The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-09-03
PLASTER MASK
OF ROOSEVELT
Efforts to Induce President
to Submit to Having
One Made.
MATTER BR0kCHED TO WIFE
She Does Not Think Hc Could Remain
Quiet Long Enough for
Operation.

Efforts are being made TO induce Pres
ident Roosevelt 10 submit 10 the opera
ton of having a cast OF his face made
in plaster. The matter has been breach
cd TO Mrs. Roosevelt by a friend OF the
family, and the former is said 10 nave
replied TO the tentative inquiry as TO
whether the Chief Executive would be
Willing TO submit to the ordeal IN ques-
ton:
why. how long would it taketo make
the caste"
About twenty minutes" replied hs
friend
..rhen that settles it," returned Mrs
Roosevelt. mo human power could IN
duce my husband 10 remain stlll twenty
minutes"
AS q matter of fact, the friend was
mistaken as TO the length or time neces-
sary for the operation, according To the
sculptor who is DESTROYS OF executing the
mask. E. Garet Of this city.
"The making of the mask Of the face
would not take more than five minutes"
said Mr. Garet. "and would be produc-
tive OF no inconvenience to the Presi-
dent The mouth and nostrils are left
until the last and those features are not
covered more than fraction OF
minute. Moreover, quilts can be inserted.
insuring easy breathing even during that
short space Of time.
Life Cast Is Invaluable.
Washington and Lincoln" continued
Mr. Garet, had their life casts taken.
the former by Houdin and Lincoln's
mask may be seen in the United States
Museum. The cast thus taken is Of in
valuable assistance TO the sculptor who
desires to execute a statue of the sub
ject, and indeed, a thoroughly accurate
likeness can hardly be obtained other
wise I believe that, in regard 10 SIAM
ina, NJ Roosevelt could be depended
upon to undergo the operation graceful
Mr. Garet is said to be the most ex-
pert caster OF masks in this country.
II is Mr.. Carrots practice 10 make o cast
of the en.ire head of the subject as well
as OF the face. a procedure seldom fol-
lowed By sculptors. He attirms. however,
that he would not ask the President TO
submit TO this. but would be quite salts
fed with the face mask.
II is the acknowledged intention Of
the Government to secure as many life
and death masks OF eminent men as
IL is possible 10 obtain These Will
find an ultimate resting place in the
National Museum, wherein are already
death casts Of President LincOln's face
and hands. and that of the face of
President Mckinley. taken soon after
the latters demise at Buffalo.
Sculptors Retain Original.
Speaking of casts in general Of emil
nent persons. taken during life or after
death. Mr.. Gare- affirms that II is sell
dom or never that an original is 10 be
seen in a museum, as the sculptor
makes a practice Of retaining this him
self. The reason for this is mani
fest" remarked the sculptor. In the
first place, IL may be desirable TO obtain
other replIcas, and then the original
does not look as nice as the replica
as Il is nearly always discOlOred by
tho substance used for the lining OF the
mold.
Nevertheless, this original possesses
in the eyes of many a far greater
value than any replica though for mu-
scum purposes IL is evident that Ihe
latter, is If anything. prefera BILE"