Washington telegraph., 1848-05-17
SEEING THE ELEPHANT.

The origin OF this common and express
sive phrase is thus described
Some years since, at one of the fhila.
delphia theatres, Il pageant WAS mrehear-
sal in which it was necessary TO have AN
elephant No elephant was to be had
The wild beasts were all travelling,
and the property man, stage director aud
manager almost had fits when they
thought OF it. Days passed in the hope
less task OF trying to secure one; but at
last Yankee ingenuity tnnmphcd, as in-
deed it always does, and nn elephant was
duly made to order OF wood, skins paint
and yamsh. Thus far the matter WIS
all well, but as yet they had found no
means to make the said combination tag.
el. Here again the genius OF the mana
ger. stage director, and properly man,
sstuek out, and two OF the "supes were
duly installed as legs. Ned G,
one of the true and genuine "hhoys,
held the responsible station Of fore tegs
aud for several nights he played the heavy
part to the entire satisfaction OF the man.
ager, 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 Ned
was rather too fond Of the bottle TO ofeman
so long without "wettng his whistle,
so he sets his wits to work TO lind way
TO carry "wee drop with him The
eyes ol the elephant being made ol Two
porter bottles, the necks in, Ned oanreig-
ed the brilliant idea OF filling them with
good stuff" This he fully carried ont
aud elated with his success, wiilinansly
undertook to play the fore iegsagain.
Night came. the theatre was crowded
with the donizcns OF the Quaker city; the
music played It's sweetest strains, the
whistle sounded, the curtain rose and the
play began. Ned aud the hind iegs
marched upon the stage. The elephant
was greeted with round upon round Of
applause. The decorations, the tnppings
we've gorgeous, the Prince seated on his
back, the elephant, all Were loudly cheer.
ed. The play proceeded; the elephant
was marched round the stage. The fore
legs got dry, and Withdrawing one Of the
eorks, traiied Gc hiii legs. and drank
the health OF the audience in a bumper
OF oigcnuinc elephant eye whiskcy--a brand
by the way, til then unknown. On went
the play, aud on went Ned drinking
The concluding march to be madc-,ho
signal was given and the fare legs stag
gercd towards the front OF the Stage
The foot lights ohstructcd his way; be
raised his feet and steppcd-plump into
the orchestra. Down went the to6c kegl
ON the leaders fiddle; oyeroi course lum
ed the elephant, sending the Prince, close
ly followed by hind legs into the middle
Of the pit. The manager stood horror
struck. the Prince and hilM iegS lay con.
founded, the boxes in conyul,lon, the ac'
tors choking with laughter And poor
Ned, casting one look, q strange blending
of drunkenness, grief, and laughtorut the
scene. fed hastily out OF the theatre iol'
lowed by the leader, with the wreck oI
his fiddle, performing various cut and
thrash motions in the air. Imagine lhg
sccnc-paint il FOR me some one oiyou y
You can.
The result. reader eau you not picture
1t. The curtain dropped on a "SoHe be-
hind SocHss" Nomorc pageant, no mon
fore legs, but every body holding ihcil
sides, music, actors, pit gallery aud huxc.
mshed from the theatre, shrioking be.
tween every brgath-'HAyE YOU sEES
rnE ELEPHANT