The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-02
,DS.J. OWENS, WHEEL|NC'S LEADING
ARTIST, ACCOMPLISHING FINE WORK

Owens had entire charge OF the work OF
his department for four months. The
most wonderful work Of modern surgery
was performed right IN this hospital.
said Mr. Owens. "ThCr" was one south
arn man who had his check from the left
ear and his jaw cnti.eiy shot on. By
grating skin from his chest and re-
moving some ofFthr bone. which was IN
serted into his ChcCs this poor Fellow
was given a fairly prcScniab!c fac" y
silver tube was inserted into his mouth
to hold the tongue in place. and he was
given a set OF silver teeth. lie was al
ways brave. cheerful and philosophical.
and when | left the hospital was putting
cigarettes from his nnStrils, seemingly
being pretty comfortable
Mr.. Owens. upon being questioned
about the work of the American woman
sculptrcss who made the face MASKS for
the distlgurcd men, said that personally
nc believed the majority of men would
prefer wearing them TO appearing so
frightfuily disfigurcd as some Of them
are. and that the MASKS had been adopt
ed by the French government. but that
the American government had not &C
cepted them.
They are made from a clay model
said Mr.. Owens, end then covered with
iItSl steer anu pilH(to 40 TeSCHIOlt' kIlt
other side OF the mans face. Generally
they are fastened on by pair OF Cog
giles or shell PINNED glasses. As a mask
it is successful, but can he spotted as
mask at once. and n block away"
Paints Army Officers.
After leaving Paris Mr.. Owens went
into service in Brittany for several
weeks. where after the signing OF the
armistice he was commissioned by Major
H. E. Robertson TO paint his portrait.
Mr.. Owens remained about this section
and in the region o. Nichy and Dion
for two or three months. where he made
many portrats OF prominent army Of
ficials, as we'll as some wonderfully fine
sketches of the doughboys in all phases
of army life.
One especially interesting picture
sketch which he had in his collection
! was that OF Roy Won. the moving picture
director of Mary Pickford. who was
then under government contract to Sc
! cure pictures Of the hospitals and all
other essentials connected with that
branch OF army life.
Mr. Owens will soon open studio IN
the city. but he has not decided where
| it will be- as the proper lighting facility
| is one of the necessary essentials which
is difficult to secure.
There is splendid field for my work
! in Wheeling and West Virginia" said
! Mr.. Owens. People have the money,
culture and appreciation Of the higher
| things, and the field is so far undcvel-
!! oped. Many people have asked me why
l I have chosen this field. and that is one
of the reasons. In New York man
must be old and gray before his ability
receives recognition, and perhaps then
/ he is saddeHsd or pnbittered by his
struggle sand cannot enjoy success when
! it comes to him. Then. too, many men
| become so cnamoured Of the life itself
! that it devours their talent, and still
others who have real ability are crowd
| ed out because Of the very numbers of
others in the field. 1t is overcrowded
| and TO my way Of thinking the san. sem
sbile thing for a man$to do is 10 seek
| new field whore opportunities come
| faster than in the congested east"
Before going abroad Mr.. Owens paint
/ ed the portraits Of Major General VIM.
c. Gorgas. surgeon general L. S. A, and
| Brigadier General Birmingham.