The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-22
MOCK MARBLE.
Boiled Alabaster Veuded as the Product of
the (arrara Mines.

Boiled Alsbastcr Vended as the Product of
the Carrara Mines
While in converse ton the other dav
with young Italian sculptor il was
! learned that stuff is sold for genuine
Carrara marble in this country that is
nothing more than alabaster boiled in
water. He added:
Il am from the town of Carrara. in
Italy, and if ] know anything at all
know what marble is. You couldn't
import plain block of Carrara marble
for double the price of a finished statue
/ saw offered for sale the other day"
'.Where was IL you saw this statue?"
asked.
I'm a dry-goods store. There are
several dry-goods stores in this and
other large American cities. or at least
stores whose principal business is re-
failing dry goods, that have art depart
ments, luXuriously fitted up, where oil
paintings, engravings and chromos, to-
together with marble and bronze statu-
airy are sold as well as houshold furni
ture and kitchen utensils
In many OF the big stores abroad, like
Ait spbii ttlfs IN al -. Aitit hit
1uxuriously fitted apartments and
cafes for the accommodation of patrons
who want to do some shopping. In
some of these pleasant places there are
not only cafes but billiard-roOms az
well TO entertain the men and 70 keep
them from getting uneasy But 20 min
gle art and muslin in the way il is done
in this city was something new.
My informant explained how he dis
covered the existence of these arts and
dry-goOds emporiums. lie was asked
by lady Of his acquaintance to look
at Carrara marble statue that had
been offered 10 her the dav previously
at a price which she thought bar
gain. She took him To a large retail
dry-goods store, where they were ush-
cred into place that completely sur
prised him. Here WAS a regularly Ct
ted up art gallery, the walls aped
with dark red cloth. Easels supported
oil paintings in elegant frames and
shadow boxes. There were also a mum
ber Of vases and some statues on ped
estals
Where are your Carrara statues?'
he asked Of the salesman.
"These are ali Carrara marble. " he re-
piled with sweep Of MS hand toward
the statues.
No; these are not Carrara marble"
said the sculptor.
Maybe You would like 70 make bet
they are not, said the salesman taunt-
inglv.
Most assuredlv.' replied the sculp-
tor, as he produced sl Q0) bin from
his pocketbook, and growing more in
dignaut every moment, offered 20
double the bet that there WAS Uut ore
piece Of marble m the room, and that
the Others were not even marble Of any
kind
The salesman then became quite hum
bic. bat insisted that thev were marble.
perhaps not Carrara marble, bui Caste.-
lima narbIe
But, said M Fucigns. ''Casteli'na
marble is not marble at all- i' is moth
ing but ala baster boiled. sDd you know
IL
The salesman admitted thai all *
cept the one piece we're Tast@ilina ms
bie--jH other words aot marble. lie
explained that Csrrarz m8rbie - re-F
expensive aud American buyers d.d
not appreciate the difference sad y~0a,d
rot pay for g People iu Italy had
learned % boil ala naster 80 a. % r~sens- .
bic marble. in r-,3-r 10 scppiv The d. /
mand IN tbis country Tor so1netbiug +
cheap and show