Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-10-11
Origin Of "sseing the Elephant"

Some thirty years since, at one Ofthe Phila.
delphia Theatres, a pageant was in rehearsal,
in which il was necessary toh have a n elephant.
No elephant was to be had. The "wild
beasts were all travelling, and the property
man, stage director and managers, almost had
fits when they thought of it, Days past in
the hopeless task Of trying TO secure one but
at las, Yankee ingenuity trumpheh, sS indeed
it always does, and on elephant was made to
order, of wood, skins, paint and varniSh.-
Thus for the matter was all very well, but as
yet, they had found no means TO make said
combination travel. Here again the genius Of
the manager, stage director and property man
stuck out, and two Of the "brothS" were duly
Installed as legs. Ned c., one Of the
true and genuine "b'hoyS," held the TeSpen-
Sibe position of fore legs, and for several
nights he played tha: heavy part TO tie entire
satisfaction Of the managers and the delight
Of the audience.
The part, however, was very tedious one,
as the elephant was obliged 10 be on the stage
lor about an hour, and Ned was rather too
fond OF the bottle 10 remain so long without
"wetting his whistle" so lie set his wills tC
work to find way TO carry wee drop with
him. The eyes Of the elephant being made
Of two porter bottles, with the neckS in, Nee
with good stuff. This he fully carried out
and elated with success he Willingly under
took TO play fore legs again.
Night came On-the theatre was denSel,
crowded with the denizens of the Quaker city
the music was played in sweetest strain
the curtain rose and the play began. Net
} and 'hnd-legs' marched on the stage. Thu
elephant was greeted with round upon rount
of applause. The decorations and The Trap
pings were gorgeous. The elephant and tn
prince seated upon his back, were lUudI
! cheeTed. The play Proceeded the elephan
was marched round and round upon the stage
. TIE fore legs got dry, withdrew one Of tn
= corks, ami treated The hind legs, and the
drank the health Of the audience in Uumpe
OF genuine eiSphdnt.tye whiSkey a brand b
e the way, Till then unknown. On went ti.
s play and on went Ned drinking. The con
= GLIDING march was 10 he ma e-the sigma
[ was given, and the fore legs staggered toward
the front OF the stage. The conductor pulle
4 the ears to the right-the fore. legs staggere
q to the left. The foot lights obSrucled th
way, and he raised his foot and stepped plum
= into the orchestra Down went the fore let
Il on the leaders fiddle over. Of course, tune
= he elephant, sending the prince and hind les
# into The middle of the pit. The manager
stood horror strIck-the prince and the hln
e legs lay conloC ndei-the boxes in cOnvulsion
IS the actors choking with laughter, and poo
t Ned, casting one look, q strange blending
drunkenness, grief and laughter al The seen,
fed hastily out Of the theatre, closely Gollowe
by The leader with the wreck Of his idGe pc
| forming vsrous Cit and thurst motions in Il
d air. The curtain dropped on scene behir
i the scenes. No more paeeant--no more fo
S legs but everybody held their sides. Musi
k actors, pit, boxes. and gallery, rushed fro
Il the theatre, shreking between every breath,
/. "Hure u0u seen the Ehpphant p"