Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-04-09


From he New Porls Leader.
New YoRK ELEpHAsTs TwENTY YEAS AGO..
--Edifor Leader "A friendly contemporary
tellsthe following story in its theatrical rdviow
OF last week;
" But we have not always had such honest
elephants upon the New York stage. Some
Of our most eminent public men have figured
clandestinely in that capacity. til about al
fourth of century ago, that four well known
persons appeared at one OF the then minor
theatres OF the city. Our present model May
or, Fernando Wood, Purser Levi d. Slamm,
U. s. NJ, Ex-Consul, General Tom Carr, and
our esteemed Fifth avenue friend, Charles
Seaor, Esq, were Jointly employed as the four
legs OF theatrical elephant, and won high
distinction. But the best Of the Joke was, that
the manager, as is sometimes the case, was
slow in paying up the salaries of the enterpris-
ing aspirants, whereupon the boys who had
walked the elephant on the stage, refused to
bulge an inch until their salaries had been
duly deposited in their joint trunk. Go and
see the elephants"
The particulars connected with this elephant
leg acting story are wen remembered by your
correspondent, and are us follows: Many
years ago there existed in Cherry street, OF
this city, near to Frankfort street, Thespian
company, composed Of young men and women
who were anxious to adopt the stage as a pro-
selves by occasionally appearing in some dra-
matte character, at this very agreeable little
theatre, in tragedy, comedy or farce, as best
suited their taste Levi ID. Samm, Fernando
Wood, Thomas N. Carr, and Charles a. Sccor
were among its members.
These gentlemen, at the time we speak OF,
were from eighteen to twenty years Of age
Carr had selected tragedy as his line, while
Wood went into tho walking gentlemen, and
In no lDro tI,a
Wood was studying Tor Charles Surface, but
had not yet made his deJui-he was also ac-
quainting himself with the secrets OF Stage e.
feet, and stage tricks, which he has since,
though on another stage, proven himself n
master OF, and is not likely for years TO come
| to have successful rival in Mr. Dru y the
| then prompter Of the old Park Iheatre-snd
/ forever sacred be its IAemory--would occasion.
ally drop in at our Thespian rehearsas and
| performances and encourage with his appruba-
ton the Dnmons, Otellos and Hamlels that
We're at some future time to astonish the
world.
Slamm's near-sightedness threatened to in
terfere with his prospects OF ever becoming
successful actor, although on one occasion he
performed the part of Bertram in Malurin's
play of that name, and with much success with
his spectaeles upon his nose. Sccor was al
together in the financial line, and had studied
the parts Of ShylOcl and the leading character
in the Broker of Bogata; TIE lrSt piece he was
to open in . on Z" his night favor granted
to members, by their paying stipulated sum
into the treasury. On these nights, the 1hes-
plan selected for his display some tavorite
play, choosing the leading character Tor himself.
ana inviting all mis- friends to be present, and
critically examine the performance. Charley
Green, the now matchleSs editor ofthe Boston
Post, would occasionally drop in when in the
city, but his age and non residence prevented
his becoming an active member.
1t was at this Thespian society that the ac
iuaintance was formed between Slamm and
Green, which has made them ever since in
separable friends. Green on one OCCASION
was to appear as 50 Nip Cheese, in the play of
ROBINSON Crusoe, but was frightened out of his
intention just as the curtain was g rNng up."
and another play was, with difficulty substitu-
ted in its stead. 1t was during one Of these
rehearsals that Mr.. Drury made his appearance
ana inquired Of Slamm whether he would play
small part in an eastern piece called I'll Nv
der, or some such name, then performing at the
Park. He was also to bring with him three
OIL his personal friends, to appear an hour be-
lore the theatre opened, at the back door of
the theatre alley, and ask for him the said
Drury.
The idea of walking stage that had been
trod by the elder Kean, Cooper and Conway,
and accordingly at the hour proposed all hands
"a,
tne number The party was made up Of S!amm,
wood, Car and Charley Secor. Sllmm want,
ea TO Know of Drury what part he was to act.
when the entire company were carried to the
back OF the stage, and there introduced to All
enormous Elephant, the same being supported
on either side by immense props, or sticks Of
timber, but whose legs wore wanting in num-
Der and volume, to make them keep their ls-
gitNate place, and perform their legitimate
functions.
honor S 81 Tepres Sa his Enc saSts s.
We're TO receive fifty cent piece for thor ser
wees, and to be allowed seat IN the gallery Of
Tue theatre to see the attcrpiecG. SlAmm and
Carr, being then of one size, wero 10 play the
mind legs, while SecOr and Wood were to take
the front legs, and guide the movements of
the elephant. At the time appointed tho par
uSs tooE their respective places and were soon
seWed up in the legs OF the elephant time.
" precauton had been taken to make an incis-
ion in the side of the elephant sufficiently
large 10 allow Of breathing. The back legs
mad no eye-hOies for the incumbent, to ss,,
What they were doing or WHERE they were go
ing, III case OF emergency. DTury was to rive
the cue-one whistle, the elephant was to march
forward two whistles, it was to turn to the
leit and three whistles was the signal for
turning to the right.
All was in readiness, when the elephant.
coming from the right wing, made its aypaar!!
ahce before an enthusiastic and immense audi
ehce. The flesh and blood of the animal were
hardly questioned, its movements wore ms IL
thlng OF lite, while the four poor fellows who
were giving to the beast its reputation, were
Wen nigh being sullocated by their confinement.
In the third act, tho elephant is seen on A
mountain feeding, when the Prince of persia
suddenly appears with his slave, who was poor
NeNsen, and after some conversation the lat |
ter was pu on the back of the clephant. with |
orders to seek out his mistress and to save |
her from death that awaited her CAPTURE bv |
enemies ofthe Prince. This addition was I'M. |
expected to the legs; the weight of the ele-
Phant MAD before that been as much as they
could stagger under, but this sec ussed " slave
poked on, and without previous knowledge or
consent, provoked u large rebellion, when the
following conversation took place:
"Charley,' said Wood, .'what the devil
nave they got on us beside the elephants I'm
nave TO give way; my God, my legs are going.
Chargly, and am besides, sullocating."
" SO am |, y said Charley.
=" iloia on, sung out Sa'nm, ''or You will
break all our necks, iiyou give way Mow.n
That's the TRUTH joined in Carr. who
'wore by The "Cohtinental " that he would
never again appear as the leg Of an elephant
Durlhg TINS time, NeXen Was trying to urge
N the animal, by blows and coaxings, when A ,
ehSth lie commenced moving but the hind .
sgs began TO feel that the front legs were not
gual to their task, and were giving wav, par !
cularly the right leg represented by Wood.
esldes, the descent rom the mountain TO the
tage was steep, and with the best manage c
lent very dangerous; the road was through a
roken rocks and windings, and with no other
ulde for the movement of the elephant than q
he OCCASIONAL signal by Drury, which in con- {
equeuce of the general confusion was inn
understood. Some ten steps had
'een taken for the downward passage, when
lnnr N nXsnn the slnun Lot -