Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-06
A WAX FIGURE MILL.
THE PLACE WHERE INVITATIONS OF
THE HUMAN FORM ARE MADE.

The PLACE WHERE INVITATIONS Or
THE HUMAN FORM ARE MADE.
FashIe.ed In Clay From Living Molels
Figures Used For Displaying Articles OF
Wearing Apparel-1,ac Beautiful Fenc0
: Needed % Worth OF Repairs.
"Come down here, Sweet Marie, and
let me unlace you" A Customer in one
OF the Sixth avenue shops was startled
by the above remark, and turning saw
one of the clerks removing a dainty
black corset from the wax bust that
stands all day in the shop window look
ing out at the passengers on the elevat-
ed road
The clerk explained that sEc and the
other girls in that department had given
names to each of these waxen figures.
''They seem almost alive to u.s." said
she.
Most Of the wax figures used for this
purpose are no longer imported, but are
made in this city. The manufactures
has his workrooms in Canal street.
A reporter who visited the place at
first fancied he had entered the dressing
room of some living pictures. Directly
opposite the door sat q figure clothed
only in a suit OF woven underwear and
pair of high heeled slippers. IN a far
corner sat another figure clnd il, black
tights. There We're several other figures
in wax standing about the room, bat the
long lashes never quivered over the
bright eyes, nor did the smiling lips re-
lax, nor tho pink flush Oh the cheeks
deepen 1T the coming of a stranger in
their midst.
The proprietor gave an interesting ac-
count Of how "a Wax fi,Tlrc is born into
the world, be it an Indian warrior Or q
society belle wearing a riding habit azd
seated Oh q horses back. He has naae
over 300 wax models IN eight years he
says that Il beautiful arm is about the
most difficult thing to find il q model
There was q GiInpled wax one, with a
tiny, fiowerlike hand, fastened to c.:e Ct
tho ladies i'll tights. 1t was not nodded
from the cast Of Il profc15io9al models
arm, but from that Of 4 girl who worked
up stairs. When she found she had IN
arm that could earn more money from
being beautiful than il could by its skill
in work, she vent away to become a
professional model as to arms. But this
artist liz VIZ; hes six models of the per-
feet arm, SO it isn't likely tl:at his
waxen women viii ever lie Venus de
Miles.
In mal-:n- YAK figure the pose Of
tic living model is first ;.::--,.ansod Then
q clay model is r,.de from tho living
enc. Over the clay model is formed the
plaster cast. When this is hard, the
melted Wax. which has previously been
colo-od tho desired flesh tint, is poured
i'll end left to harden to certain thick
ness. TE,n the auperfuCuG wax, which,
has not yet ccc,cd, is poured out, and
the proper thickness Is given to the plis-
ter cast shaped like tho living model
The hair l.; put en- one hair at time,
and with due regard to the way it should
grow. THIS vo.k is done by five young
women. Tie delicate work Of melting
TIE wax ont Of TIE eye sockets and from
between the lips, tintirs the lips and
cheeks and fastening in TIE eyes and
teeth is lcft for TIE artist. The eyes used
are mrc! like these III wax doll, but
the teeth are as natural as the dentist s
skill can make them.
When IL figure is orSered to advertise
a corset, the model must lace herself in
one of the ccrsets to be advertised as
tightly as women pictured i'll fashion
paper. 1t is therefore necessary that the
model shall be built Gu different lines
from these who usually pose for paint
ers. The price Of n Life size figure is from
800 to 5000. For bust the price is
$40. Repairs cost Sc or 81 yecr, for,
unlike real flesh and bleed beauties who
thrive Oh admiration, these big wax
dolls become worn and faded from being
exhibited st such times they are sent
back to the artist in box to be fresh
ened up.
zone Of these great boxes stood in the
corner Of the workroom the other day.
Inside was a beautiful figure il fencing
costume. Her head WIS thrown back,
her arched foot was thrown forward
ard her lovely arms held IN proper posi-
ton for q bout with the foils. The art
list will mend the broken finger, fix the
hair, touch UP the flesh tirts, arrange
the costume and give the figure life
like poise. Then she will be put in the
box and sent to her owner, with q bill
for Sc.
If you ask the artist where he found
the model for lis cherubs, he will only
smile and say, Il never give the names
of my models" but it wo1ld be fair
guess toconcluGe that his favorite model
for that bit Of dimpled work is his own
child. New York World.
worth's Predecessor.
Worth was ret Europe's first distin-
cuished man mill;uer. as has been sr1D-