116 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. III. 



it is SO placed that it frames the face down to the ears and keeps the 

 plaster from running farther. While these preparations are being 

 made the plaster is mixed and the rubber tubes are inserted into the 

 nostrils of the victim so he can breathe. The plaster is first applied at 

 the nose, to hold the tubes in place, then over the eyes which of course 

 are closed and so on gradually covering the entire face. Since the 

 plaster is quite heavy while wet, it runs down to the card board mask 

 and one must keep on shoveling it back to maintain an even thickness 

 over the entire face. However, it begins to set very rapidly and soon 

 holds together. After about eight minutes it is hard enough so that 

 the finished mold can be removed. 



Unfortunately this operation is not always completed without 

 trouble. Once in a while it happens that the subject becomes nervous 

 when the plaster is applied and moves a little thereby displacing the 

 rubber tubes and just as the mixture begins to set, jumps up and spills 

 the entire mess over his body. This of course not only destroys the 

 mold but his entire clothing is covered with plaster and one has the 

 job of cleaning him up again. As is only natural the b^^standers enjoy 

 this immensely and laugh at his timidity. The strange part of it is 

 that so far as our experience goes it has only been with men that we 

 have had such trouble; whereas with women and even with children 

 of whom molds have also been made in this manner, we have in- 

 variably had good results and finished the operation without the least 

 difficult}'. 



On the average the Indians are good natured enough, and usually 

 quite willing to have a mold taken, submitting heroically to the 

 operation, after they once fully understand what is wanted. Nat- 

 urally soap, water and towels are in readiness to clean the face of 

 small particles of plaster which adhere to the eyelashes and eyebrows 

 after the mold has been removed. When enough molds have been 

 taken to meet the requirements of the group, anywhere from eight to 

 a dozen as the case may be, they are very carefully packed in boxes 

 to prevent breakage in transit. This finishes the work for such an 

 Indian Group, and we start for home with the happy feeling that living 

 and working among the Indians, on such a field trip, is one of the most 

 interesting experiences that can come to men dwelling in crowded 

 cities, and most particularly to an artist. 



