Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-06-22
"SEEING THE ELEPHANT"

The origin of this now common and ex-
presslve phrase, is thus described:
Some years since, at one of the Phlladel-
phia theatres, pageant was in rehearsal, in
which it was necessary 10 have an elephant
No elephan, was TO be had; the wild beasts
were all travelling; and the property-man.
stage director, and manager, almost had fits
when they thought about it. Days passed
on the hopeless task of endeavoring to Sc
cure one; bu, at last Yankee ingenuity tri-
umphed, as indeed ii always does, an ele-
plant was duly made to order of wood, skins,
paint. and varnish. Thus far, the matter was
all we'll but as yet, they had found no
means 10 make the said combination travel.
Here, again, the genius of the manager, stage
director, and properly-man stuck OUT and
two of the 'supes' were duly installed as legs.
Ned c., one Of the true and genuine
'b'hoys,' held the responsible station of fore
legs; and, for several nights played that
heavy part TO the entire satisfaction of the
manager and the delight of the audience
The part, however, was very tedious one,
as the elephant was obliged to be on the
stage for about an hour, and n ed was rather
TOO fond of the bottle to remain SO long
without, 'wetling his whis,le'-so he set his
wits to find way TO carry wee drop with
him. The eyes of the elephant being made
of two porter bottles, the necks in, Ned con-
ceived the brilliant idea of filling them with
good stuff This he fully carried out, and :,
eIaled with his success, willingly undertook
TO play the tore-zegs again.
Night came; the theatre was crowded
with the denizens of the Quaker City; the
music played its sweetest slrains-lhe whis-
ale sounded-lhe curtain rose-and the play
began. Ned and the hind-legs marched up
on the stage. The elephant was greeted
with rounds Of applause. The decorations,
the trappings, were gorgeous; the Prince
seated on his back, the elephant, all were
loudly cheered. The play proceeded; the
elephant was marched round the stage. The
fore-legs got dry, and Withdrew one Of the
corks, treated the hind-zegs, and drank the
health of the audience in bumper of genu-
inc elephant-eye whiskey-a brand, by the
way, till then unknown. On went the play,
and on went Ned drinking. The conclud
ing march was to be made the signal was
given, and the .fore-legs staggered towards
the front of the stage. The foot-lights OBJ
s.ructed his way, he raised his feet and
sepped-plump into the orchestra. Down
went the fore-legs on the leaders fiddle;
over, of course, turned the elephant-send-
ing the Prince, closely followed by hind
legs, into the middle of the pit. The mana
ger stood horror-struck-the Prince and
hind-legs lay con(ounded-the boxes in
convulsions-the actors choking with laugh
ter. And poor Ned, casting one look-a
strange blending of drunkenness, grief, and
laughter-at the scene, fed hastily out of
the theatre, closely followed by the leader,
with the wreck of his fiddle, performing va
rious cut and thrust motions in the air
Imagine the scene-paint it for me, some
one of you, if you can.
The result, reader, can you not picture ii?
The curtain dropped on a scene behind
scenes No more pageant-no more FORE
legs; bu, every body holding their sides
music, actors, pit, gallery, boxes-rushed
from the theatre, shreking between every
brealh-'HAyE YoU SEEN THE ELEPHANT