Evening star., 1901-12-28

creased, this treatment extending to all
parts of the head selected for reproduce
ton What is known to sculptors as
dam was then made by draping en-
broidered towel about the forehead and
face. The ends of this were crossed be-
meath the throat. Plaster paris mixed to
almost liquid form, was then applied di-
rectly to the face with a spoon. Colored
plaster was first poured on, merely enough
to supply thin film. The cavities of the
eyes, nostrils, mouth and were then
covered with the first coating of white
plaster. This was to avoid the possibility
of an entrance of air beneath the mold The
entire features were next covered with a
coating of the white material. Within a
half hour after the wet mold was put on 1t
had hardened sufficiently for removal. When
taken off it bore intaglio every line, angle
and curve of the original features
Thus was obtained the mold or negative
from which the mask proper was cast
This mold having thoroughly hardened the
pUrest of white plaster paris was poured
into it and allowed to solidify and settle
The mold now had to be chiseled away,
piece by piece, and here is seen the pur-
pose of the film of colored plaster next
the face. Hours and hours of delicate chis-
cling gradually exposed this stratum, i'm
mediately beneath which the outer layer of
the positive was known to rest. All of the
coiored stratum having been exposed, even
more tedious and delicate work was requir-
ed to remove it, particle by particle, so as
to leave the outmost atoms of the relief
cast-the death mask described
This death mask of President Mckinley
is not as yet the property of the nation.
1t is technically entered upon the books of
the National Museum as a loan. 1t is still
the property ofthe sculptor. But at an early
date Congress is expected to pass a bill
aPpropriating for it, as we'll as for the ex-
penses incidental to the Presidents illness
and burial. What price has been asked by
MI Pausch is as yet unknown.
The Lincoln Masks.
Two masks Of the face of President Lin
coin are installed in the National Museum.
Both of these, however, We're made before
the nations first martyr was assassinated.
The first Lincoln mask was made at Chi
cago in 1860 by the sculptor Leonard w
Folk- Mr.. Lincoln was then without
beard. The same sculptor made, al Spring
field H., on the Sunday following Mr..
Lincoln's nomination for the presidency
casts of his hands, in one of which he is
clutching a rod. The first bronze casts
from these molds were presented to the
government by thirty-three subscribers in
Guiding John Hay, Geo. w. Childs and Rich
ard Watson Glider Plaster casts from the
same were deposited in the National Mu-
scum.
Sixty days before President Lincoln's
death Clark Mills, the Washington sculptor
made second life mask of the great Amer
lean This is installed in the same case
IA.
The Mills mask perpetuates Mr.. Lincoln as
best remembered. He wears the familiar
chin whiskers. Every line of the broad ir-
regular nose, the high cheek bones, the ca
daverous cheeks, the deep-set, prominent
ears and the thick underlip of the civil war
President is traced upon the plaster of this
cast.
These Lincoln masks are monuments to
Mr.. Lincoln's good nature. in more Ways
than one. 1t was certainly no trihng or
deal for him to lie supine for long inter-
val, bearing upon his head not only the
cares of state, but several pounds of wet
plaster, breathing the while through quiIls
penetrating to his nostrils through the ILL
smelling, sticky pouitice.
The only relics of martyred Presidents
which the National Museum has upon ex-
hibitiOn are the clothes which Mr. Lincoln
wore at the time of his assa ssination the
pail which covered his bier while he Law
here in state and the flag which draped the
Garfield funeral car. The first mentioned
consists of a waistcoat of black silk n
black bow and stock of the same material
a frock coat and trousers of black broad
cloth. This apparel was worn by President
Lincoln as an office suit.
The Lincoln pail Is of the heaviest black
broadclOth. When brought to the National
Museum it was fairly alive with moths and
fell into hundred pieces when shaken The
flag from President Garfield's funeral car
is well preserved.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS, JR.