The times., 1898-02-27

! the water into IL, then sprinkle the pias-
/ ter in until 1t reaches the surface OF the
| water. Stir briskly until the whole IS
| of a uniform consistency. IL must NOT,
| however, be stirred too long or the pias-
| ter loses its nature and will not harden.
When IL is first mixed the plaster should
be like very thick cream
The hand upon which the glycerine mas
been rubbed is then laid carelessly and
naturally upon piece Of old sheetin8 or
a soft towel which is dropped upon the
table and allowed to assume its natural
pose. Then the plaster should be taken
out in a small teacup and poured over
the hand in as thin coat as possible at
first so that no air bubbles may remain
The caster should blow the plaster until
every bit of air has escaped.
After the hand is well covered with
the first coat, the rest Of the plaster
should be quickly added and evenly dis
tributed, until the cast is about two
inches thick. The hand should be kept
perfectly quiet until the plaster has set
This takes about IL minutes. As soon as
the hand begins TO feel the heat of the
plaster it should be carefully lifted up
by the caster and turned over. Then
all the little bits of plaster which have
leaked through between the fingers
should be broken away by the caster.
Sometimes a dull tool. such as a stone
and it must be remembered that all the
patience of the caster and the sitter are
required TO remove the hand without in
jury to the mold
After the plaster has had 10 or - min
utes in which 10 set the sitter may be-
gin TO wriggle and gradually work the
fingers without doing harm to the east.
and though the hand appears to be firm
ly imbedded in the plaster. it viii soon
be felt to be breaking away If the mus
cles of the fingers are firmly stretched
backward and forward.
Once the hand IS free the cast must
be placed where IL will dry slowly 1t
should not be touched for two or three
days. Before the cast is made the mold
should be washed out with boiled oil
and soap. This should be applied with
a soft brush which viii not injuTe the
fine lines In the mold. After the plaster
has set for the second time the outer
covering can be gently clipped out by
blunt stonecutter's chisel and ham
mer. This destroys the mold but should
leave the cast perfect.
To mount the hand fill a small OBJ
long tray, which has been well rinsed
with either glycerine or boiled oil. with
plaster of paris, and before it is quite
hard place the hand on the plaster so
that the finger tips, wrist and palm just
become imbedded enough to adhere
Should the caster be more ambitious,
and desire to cast the hand in the round,
there are more problems TO be dealt with.
Fill a tray with plaster and allow II to
become half settled. Then immerse the
hand, which must have been covered
with glycerine beforehand. until the
palm is half-imbedded in the plaster; let
the plaster set until it IS perfectly hard.
and with a soft brush cover the surface
Of the plaster all in between the fingers
and up about the wrists with boiled oil
and soap, then cover the hand first with
thin plaster-not forgetting to blow out
the bubbles-and then with the thicker.
As soon as the hand begins 10 feel hot
the plaster is well set. The upper cover
ing can be removed and the hand lifted
out. There are then two molds, one OF
the palm of the hand and one OF the back
When these are dry they must be brushed
carefully with boiled oil and soap and
tied firmly together. care being taken
that the back Of the fingers match even
ly with the front.
There should be no hole visible except
ing at the wrist. but in case there are
any little cracks down the sides of the
fingers, where the mOids come together.
they may be filed with bits Of beeswax
OF gray clay.
The mold is now ready for the plas-
ter, which should lie poured in at the
wrist, quite thin at first so that it may
readily De "taSUcu EOullu anu IOLllL A44Ait
it hardens in thick crust on the inside.
gradually more and thicker plaster should
be applied until the east is solid When
it is set. the mOlds can be easily separa-
ted. and the cast should be allowed 10
dry. A little loop made out Of iron wire.
and inserted before the plaster is set, en-
ables it TO be hung upon the wall.
The casting of the face is no more dlf-
fcult than the casting of the hand, if
it is done in the proper way. 1t IS most
simple to have the sitters lie on their
backs. with a low cushion under the head.
Great care should be taken in glyce-ini1g
the face, particularly the eyelids. The
eyebrows should be covered with a tEir
coating of clay, and a mustache should
be built out with clay, modelled IN Just
the form in which it grows. and then gly-
cerined. 4 towel should be placed far
back under the chin. brought round the
front of the ears, and fastened firmly
over the top of the forehead, just where
the hair begins. Small pieces of wax or
clay should be inserted in the nostfils,
through which the sitter draws breath.
This allows the IiDs to be Kept na.Jra1ly
closed while the mold is being ;aiien Of
the mouth.
Before the plaster is applet it is most
essential that the caster explain 10 the
sitter that after the plaster has Eeen
applied he will become conscious Of the
lteililS tldt II II S'iiiS ~ IAN 'tt tHe
face. Many n splendid cast has been
spoiled by the movement Of the muscles
OF sitters in their efforts to explain that
the plaster Is about to fall away from
the face This sensation is caused by its
hardening. and il Is always false itiarm-
The first coat of plaster applied % the
face should be very thin and put on with
a brush 1t must be daubed ratEcr than
painted over When the features are COW
cred with coat about an eighth Of an
inch thick. then carefully and with as
little pressure on the muscles as is pos
sible the plaster should be applied until
ii is an inch and half or tw1 inches II
thickness. and as soon as it has set it
can be readily lifted from the face Al
most any number of casts can be nade
If the mold proves good
SyenGaliS for Bad Girls.