The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-10-30
Origin Of Seeing tho ELEPHANT"

Some thirty years since, ut one OF the lhla
delphia Theatres, Il pageant was in rehearsal, IN
which it WAS necessary to have an elephant. NC
eleplaut was to lie had. The "wild beasts
were all travelling, and the property man, stage
director and managers, almost had fits when
they thought Of it. Days passed in the hopeless
task of trying to secure one but at last Yankee
ingenuity triumphcd, as inccd it always does,
and an elephant was made to order. Of wood
skins, paint and varnsl Thus far the matter
was all very well, but It's 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
"brothcrs" were duly installed as legs. Ned
c., one of the true and genuine " 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 audience.
The part, how ever was Il 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 without "wctting
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 bot
ties. with the neck in, Ned conceived the brilliant
idea of filling them with good stuff This he
! fully carried out and clated with success lie
willingly undertook to play fore legs again.
Night came on-thc theatre WIS denscIy
crowded with the denizens of the Quaker city.
The music was played in sweetest strains
the curtain rose and the play began. Ned and
"hnd legs" marched upon the stage. The clc
phant Wis greeted with round upon round of
applause. The decorations and the trappings
were gorgeous. The ephant and the prince
seated upon his back were loudly cbecred. The
play proceeded; the elephant was marched
round ana round upon the stage. The fore legs
cot drv, withdrew one of the corks, and treated
the hini legs, and then drank The health of the
audience in bumper of genuine elephant eye
wh>key, a brand, by the way, till then unknown.
On went the play and on went Ned drinking
The conclusion march was to he madc-the
signal was given, and the fore legs staggered
towards the front of the stage The conductor
pulled the ears Of the elephant to the ri yht--
the fore lcss staggered to the left. The foot
lights obstructcd tic way, and he raised his foot
and stepped plump nto the orchestra? Down
went the fore legs on the leaders fddIe--ovcr,
of course, turned the elephant, sending the prince
and hind legs into the middle Of the pit. The
manager stool horror strucl-the prince and
the hind legs lay confoundcd, the boxes in COLI
vulsions, the actors choking with laughter, and
poor Ned, casting one look, a strange blending
of drunkenness, grief and laughter at the scene,
I..I-L..i;l,, ani &c ta iLAai<A-al.+.elr &, ,n,iAl
Wv the leader with the wreck of his fiddle per-
forming various cut and thrust motions in the
mir. The curtain dropped on scene behind
the scenes. No more paGeant-no more fore
ccs--Lut everybody hell their sides. Music,
actors, pit, boxes and gallery, rushed from the
theatre, slricking between every brcath-"llave
YOU seen the Eel lhant.'