with the highest of pants and
the largest of mouths, the latter extended to
its utmost capacity in desperate attempt to
smile; nose ornamented with numerous
buds which threatened soon to become bios
SONS, and beard conspicuous for its irregu-
larity of length, scarcity and vermilion
shade"
''Do you have busy seasons, as is the case
with most businesses"
"Only in the repairing line. In the spring
-housecleaning time, you know-dealers in
tobacco and cigars generally treat their
figures to new coat of paint and general
overhauling, but orders come in about the
same the year around, and that" he added,
sis slow enough, slow enough"
The huge Indian here shed tear of
sympathy with its master, and feeling as
though had awakened unpleasant thoughts
quietly withdrew to the street, leaving both
in brown study.-Brookly Eagle.