Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-07

NEW YORK, Saturday
4 one of the Bryant Park Studios are lying today
treasures the Importance of which is equal in the
! eyes of History and Art. They the most init
mate of the Lincoln records which have come to u.s.
They the perfect registers of the personality of
the Great Emancipator-the life casts of the him
self Serene gentle and calm of expression the face
of Lincoln seems live again. All the exaggeratons
which time may give to perspectives Of view are
swept away and there appears before face of
sweet majesty gentle strength and purity of purpose
unexcelled. 1t is Lincoln the man.
These replica casts given Mr. Douglas Volk by his
father possess peculiar interest because they were
made by his father, the late Mr.. Leonard W.
Volk in 1S6O special sittings which Lincoln gave
to him. and the sculptor's possesses wealth of
circumstance regarding them. which adds If possi-
ble to their interest. Pen pictures Of Lincoln have
come to him from Mr. Volks father which show the
sculptor to have been a keen analyst and close OBJ
server. They vivid and penetrating. Some OF
these included in his "reminiscences part of which
were published by the Century. Many of them how.
ever have come to Mr.. Douglas VOlk direct, and
given this article for the first time Here is of
his striking descriptions of Tie Great Emancipator-
"a plain, anguarly built level headed, common
sense He was extremely careless in his dress
and appeared to nothing for nice. well fitting
clothes His gait shambling, his figure stopped
more or less, and his head craned forward when
taking his long strides In the streets. The general
makeup of the that of boned back
Nvoodsman but of the highest order intellectually
He had face which may be regarded peculiarly
American, with much of the Indian about it."
The sculptor who could words well had
himself picturesque career. He early developed
talent sculpture. He passed his first few years
Stockbrdge, Mass. where he brought up
farm and there earned his living as a boy. He went
West when a young and there his art began its
development. He made the first bust which
modelled west of the Alleghanies.
At about this time, while still young man. he met
the cousin of Stephen A. Douglas. Douglas the
great political rival of Abraham Lincoln. Douglas
cousin and he married In this way he attracted
the attention of Lncon's opponent, who sent him to
Rome in 1855 Volk studied there for two years.
1t was in Douglas company that he to meet
lincoln. 1t during the time of the celebrated
"Iincoln and Douglas debates"
During one day young Volk was presented to Lin
coin. The stout hearted young sculptor forthwith
asked for a sitting. Lincoln promised to give it at
the earliest opportunity which he might have. 1t
was however two years before this came.
1t was in relation to these things that called upon
the of the sculptor recently at whose studio lie
the casts of face and hands which his father took the
bust which he modelled, and the very chair which
the great President sat during the sittings.
Mr. Douglas Volk is painter of distinction. He
has recently finished the portrait of Lincoln, largely
from his fathers studies, which has lately been on
exhibition at Knoedlers gallery, the reproduction of
which is upon this page. He is a kindly, courteous
of about fifty, with easy placid ways and low,
agreeable of voice. He very generously
willing to tell of the circumstances surrounding his
fathers acquaintance with Lincoln and of the max