THE AMERICAN SCULPTOR.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13468, 7 July 1909, Page 4

THE AMERICAN SCULPTOR.

(By ERNEST THIBAUDIFRE.) Some days ago I walked up Rue Blanche. In front of mc walked a young girl whoso graceful figure and long blonde hair attracted my. attention. I have always been an admirer of a beautiful female form and this young girl was perfect except for her shoulders, which were not quite even. I was thinking of what a pity this was when another gentleman walked up to tho young woman, tipped "his hat and politely asked her if she would not like him to correct her shoulders. The young girl looked at him in surprise and asked, him to leave her alone, but ho was stubborn. "It is very wrong of you, madam," he said. "I could change you into a perfect beauty. You are indeed perfect already but for your shoulders, and it would take only a moment to correct them."

Tho young woman shook her head and entorocfa store, evidently to get rid. of the man.

"Did you ever sco such stupidity?" he 6aid, turning to mc. "There I offer to make that young lady as beautiful as a Greek statue and instead of accepting my offer sho runs away, I suppose sh© thought I was making fun of her." _ "Well, I must admit I think so too." "But I did not. I have changed th© shapes of many women, among them my own wife, and nothing would havo been easier for mc, than to correct her shoulders." "You. are an orthopedist, thenP" "Not exactly that, lam a sculptor, but for years I hay© not worked in marble or bronze, but on the human form, making perfect what Nature has unkindly neglected." "Is it possible?" I said, thinking the man must be an escaped lunatic, whom it might bo dangerous to contradict. "And what instruments do you use?" "None at all—only my hands. It is a purely perso_al gift and I have never been able to teach my art to anyone, but it is th© easiest thing in the world for mc to change th© feature and form of anyone. Now, take yourself 1 Your face is rather too long." "I am sorry to admit that it is." "It-takes mc only a_ few seconds to remedy that. I simply do this.—" Before I could prevent it he pressed hia one hand against my chin, the other against my forehead, and I felt a pressure whioh was quite strong but not at all painful. It made m©xvery angry, however, and I just gave him a piece of my mind and told him to leave mc alone.

"That is impossible," he replied. "I cannot leave you in this condition. It is absolutely necessary that I finish what I have begun, for you gave my hand a push and your head is now very much doformed."

'That makes no difference. I am satisfied with it as«it is. Good-bye." He held mc back.

But I tell you I cannot let you go with a face like that. It looks awful/ ''I don't care."

"Well, so much th© worse for you. Allow mc then at least to give you my card, for I know that you will ccme to so© mc." '

I took the card and hurried home. As I was about to walk upstairs the concierge came out and asked mc whom I was looking for. L stared at him. "Do you want to make fuu of mo? Do you mean to say you don't know mc, when I have lived in this house for three years?"

"I know your voice and your brown overcoat very well, and also your cane and hat, but never in mv life havo I seen you with a face like that."

"Possibly I may look a little disturbed. I have just escaped from a lunatic in the street."

"Disturbed! why your whole head is out of shape." "Oh, you axe an old fool," I exclaimed, and ran upstairs. I entered my apartment, threw my hat on my desk, placed my can© in a corner, took off my overcoat and went over to look at myself in the glass. At the sight that met my eyes I could not repress a cry of terror. Surely it was not my head 1 While my face was formerly about ten inches long by five wide, it was now only five inches long and at least ten inches wide —a veritable fish-head.

I was 6till staring at myself when there was a knock at th© door. I knew this gentle knocking, and whenever I heard it my heart used to beat with joy—but now what was I to do, for I dared not show myself with this mcnstrous head? But a thought came to me—l would show it to lier and she was to judgo whether I had charmed. I opened the doors and my arms at tho same time*

Sho looked at rue for a moment, then she* hurst out laughing. "I beg y« ur pardon; monsieur, you must have made a mistake." "No, darling, you have made no mistake. Don't you recognise my voice? Come in, don't be afraid! Nothing is changed except my head. I am about to have it rop ai red and it is not yet nrishod. Y'oti can have it made any shape you wish; you only have to choose." There is the card of the man who does it." MONSIEI.R JOHN BREAD, -'Statuairo Americain, 121 Rue Vaugirard. She stood as if petrified. Then, with a cry of terror, she rushed down the stairs. I cursed Bread. Then I went to bed and slept to tho next morning. Bright and early I took a cab and rode to Rue Vaugirard. I knocked at Mr, Bread's door on the third floor. A young, exceedingly beautiful lady onened.

"Is M. B*-ead in, madam?" "Yes, sir," she replied. Then sho .added with a mocking smile: 'T am sure you are tho gentleman M. Bread met in Rue Blanche yesterday."

"I am sorry to say I aiu, madam." "Well, I understand that, for surely your present face—but never mind, my husband will change that in a minute."

Mme. Bread let mc into the studio and a moment later her husband entered.

"There, you see," ho said with a smile. '"It was a good thing I gave you my address. You should never he stubborn, for if you had inul your way you would havo had to wear* this awful head the rest of your natural life."

''You sho-ild not havo smashed my head," I replied, testily. "Oil, do not think of that now and I will give you a veritable Adonis head so that all women will fall in lovo with you."

'Thank you, hut I prefer to look as I did before."

"No, no! You ar© a man of the world and know what a power manly beauty is. Let mc give it to you. not only tho head but th© whole body. Now just undre*ss and placo yourself on this velvet cushion and in an hour you' will look as if you had been modelled by Praxiteles." "No. sir," I cried, "just give mc back my old face."

'That is very easy. It only needs a little stretching, but I want to do more for you." " "Thank you, thank you very much." "Don't mention it—but I see you are afraid, so I will show you what I can do first." Ho opened the door and called: "Jenny, Jenny." His beautiful young wife appeared and he spoke some words to her in English which I did not understand. Mme. Bread took off her shoes and stockings and placing herself on the cushion began to undress. "My wife has consented to let mo experiment with her to convince you. And I now will show you how she looked beforo I formed her." When the young woman stood there naked, ho pressed his hand against her shoulders, her besom, her limbs, and in a few moments her perfect form had changed into the most miserably deformed woman I ever saw. It was a pity to look at her. Poor Mmc Bread 1 "Now you see lioav my wife looked when I met he/ and transformed her into the famous beauty whom all Paris raves about." "Oh, John!" Mme. Bread exclaimed in a shrill totally changed voice, "do not let monsieur look at this ugly sight too long." "I admit, madam," I said, "that your appearance' was much moro pleasing before and I tremble at the thought, that something might happen to your hu3band so that you would havo to remain as you aro now." Bread smiled and again went to work, and in lcsa than fifteen minutes ho, had restored his wife to her former beauty. "Monsieur and I thank you very much for what you havo done." "I hopo that monsieur has changed his mind now and will consent to leave this studio as beautiful as Endymion." "No, madam, I really prefer to' stay as I was or no on© would recognise mc. "Do not he afraid," she said, and winked at her husband, who said to m© in a ton© of command: "Now it is your turn, sir." Then both of them seized mo around the waist and lifted mo up. I was terrified,'.tried to defend myself, and shouted for help. I felt everything turning black beforo mc. I seemed to fall—opened my eyes and looked around and—l had fallen out of bed and the fall had awakened mc.