The Washington times., 1901-06-30
CHRIsT's LIFE IN WOOD.
The Work of Twenty-seven Years
With a Pocket Knife.

To Illustrate the life of Christ in wood
with only one tool. and that tool pocket
knife, twenty seven years of John O'Don-
nelfs life were required. He has finished
the work. 1t stands in his home, at 129
East Fourth South Street. a marvel of
ingenuity and an example Of patience and
perseverance the equal of which may nos
be found in history. There are more than
l50 lifelike figures, each one of which was
carved by hand out OF solid block OF
wood. The whole, in it's frame. represents
three years actual whiting. 1t is called
The Crib at Bethlehem"
Mr. O'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 stu
dent of the Bible and had longed for the
ability to paint such scenes as the Scrip
lures suggested to his mind. But he was
not an artist. The only work he had
ever engaged in was wood carving 1t
was after he had whitfield out a little
white altar that the whole passion pic
ture suggested itself. and from that day
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-seyen years
ut HdS dt bO@h G1@til} II time the SildfU
blade sIashed his fingers or hand, Mr.
O'Donnell says and on many occasions,
after working all day on a piece of wood,
ne would see it faIl and break Instead
Of picking it up and dashing it against
the floor on the other end, he would at
such trying moments conclude it was out
of order and pick up another block. This
was th- disposition that the accomplish
ment Of such piece of work called for
1t required the patience of Job.
A description falls short of conveying a
correct idea of the work, and IL will not
convey any of the spirit and enthusiasm
which prompted the author to accomplish
his task.
The whole Is enclosed in a cabinet rep
resenting a 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 inside, and
describes the birth OF the Saviour. The
infant is seen with its mother and foster
father at the manger. while the three
wise men are making their offerings, and
the shepherds. the ass. and the are
shown. The flight into Egypt, with the
mother and child seated upon the ass,
while Joseph leads the animal. is repre-
sented. The Last Supper is described by
thirteen figures seated around a table.
and Jesus is standing as though address
washing the feet of his apostles. The
capture and trial of Jesus are depicted
with ninuteness, even to the kiss of be-
trayal.
The scourging at the pillars and the
placing of the crown of thoTns upon the
Savioir's head are other pictures. The
Journey TO Calvary is followed out, and
Simon of Cyrene Is shown taking the
cross from the Saviour when he falls un-
der its weight. The Crucifxion Is repre-
sented by several groups OF figures. The
piercing of his side. the offering of the
sponge of yinegsr, the mailing OF Jesus to
the cross. and tie removal of the body by
st. Joseph, Nice demus. Mary Magdalene,
and John: the ascension. and the descent
OF the Holy Glost to the apostles are
among the other scenes represented. There
are many others not here enumerated. but
each important event in the life OF the
Saviour is giveL place.
The figures are from three 10 nine inches
in height. Some are In hardwood and
others are il nt.hter material. They are
all vanished painted. and will exist
long after the -'hor is dead and gone.
Mr.. O'Donnell nds to leave his work
to some one who will appreciate it. II
never entered mis- mind TO sell it or part
with ii for nuI--ration, 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