The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-11
FRIENDLY FACES
Beam Down Upon the Visitors at the \
tiOUai Museum.


Beam Down Upon the Visitors at the Ma
tiOnal Museum.
Some queer Hkenesses of human beings of
many nationalites and countries have been
collected in plaster by the scientists at the
National Museum In sizes these range from
| the heroic to miniature. the last class includ-
| ing a large number of dolls which illustrate
the different races Of mankind. The dolls of
savages in this group are perhaps the most in
structive of all. These, to savage people, are
something more than toys, for with them the
savage mothers instruct their offspring in the
domestic arts Several curious stories are told
of the work done by sculptors at the Museum
in the construction of manikins.
The collection includes number Of heads
which nave an interesting history. From one
of the shelves there looks down a plaster mask
of the late Joseph Francis. 1t is in one of the
less-frequented corners, and attracts no atten-
ton from the thousands of visitors who pass
through the building weekly. lie was the
inventor of lifeboats, and the Museum has
several valuable specimens of his invention.
He was friend Of the Museum, and the mask
was taken only a short while before he died.
The eyes are closed, and, just as in death
mask, there is q lack of expression.
A companion mask near that of Mr..
Francis is one from Gen. Greedy, the present
head of the Signal Corps, distinguished for his
travels in the far North. The reproduction
of the features is well nigh perfect, except for
slight distortion of the muscles, caused by
the pulling-dOwn of the plaster. The mask
is of the entire head, except the lower part,
which is omitted. that the mask may be
taken off entire. These masks were male by
Theodore A. Mills, the sculptor, who has
done considerable creditable work of this
kind at the Museum. He makes them very
quickly, each occupying only about 10
minutes.
One advantage in leaving off the lower part Of
the face is that it allows the person to breathe
freely, and this part can be added afterward
without difficulty. Most sculptors, however,
spread the plaster down over the lower part
of the face, and insert straws in the nOstrils
to allow the subject to breathe. These
masks, taken while the subject is in excellent
health, are the best means known for preserv-
ing the features. Death masks are unsatis-
factory because the face is then usually
emaciated and the eyes sunken. TIE express
sion is then far from satisfactory. Life would
also be of great assistance to sculpt0rs In
moulding busts and statues.
People visiting the Museum sometimes
marvel at the life-like proportions of the
many lay figures which adorn the different
collections The scientists have acquired q
great proficiency in this kind of work, and it
is not far from the truth to say that close
inspection of the deiicately formed hands and
feet, as well as arms and lower limbs, would
show intimate friends that prominent peo-
pie in Washington have been utilized to grace
the collections of Indian peoples, wild tribes
of Borneo, and other races. That has come
to be one of the penalties of being seulptor's
friend, for he will insist upon casts with
which to frame his manikins. The different
parts of the body of man or woman can be
taken separately, and then joined together
with putty. A very ltelike effect is pro-
dueed In this way. The only part of the
body which cannot be taken in cast is the
abdomen and this is because the breathing
would interfere with the forming Of the
plaster.
The sculptor has to exercise much care in
preparing his casts from living subjects.
Take the hand as an example. 1t has first to
be carefully oiled, that all the hairs may be
smoothed down. If this were not done, they
would become fastened in the plaster, and the
process of taking off the mold would be little
short of torture The mOlds are cut open
and sometimes broken in being taken off, but
they can then be glued together, when plaster
4
obtained The oil on the inside of the mold
prevents the new plaster from adhering to it,
There are several preparations for making
casts, some of which are flexible. This fiex-
ible material was used for making casts OF
snakes, of which the Museum has large
and extensive collection. For the dark or
red-skinned races the casts are easily tinted
or painted to represent the desired eolor.
The collection of dolls at the Museum is
the largest in the world. Some of the Es-
kimo dolls are probably the most valuable.
and they certainly are instructive. Among
these is a trick doll with string attachment
to move its head from one side to the other.
One of these dolls is from Point Barrow.
Alaska, and it is fashioned from driftwOod
which the natives of that region picked up
on the beach. The dress of the doll is made
of seal gut Some of the dolls are made out |
of ivory, whole Eskimo families interesting
themselves during the long Northern nights |
in doll manufacturing. The collection also
includes many dolls of the Zuni Indians,
who utilize them to teach their children re-
ligiOn.