Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1902 — SCULPTOR CAME TO MEND BUST. [ARTICLE]

SCULPTOR CAME TO MEND BUST.

And the Irate Janitor Took Him tor a Plumber. Daniel Chester French, the sculptor, is an Exeter boy and a graduate of Phillips Exeter academy. Like all Exeter men, he is very loyal, and has generously donated examples of his work to both town and academy. ' A few years ago one of the busts in the academy chapel had the misfortune to lose a nose, and as Mr. French was visiting the town he kindly offered to replace it. Now, it happened that the bust was not the only thing in the academy that needed mending, for the night before a cold snap had frozen and burst the main water pipe. The plumber, as usual, was late in appearing, and the old janitor was terribly upset. Mr. French put on his studio rig, packed what few sculptor’s materials he had with him into a bag, and went to the academy. He didn’t know what part of the building the’ statue was in, says the New York Times, so he rang the bell, called up the janitor, and asked: “I’ve come to mend the bust.” "Indade, it is hoigh toime, I t’ought ye’d never come,” stormed the irate janitor. “The wather is jist runnln’ arl over the buildin’!”