Litchfield enquirer., 1855-11-22


Some years since, at one OF the Philadel-
phia theatres, a pageant was In rehearsal,
in which it was ut cessary to have an ele-
plant. No elephant was to be had. The
wild beasts" were all travelling. and the
property man, stage director and inauaperS
almost had fits when they thought Of Il -
Days passed in the hopeless task of trying
to secure one but at las, Yank ee ingenuity
triumphed,as indeed it always does, and an
elephant was made to order, Of wood, skins,
paint and varnish. Thus far the matter
was all very well; but as yet, they found
no means to make said combination travel.
Here again the genius of the managers. the
stage director and the property man stuck
out, and two ''broths" were duly installed
| as legs. Ned c., one of the true and
genuine "b'hoys" held the station Of fore
legs, and for several nights he played that
heavy part to the entire satisfaction of the
managers and the delight Of the audience.
The part, however, was very tedious
one, as the elephan, was obliged TO be on
the stage about an hour, and Ned was raih-
er too fond Of the bottle to remain SO long
without :" wetting his WHISTLE" so he set
his wits to work to find way to carry a
wee drop with him. The eyes Of the eie.
phant being made Of two porter bottles with
the necks in, Ned conceived the brilliant
idea Of filling them with good stuff. This
he fully carried out; and elated with sue
cess, he willingly undertook 10 play fore
legs again.
Night came on-ihe theatre was densely
crowded with the denizens Of the Quaker
| city-the music was played in the sweetest
strains-the curtain rose and the play be-
gan. Ned and the hind legs" marched
upon the stage. The elephant was greeted
with round upon round OF applause. The
decorations and the trappings were gorge.
Gus. The elephant and the prince seated
upon his back were loudly cheered. The
play proceeded the elephant was marched
round and round upon the stage. The fore
legs got dry, Withdrew one Of the corks and
treated the hind legs, and then drank tho
health Of the audience in bumper Of gen.
uine elephant eye whiskey, brand. by the
way, till then unknown. On went the play
and on went Ned drinking. The concln-
sion march was to be made--the signal
was given, and tue fore legs staggered tow
ards the front Of the stage. The conductor
pulled the ears of the elephant to the right
the fore legs staggered to the left. The foot
lights obstructed the way, and he raised his
foot and stepped plump into the orchestra F!
Down went the fore legs on the leaders fid-
dle-over, Of course, turned the elephant,
sending the prince and hind legs into the
middle Of the pit The managers stood hor.
ror ssuck-the prince and the hind legs lay
CONFERENCE.-The boxes in commissions, the
actors choking with laughter and poor Ned
casting one look, strange blending Of
drunkenness, grief and laughter at the
scene, fed hastily out Of the theatre, close
y followed by the leader with the wreck Of
his fiddle, performing various cut and thrust
motions in the air. The curtain dropped on
scene behind the scenes. No more page
ant-no more fore legs-bu. everybody held
their sides. Music, actors, pit, boxes and
gallery rushed from the theatre, Sticking be-
tween every BREATH" Hare you seen the
| eiephant 2"