into the cell.  At one time in the evening a cry arose that a murder was being committed in the jail.  The door was opened, the policemen crowded in, and the two men who had clinched and were battling were torn apart.  One was dragged outside and thrown into the woman’s jail, and for a time the air was blue with the most insulting cries.  Convinced that no work could be done in the afternoons, we labored with the greatest possible diligence each morning.  The first morning, going to the town-house, we ordered subjects to be brought.  The presidente was drunk; the sindico also; still, some of the town officials were found in a condition able to do our bidding.  Having measured a few of the officials, we proposed to take such prisoners as still remained in the jail, from the batch of the preceding day.  There were eighteen of these, and with them we made a good beginning.  Among the prisoners we found our first subject for modelling.  Oiling him, we began to make the moulds.  The back-piece had been applied; the second piece, covering the lower part of the face and upper chest, was hardening, and we were busily engaged in putting on the final application over the upper part of the face.  At this moment the presidente staggered into the jail.  When his eyes fell upon our subject, he stopped aghast; for a moment he was unable to speak; then he groaned out the words, “O horrible spectacle!  To think of seeing a son of this town in such a position!” As I was beginning to laugh and ridicule him, the old mother of the young man came bursting into the jail, weeping and trembling, to see what fate had overtaken her son.  Wringing her hands, the tears rolled down her face, and her voice was choked with sobs, as she asked pitifully whether he must die; she told me that he was her only support, and that, without him, she was absolutely alone.  Taking the old woman outside, while the mask should be completed, I chatted with her, and as soon as the pieces of the mould were removed, delivered her precious son, unharmed, into her hands.

Just as we were ready for a new subject, a young fellow, better dressed than most, passed by.  We called him to come in and be measured, but with a somewhat insolent manner, he walked by, paying no attention to our words.  Sending the policemen for him, they soon returned with the report, “No quiere” (He does not care to come).  To allow a first refusal was not to be thought of, so we ordered his return.  Again the policemen came back with no result.  Thereupon I declared that no more work should be done until he came; that time would be lost thereby, and the jefe’s order would be disregarded, but that it was not our fault.  Upon this the presidente informed us that the order was not explicit; it did not state that people must be measured; he would consult the civil code to see whether anyone but criminals must be measured.  “Very good,” said I, “do as you like; but unless that young man is brought in we shall