The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-11-09
MisrfIlanfnlla Rraainq.
Origin Of Seeing the { Eie-
phanf.' -

Some thirty years since, at one of the
Philadelphia Theatres, pageant was in re.
hearsal, 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 and man
ayers, almost had fits when they thought of
it. Days passed in the hopeless task of try
ing to secure one; but at last Yankee ingenui-
ty triumphed, asindeed 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 had found no
means to make said combination travel.
Here again the genius of the managers, the
Stage director and property man stuck out
and two 'brothers" were duly installed as
legs. Ned c., one of the true and oenu-
inc "b'hoys," held the responsible 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 audi
ence. .s......
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 remain so long with
out "wetting his whistle" so he set his wits
to work to find way to carry a wee drop
with him. The eyes Of the elephant being
made of two porter bottles, with the neck in,
Ned conceived the brilla4t idea of filling
them with agood stuff. - This he fully carried
out: and elated with success he willingly
undertook to play fore legs again.
Night came on-the theatre was depsely
crowded with the denizens of the Quaker
city.
The music was played in sweetest strains
the curtain rose and the play began. Ned
and "hiuds legs marched upon the stage
The elephant was greeted with round upon
round of applause. The decorations and the
trappings were gorgeous. The elephant and
the prince seated upon his back were loudly
cheered. Theplay 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 the health Of the audience in
bumper of genuine elephant eye whisky,
brand, by the way, till then unknown. On
Vent the play and on went Ned drinking.
The conclusion march was to be made-the
signal was given, and the fore legs staggered
tor 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
orchestral Down went the fore legs to the
leaders fiddle-over, of course, turned the
elephant Vsending the prince and hind legs
intothe middle ofthepit. The manager stood
horror struck--the prince and the hind legs
lay confounded, the boxes in commissions, the
actors choking with laughter, and poor Ned,
casting one look, strange blending
ofdrunkenness, grief and laughter at the
scene, fled hastily out of tie theatre closely
followed by the leader %ith 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--but everybody held
their sides. Music, actors, pit, boxes and
gallery, rushed from the theatre, shrieking
between every breath-"Haveyou seen the
Elephant 2" Sea