Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-07
NfI1SE @ | st { RS OF lin c O N 5
~ P ERS 9 N 4 T Y


tion of the face was to be revealed.
1t about an hour from the time of starting
that the cast ready for removal. 1t was a COM
pete cast in piece and had both perfect It
clung tightly to the cheeks, and Lincoln took the
mould within his hands, held his head low and worked
it steadily off, few hairs in the temples stuck to
the plaster and were dragged out. Lincoln's eyes
watered but he retained his good humor, which Mr..
Volk found to be nvariable.
SssssSSS
On the Sunday Lincoln said that he had been in
vted to church But" said he 81 thought I'd rather
come and sit for the bust The fact is" he continued
Il don't like to hear cut and dried sermons No when
l hear man preach like to see him act as if he
were fighting bees?' AS he said this he extended
his long and suited his actions to his words
That day he sat for the bust for more than four
hours.
During the continuance Of the sittngs he told funny
stories almost increasingly But he talked little OF
religion or politics. He complained that at any pub
lie place people would ''ptch into him on politics."
On the last occasion Lincoln was in something Of
a hurry. Mr.. Volk had finished his head but wished
to suggest something Of the broad shoulders which
nature had given the great President Lincoln obe
diently stripped off coat wastcoat, shirt and turned
his undershirt down somewhat, tying the sleeves at
the back. In this way he patiently posed for an
hour
The sculptor, intent upon his work. did not notice
him dressing again, and Lincoln left hurriedly after
calling out a cordial "Goodby. will see you again
soon." few moments afterward his footsteps were
heard rapidly humping upon the stairs again. He
burst into the room.
Hello Mr. Vok,' he called out, laughing, I found
the sidewalk that had forgotten to put on my
dershirt and I thought it wouldn't do to go through
the streets in this way
Sure enough, the sleeves of his singIet were dan
Cling beneath the skirts of his frock coat. Mr. Volk
helped him to dress, and the next of his de-
parture thoroughly conventional.
Thus ended the sittings which resulted in the
tion of the well known bust one of the very few.
possibly two three, in existence modelled directly
from life. The celebrated sculptor E. D. Palmer and
other judges have the standard bust Of
Lincoln Certain it is that it has been used by numer-
scuptors as basis for later representations of
Lincoln.
The bust was exhibited at the Paris Exposition of
1867. Copies of it are in the White House at Wash
ington and other public places.
AS work of art it is thoroughly sculpturesque in
style and possesses all the indications of being
most accurate presentment of the great he
before the nomination. before the heavy cares
of State had added other burrows to that placid
brow, though never hardening the lines of those
human lips.
Ssa
Two days after the nomination Mr. volk took casts
of Lincolns hands, the results of which are now in
his sons studio 1t was at Lincoln's home The
sculptor wished him to hold something in his hand
Lincoln went to the wOrkroom and the saw was heard
to go. He returned to the dining room whiting off
piece of broom handle Mr.. Vok told him there was
necessity to do that.
'Oh WELL" said he, II thought would like to have
it NICE"
In the casts to be in Mr.. Douglas vok's studio
the right hand appears swollen compared with the
left 1t was the penalty of success. The excessive
handshaking of the day before had produced it.
The statue which the sculptor made is now in the
rotunda in the Capitol at Springfield The elder
VOk had the identical black alpaca suit and pair
Of newly made boots of Lncolns, but these were de-
strOyed by fire. The original casts saved, how
ever, Mr. Volk always carried them about with
him while travelling. They were in Rome at the time
of the fire They have crossed the ocean four times
and now belong to the United States government.
Mr.. VOlk possesses a wealth of remniscence con-
cerning these precious objects which is out of the
power Of any other to give. And it is with
thrill that thinks that this plaster before one
is line for line the face Of the great American in
time of his prime and that perhaps in thousands of
years the future may look upon it, and with its
help almost see him live again.