Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-08-11

A CAPITAL STORY.

| Eo"eirt tue kicat SSuiP'o'i 10 rese " ~o'S
played off on Pey,on S. Symmes, Of Cincin.
nat,i. The story has recently been resusci-
tated and embellshed by some additions not
in the original, and has been repeated 40 OF.
ten that Symmes naturally felt annoyed, and
TO relieve him, Powers was written 10, and
in the reply he wrote the subjoined amusing
account Of the affair. It will be seen that
Mr.. Symmes was not the subject Of the hoax
and we are glad the stony is shifted to some-
body else's shoulders, Cor MIR. s. is one Of the
worthless, men we know Of, his only failing
being rather too difusive punning. But 10
| Powers letter. Here i, is, and capital let.
| ter il is too.
FLORENCE, March 81, 1si9.
To PryroN S. SYMMrs, Eso.--My dear Sir
In letter from Mr.. Kellogg, am requested
TO state the facts, as to an alleged imposition
upon you by Mr.. Henderson, the actor 1t
has been said in some Of our papers that you
wete Of the number npon whom Mr.. H. i'm
posed himself as a uar.fgure, in the Western
Museum, some fifteen or twenty years ago,
and my name has been given as authority
for the truth Of the story. tbs natural that
you should disrelsh such an impu,a,ion, and
as the story, so far as you are concerned in
ii, is untrue, it is but just that you shonld de.
sire refutation from me.
remember TO have said, whenever the
story was told, that Mr.. Henderson had de-
signs upon several of our most respectable
citizens, yourself Of the number: but these
designs were never executed, excepting upon
half dozen or more persons residing in the
immediate vicinity Of the Museum. This
was done in order 10 satisfy me that the
thing was practicable; for MIR. Henderson
hoped to prevail upon me 10 allow him the
use Of one Of the large glass enclosures in the
Museum for his experiments upon larger
scale. He succeeded perfectly in dupins the
half dozen individuals above alluded to- but
withheld my consent to any further pro-
ceedngs, and so the matter ended. allow.
ed him the use Of small room for perform.
ing the experimentation thought he would
fail and that thus should get rid Of his re.
| Il
without having to deny him favor.
When Henderson had prepared himself,
one Of his acquaintance was invited into the
room to see an unfinished representation Of
''Henderson, the actor, in the character of
Sir Francis GRIPPE" On entering, the figure
was seen standing in 4 corner of the room
with the head leaning against an old coat,
folded in such manner as to afford back.
ground, and thus prevent unsteadiness, which
might lead TO detection. A white wig made
of horse hair decorated the head. The face
was laubbed with ochre, vermillion and lamp
black; the features were much distorted SC
iha, had my reputation as an artist depended
upon their resemblance to the original,
might have feared for the result of the eX.
animation about TO take place. The visitor,
however, seemed disposed to flatter me; and
| grateful for the permission 10 see an unfnsh.
ed work, assured me that had been very
successful in the likeness. He thought, in.
deed, that had improved upon the original
begged him 10 suggest any improvement
that might occur to him. He replied: "Per,
haps you might modify ,ha, peculiar cock Of
the eye little; and if | were you, | would
give him better leg, instead of those spindle
shanks of his" This last remak occasionet
decided change in the expression of the
wax figure, for Henderson, thought gooc
deal Of his legs. This change, however, wa.
not observed by the visitor, who still regard
ed The legs; but had great difficulty il
containing my own counienance, so ludicrou
was the scene. The wax face had now re-
covered lis proper expression, when our visi
tor took up the lamp, and, against my dissua
E sive remarks-that'ihe effect was best dis
lance, ,ha, the thing was not yet finished
: and consequently would no, bear close in
, spec,ion-he walked directly up to the fgur
S and stood within foot of il, face 10 face. |
r was eviden, that no trick was even suspecte,
as be held the lamp now 10 one side, then
below, &c. &c, the better TO examine t
work. The actors eyes had now been KEEP
: so long open without winking, that moisiur
was beginning to collect in the corners; oh
, serving which, our critic exclaimed, "MaI
. vellous How in the world did you contriv
: to make those tears! Did you use gum
: Arabic, or copal varnish! At this, the frien
who stood at my side could refrain no longe
but laughed outright. l was obliged TO laug
also but the actor still maintained the lud
!, crous gravity Of his countenance. The criti
n appeared confused for moment, stating q
us inquiringly but he soon became awar
g that trick had been played upon him, an
U suddenly turning again upon the wax tigur'
he seized it by the nose, and the tweak b
= gave it would have proved fatal to the SYN
meiry Of waxen probocs. As it was how
, ever, it did no damage TO that organ, but
brought some additional moisture to Hende
. sons eyes and an exclamation from his mou,
i, Of "D-n it, don't! You forget that my nos
: is made Of war," Others were introduce
after this to see the wax figure, but aha
not a,,emp, 10 describe any more Of these ia
|