Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-11-20
ORIGIN OF "SGEiyl THe ELsPl.yTn

Some years since at one of the PniIadel-
PIMA theatres, pageant was in rchears-
al 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 1t. Days passed in the hopeless task
of trying to secure one but at last Van
kee ingenuity triumphed, as indeed it al
ways docs, aud an elephant was made to
| order, of wood, skins, paint and varnish
Thus far the matter was ali very we'll );
I bat as yeJ they had found 10 means to
make said combination travel Here again
tie genius of the managers. the stage
director, and the property man stuck out,
and two 'broths' were duly installed as
egs. Ned C., one of the true genuine
bhoy8 held the station of fore legs. and
for several nights played that heavy part
TO the entire satisfaction OF the managers
and audience.
The part, however, was a very tedious
one, as the elephant was obliged to be on
/ the stage about an hour, and Ned was
rather too fond of the bottle to remain
so long without 'wettiug his whistle" so
/ he set his wits to work t. find wav to
carry wee drop with him. The eyes Of
the elephant were made Of two porter bot
ties, with necks IN. Mel conceived the
idea of filling them WITH good stuff This
he fully carried OUT and elated with sue
cess. he willingly attempted to play fore
legs again.
Night came on-the theatre was dense
I y crowded with the denizens of the Qua
ker city-the music was played Ia the
sweetest strains-the curtain rose and
the play began. Ned the hind legs
marched upon the stage. The elephant
was greeted by round upon round oe ap-
/ plause. The decorations and the trap
pings were gorgeous. The elephant and
the Prince seated upon his back were
loudly cheere5. TIE play proceeded =
The elephant was IN ,rched round an
round upon the stage The fore legs got
dry. withdrew one OF the corks and treated
the hind legs, and drank the health Of the
audience in bumper of genuine Elephant
Eye whiskey, brand, BY the way, till
then unknown. Ga went the play and
on went Ned drinking The conclusion
march was to be made-the signal was
given, aud fore legs staggered towards the
front of the stage The conductor pulled
the ears of the elephant 70 the right-the
fore LEGS staggered To the left. The foo
lights obstructed the way, and he raiseo
his foot and stepped plump into th,
orchestra Down went the fore legs o.
} 10 the leaders fiddle aud over. Of course
turned the elephant. sending the Prime
and bind legs into the middle Of the pit
The managers stood horror struck-th,
Prince and hind legs lay coufouuded-
; the boxes In commissions. be actors chok
ing with laughter. and poor Ned castiD:
one look. strange blending of drunken
: ess grief and laughter at the scene. fe,
hastily out OF the theatre. closely followe
; by the leader with the wreck of his fiddle
2 performing various cut and thrust motion
!. in the air The curtain dropped on
r scene behind scenes No more pagean
DO more fore legs-but every bodg bel
: their sides Music actors, pit. boxes an
r galley rushed from the theatre shriel
: ing between every breath-Have yod see
= the elephant