The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-04-23
WHOSE rnOEii.E II THIS ?

ifoc- Mature Mnkcs nn Artistlc Repro.
dnotlbn OF h Human Features.
CiHcIHHI'i Tribune.
Ono Of tho most curious discoveries OF
modern times, and about which thorc
Inns been tho least plausible explanation,
Is a littlo block OF wood, not much
larger than NJ adults hand, that Ia now
In tho possession Of Mr.. Joseph G.
Mcador. Of tho Meadnr furniture COM.
pany, West Fourth street. 1t will DO
forwarded to Washington. D. c., to-day
or Tomorrow.
On tina. little slab Of common poplar
Is tho picture OF n mans faco-a perfect
profile, just rs true as II dono by an
artist.
Strong In character and expression, Il
shows tue face Of q middle aged, per.
hHps Older, man, tho outline OF tho face,
from tho edge OF tho hair down to tho
roots Of tho short. flowing beard grow
Ing from tho chin. being correct ami
clear In drawing and massive In repose.
The wood, as has becn stated, Is com-
mon poplar, tho yellow variety, and the
grain, fine and clcar, follows tho general
outline OF tho features with great adel-
ity. Tho ego Is wido open, and looks
staring. A person OF Imaginative mind
might say 1t had boon transixod by
some great fright and reproduced Mt Iust
tho moment when tho cyeball was
most exposed. Expression Is lent the
features by n beautiful play OF light and
shade, which becomes moro or less pro.
nounced, and lends value, according as
tho block 10 shifted in the hands Of the
observer.
liu. there is about that its origin, or
rather discovery, tina. makes it worthy
OF more than passing notice.
Ono day. about two months ago, ono
oil the sawyers at the furniture factory
OF stroit & Schmit, corner Of Hopkins
aud llarsis streets. opposite Lincoln
Park, was at work with a band-saw rip
piuc up poplar lumber. Some little
boys were ut work carrying away tho
pieces to dump in tho furnace, tho
waste blocks being utilized for fuel.
They carried it in baskets. Tho two
little fellows had just returned from n
trip and had tossed in eight or ten
pieces, when one OF them stopped the
picking I'D process long enough to cry
10 his companion:
ali. CHIMNEY, amt this iunny?'
Then Jimmy came over to see what
was funny.
They laughed over it n few moments,
and then Jimmy carried it to the ioro-
| man.
Tha. person took the block in his
hands and then whistled, which was
his way OF betraying surprise.
lie carried it TO Mr.. STREET., who or
dered 1t sandpapered and finished up.
1t was then taken to the sandpaperine
machine and dressed down to a smooth
surface mud then vanished.
One day it was shown to Mr.. Joseph
Mcader. OF the Meader furniture COM
pany, and he at ohce took an interest
in it. While in Mr.. Meader's possession
it IA seen by q number OF prominent
citizens and advanced thinkers in scien.
titic circles. one OF whom conceived tho
idea Of submitting it to an eminent
woman in Washington, d. c.. whose
wonderful Psychological powers were
known to q very select circle, aud by
them kept an %inviolable secret.
a photograph OF it was sent, and. il
is said. r very satisfactory letter receiy-
ed, but everything about it ia guarded
90 ~zealously as 10 make it very difficult
to learn anything tangible.
The block was submitted one day re.
Gently TO n leading artist OF the city. He
| gazsd at it long and earnestly, but his
artistic eye saw nothing but the fine
drawing aud Shading, and his artistic
soul refused to admit tho existence OF
any other agency than mans.
"Pooh!" he exclaimed. that is n very
fine piece OF drawing aud painting"
And then tho piece was turned over,
showing n lighter tracery and certain
bits OF the features on tho reverse side.
The artist subsidized into silence.
1t is Y so-the likeness must have
penetrated a depth equal to several
times the thickness, OF tho piece exhib.
tied, and this ia what makes the origin
a mystery.
Although the letter received from the
psychologist Is guarded as though
priceless, it is whispered that she. in her
analysis. gives tho old man an identity
that OF II hermit, who drifted from ono
OF the Pacific islands in Il prehistoric
aye. and, landing in America. found 4
refuge in its dense forests. lmbued or
imprc.nated with u strong mcsmeric
force, which gave him immunity from
| attack by wild beasts. and made him n
power over animate lilo. this innate
force communicated itself or its impress
| OF his features. Standing on tho brink
Of q clear, pellucid stream. tho attmos-
piloric conditions being favorable, by
| tho aid oil tho water camera his strong,
rugged icatures wcre photographed on
tho surface OF n young poplar, tho green
sap acting rs n conductor and causing
it's impress TO penetrate tho heart OF
| Tho ,ron