The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27

After lie had finished cleaning up at night he
would draw from the casts OF the antique, and
an opportunity presented itself. One day a stu
dent, a young sculptures, brought her box Of clay
tique. This WAS a revelation to the colored man.
and AS her def fingers passed over her work the
over him. When the night class had Eo4 ne3 he
set about modelling the well-known Mask of
his labors to the young sculptress and to the
instructor OF the class. They were much sur
Irised at the work. aud pronounced it good as II
This encouraged him. He continued working
he had full sway. and at other times when none
OF The students was around. He made studies
Of many Of n "a S dttG1n casts and KEEP, up with
ne had gained a fair idea OF the proportions of
the human face and figure accord ng to classical
Frederick Douglass. who had died but a short
time before; This bust, although, technically
ture, yet showed SO much character and such
promise that it gained a place at the exhibition
spring OF 1898. Encouraged by this success he
did a relief OF the Rey. ME; Brooks his celored
y head OF Miss Prescott, which he considers the
About this time preparations were being
made for ihe e1hibition at Atlanta, Exhibits
the south, and among those collected from
Washington were the bust Of Douglass and sew
s simo I basore. !Ni Hi dat!r 4nh ap' s : 20 but to- A g SnSrs
and to model a subject he had for a long time
had IN his mind of u slave with the manacles
stricken from his wrists. He went to Atlanta
VIII, his family. with the, expectation OF
repilcas or the bust OF Douglass. Upon ar
ana began his slave working from a
model. He worked night and day, and at the
end Of several wccks had finished this piece and
cast IL. 1t was accepted by the commission,
had tho most conspicuous place in the hall
with the negro exhibits, and attracted the at
%tention OF people OF both races. In the mean
time Hi was very successful with his casts OF
Douglass. and sold several hundred Of them
sion. noting his success, asked $500 from MIN
for the privilege e selling them inside of the
hall. He was therefore obliged to sell his busts
outside the bulldog. and his revenues were
much decreased.
Hin tells the story n a dream he had at a time
when lie was most de'pondcnt about his WORK.
He felt the necessity OF sticking to something
which would enable him To support his wife and
family, and Yet his ambition To go further with
his work in sculpture was burning more steadily
under the hugo statue OF tho Venus of Milo ut
tho League and that tho statue suddenly became
possessed of arms, and selling n sword near by
brandlshed IT. III n threatening manner. He took
poet OF the Venus was bcnefcent, and she urged
him to so on with his work. The next day he
came to the League and. asking a criticism from
the instructor, he received this encouragement:
81 am going to help YOU" said the drawing
master. You have worked at this thing so
Sire to learn to draw in all that that implies.
that you have now reached q point when | must,
In spite of my own feelings for your condition
and your financial prosperity. tel. You TO go on.
] dislike to do II, but | must and j am going TO
help YOU" And the drawing master has Kept
| his word.