Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-10-02
cHRIsT's LIFE IN WOOD.
The Work Of Twenfx-seven Years WIFI
Pocket KNIFE.

Inc work Of Iwenfv-seyem Years with
Pocket Knife.
To illustrate the life Of Christ m
wood with only one tool, and that tool
a pocketknife, twenty-seven wears 81
John o'Donnelrs life was required. He
has finished the work. Ii stands in his
home, at No l29 East Fourth south
street, a marvel Of ingenuity and an
example Of patience and perseverance
the equal of which may not be found
IN history. There are more than 100
life-like figures, each one of which was
carved by hand out of solid block of
wood The whole, In its frame, repre-
sents three years actual whiting. 1t is
called THE Crib at Bethlehem"
Mr.. 0'Donnell. who is OF the Catholic
faith lived in Brooklyn, n. Y, in 1874.
during which year he did his first piece
OF work on the subject He was a stu.
dent Of the Bible, and had longed for
The ability to paint such scenes us the
scriptures suggested TO his mind. But
ne was not an artist The only work he
had ever engaged in was wood carving
lt was after he had Whitfield out little
wnite altar that the whole passion D,
ture suggested ITSELF and from that dag
to the present every hour of his spare
time has been put into the work. He
used only common pocket knives, wear
ing out fifteen in the twenty-seven
years he was at work. Many time the
s5arp blade slashed his fingers or hand.
Mr.. ODonnell says, and ON many occa-
sions, after working all day on iece
of wood, he would see it fall and break.
Instead of picking it up and dashing it
against the floor on the other end, he
would at such trying moment con
clude it was out of order and pick up
another block. This was the disposition
that accomplishment of such a piece
of work called for 1t required the pa
tience of Job.
A description falls short of conveying
correct idea OF the work. and it will
not convey any of the spirit and enthu-
si@sm which prompted the author to
accomplish his task.
The whole is inclosed in q cabines
representing church, which stands
about three feet high, is four feet long,
and two feet wide. The first group of
figures is in smaller church on the in
side, and describes the birth of the
Savior. The infant is seen with its
mother and foster-father at the man
ger. while the three wise men are max
Ing their offerings, and the shepherds,
the ass and the OK are shown. The
flight into Egypt, with the mother and
child seated upon the ass, while Joseph
leads the animal, is represented. The
last supper is described by thirteen fig
ures seated around a table and Jesus
is standing as though addressing his
apostles. Christ is shown again wash
ing the feet of his apostles. The capture
and trial of Jesus are depicted with
minuteness. even to the kiss of be-
trayal
The scourging at the pillars and the
placing of the crown of thorns upon
the Saviors head are other pictures.
The journey to Calvary is followed out,
and Simon of Cyrene is shown taking
the cross from the Savic when he falls
under it's weight. The crucifxion is
represented ny SSFGidl SIOupS VI LIZ
ures. The piercing of his side, the Of
fering of the sponge of vinegar, the
mailing Of Jesus to the cross, end the
removal of the body by st. Joseph,
Nicodemus. Mary Magdalene and John;
the ascension. and the descent of the
Holy Ghost to the apostles are among
the other scenes represented. There are
many others not Lere enumerated, but
each important event in the life of the
Savior is given place
The figures are from three to nine
inches in height. Some are in hardwood
and others are in lighter material. They
are ali vanished or painted and will
exist long after the author is dead ana
gone. Mr.. O'Donnell intends to leave
his work to some one who will appre-
ciate it. 1t never entered his mind to
sell or part with 1t for remuneration.
but he has spent all his time and labor
out of pure love for the subject. He has
lived in Salt Lake for the past eleven
years.-Salt Lake Herald.