The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-09-30
ARR DIFFICULT TO MAKE
Precesy Of Taking Life Masks Causes
the Subjects Much IncOn-
venience.

II n not often that men desire that
= life mask be taken of their features;
they prefer to wait till after death be-
fore undergoing such an ordeal. Yet
several residents Of Chicago have passed
through this unpleasant process, and
their masks edorn their parlor or Oh
fees. Masks from life are taken al
most precisely in the same way as a1ter
death, save that much greater care has
to be used, as the subjects life hangs
on a very thin thread, or to be more
precise. two small quilts. 1t requires
. great deal of nerve and patience to
undergo, the sensation being most dls-
agreeable. When a mask from life Is
about to be secured the subject reclines
on a long table and towels are placed
around his neck and forehead to pre-
vent the plaster going where not IN
tended. The face is slightly CREASED,
but not enough to fill the pores OF the
skin. Care has to be especially taken
with the eyelashes, as otherwise, in
the subsequent operations, these are
likely to be pulled off. A small quill is
now inserted in either nostril to allow
the subject to breathe through and cot
ton wool lightly pressed around the
base to keep the liquid plaster from IN
truding. A pair of scissors is always
kept handy SO as to be able to cut OH
the tops of the quilts should by any
chance the plaster splash up and cover
them.
All being ready the plaster is care
fully poured over the features. The
following operations have then to be
performed with skill and CELEBRITY: Di-
rectly the plaster lightly covers the
face small but strong thread is laid
on either cheek running from the tor
of the head down to the neck and
pressed into the plaster until 1t almost
touches the skin. Additional plaster il
now placed on until the whole is abou
an inch in thickness. Ere this ha'
quite set the aforementioned threads
are pulled up through the mold SO as t.
cut the plaster, otherwise it would b
impossible to remove it from the face
The subject whose mask is being takel
is now having lively time. The plas
ter presses AMI burns his cheeks. ID
thinks of all the horrible things tina
might happen should those two littl
quilts get choked. Not sound OF tn
outer world can he hear save some IN
distinct rumbling and the thud, thu
of his beating heart almost deafens hin
Hours seem to pass and he is powerles
to know what is going on. He lies helI
lessly there and, perhaps, out
/ curiosity, tries to raise an eyelid. Tha
. settles him, as by this time the plastt
has hardened and holds the lid in a
immovable grip. A sickly sensatio
, comes over him-he feels paralyze
and unconsciously gives long groal
J This, by the way, can only con
E through the quilts in his nostrils, and
t naturally alarms the operator, who in
!, mediately shouts as loudly as he ca
!. to know if anything is the matter. III
e subject is just able to hear his vol
and so raises his hand, prearrang'
signal that "all's WELL"
a The plaster, through being mix
O with warm water, quickly hardens al
v in the course of about five minutes t
2 mold is strong enough to be taken o
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