Modern Sculptors

The first scene presents to the spectators' astonished eyes a solid piece of marble, which, the moment it is placed on a table, appears to come to life. A snake-like line brands the polished surface of the stone, inscribing the name of the house of Pathé Frères. As soon as the stone is engraved, as by magic, a handsome young lady appears with a large lump of clay covered by a cloth. The moment the cloth is removed from the soft mass, it begins to whirl and turn as if seized by madness, prompting the audience to wonder what the ensuing actions will lead to. A vague shape of an indistinct animal begins to emerge, and before the audience can determine its category, the form of a remarkably well-made orang-utan, modeled from the clay, appears, calmly smoking a pipe. The statue is then removed by the same charming young lady, and another block of the same material is carried forward.