40 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
Bust Modelling— III. 
BY ADELAIDE F. SAMUELS. 
WHEN you are ready to cast the bust 
in plaster, the first step is to roll and 
pound flat on a board, a strip of clay, that 
will be long enough to reach from one 
shoulder on the bust to the crown of the 
head ; have the strip about three inches 
wide, and one inch thick ; stand this strip 
up on the bust, from the shoulder to the 
top of the head, bending it in to touch the 
neck, and letting it pass up just behind the 
ear. Pre^ it on all the way up so that it 
Fig. 8. 
will stay, then make another strip for the 
other side, and join them at the top, as 
shown in Fig. 8. 
Now take an earthen bowl that will hold 
from two quarts to a gallon, fill it two- 
thirds full of water, and into the water 
pour your plaster of paris slowly, until it 
takes up all the water, and becomes of the 
consistency of cream. Stir a few times 
with a large spoon to get out the air, then, 
with the spoon, throw the wet plaster 
you are sure the whole surface of the face 
is covered. It must be done very quickly, 
for if the plaster is allowed to harden at 
all before it is thrown on, there will be 
air holes between the clay and it. j 
After the plaster has been applied, mix 
another bowl full, and continue to mix 
and lay it on, until the whole front of the 
bust has a covering of plaster as thick as 
the clay strips are high, that is, about 
three inches thick. 
In Fig. 9, A shows the clay partition, and 
B the plaster, as it should be put on. 
After the front is done, peel off the clay 
strips, and with a brush 
wet with water and clay, 
saturate the edge of the plas- 
ter, or all of it that rested 
against the clay strips ; this 
is done to prevent the back 
of the mould from sticking 
to the front. 
Now mix more plaster and 
apply it to the back of the 
bust, until that is as thick- 
ly covered as the front. 
Smooth it off, while wet, 
with a broad-bladed knife, 
and press it against the 
front, leaving the line dis- 
colored by clay and water 
visible between the two. 
After the plaster is hard 
enough, which will be as 
soon as it ceases to feel 
warm, turn the bust care- 
fully on one side, and with 
a large knife, cut and pull 
out all the clay up to the 
neck. Now separate the 
front of the plaster mould from the back. 
If they do not separate readily, place a 
chisel on the discolored line, and hit it 
gently with a wooden mallet ; follow the 
line up, until the parts separate, when you 
can easily remove the remainder of the 
clay; while removing it, care must be 
used that the knife does not disfigure the 
mould inside. Now put the two parts of 
the mould in a tub, cover them with 
water, and let them remain over night. 
This is done to take all the life out of the 
upon the face of the bust, blowing it into 
every crack and cavity, the while, until I plaster, that it may not adhere to the cast 
