The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-16

himself in business. For a time he had q
hard struggle to keep soul and body to-
gether. owing to the number OF competitors
in the field, together with the dizziness OF
business. It soon became necessary Tor
him. in addition to his other trade, to set
himself up as a druggist, and ne still runs
his little shop, though principally as a de-
Late in the ZOOS, when the Knights Of
Pvthias were organized in this state, the
demand for skeletons increased. as they
were used to a great extent IN the lodge
rooms. Dc Robaire prospsred as 2 consez
Quence, since most OF his compebltors nau
given up the business.
OF and on during the following twenty
wears business was brisk and dull by turns,
but the old man has amassed q small fortune
and there ia no reason why he should Longer
continue in the business, except tnae no nus
taken a liking to his work. such as every
true artist does. He is an artist in the full
sense Of the word. There is undoubtedly
no one who can articulate a skeleton as
neatly as he, and it ia no idle boast on ms
part when he claims that with eyes blind
folded he can take q mass OF bones iepIe.
senting the human frame and build up me
skeleton as it was originally withou5 one
bone out of place.
Again, he can by merely touching a bone
tell to n certainty what part OF the frame or
mar or beast it belongs. There IS no posi-.
Die WAY OF u6LGIIlluiuk Il -
the person who existed around q certain
skeleton during life except that IN the case
Of a negro the aperture in the skull once
covered by the nose 10 not 30 narrow ana
sharpened as a white man.
The doctor while standing in his work
shop \ few days ago with hls sleeves Idileu
/ up over his skinny arms, thus held forth on
| the subject nearest his heart. This skeleton
You see me operating on have imported
from France. You will notice the high
| polish on the bones, due to a method or
preparation practiced only by the French.
| They clean the bones by a process OF macer-
| alton with muriatic acid, the whole opera
ton requiring two or three months time,
while in this country the bones are hastily
and carelessly boiled and come out rough
and dirty. In all my twenty years service
I have never como across q Chinese sKsle-
Ion. This is due to the fact that q emma
man believes he will not reach heaven
unless his bones rest in the Flowery King
DOM.
..The different Prices of skeletons are
based upon their degrees OF hardness ana
Wilderness, upon the development OF the
their sxtremities. For this reason the
French article is decidedly Of more
value than the American or herman.
Up to this year over 2,OW, skeletons
nave been imported into this country,
but they have become scarce Or late
for some reason, and to supply ths demand
I find it necessa,y to manufacture them OF
paper. OF course | have n stock OF them IN
nv bedroom, but l would not part with
these. Mon diem! have come to look
upon them as dear friends and companions.
Here You see my artificial skeletons made OF
pupier maohe, with artificial teeth, and the
whole covered with a white polish which
gives the appearance Of the genuine article;
1 can make three OF these each week, and
they bring from $40 to $15, while the i'm
ported genuine articls costs from $3oto 1896,
and tho domestic $50. But then the imita'
tions are boughs only by secret societies.
Eyes, / have grown old In the business
and love it. / have articutnted and handled
over 5000 skeletons in my time"