The mountain Democrat., 1865-01-21

ORIGIN OF "SEEING TIE ELEPHANT" -
Some years ago, at one Of the Phladel-
phia theatres, pageant was in rehearsal
in which 1t was necessary to have an ele
plant. No elephant was to be had. -
The wild beasts" we're all travelling, and
the property man, stage director, and
manager almost had fits when they tho't
oft Days passed in the hopeless task
OF trying to secure one; bat at last Yam
kee ingenuity triumphed, as indeed it al
ways does, and an elephant was made to
order, of wood, skins, paints and varnish
Thus far all went we'll but as yet they
had found no means to make said comb
nation travel. Here again the genius Of
the manager, stage-director, and property
men stuck out, and two broths' were
duly installed as legs. Ned. o., Que
of the genuine b'hoys, held the STATEN Of
fore legs, and for several nights he played
the heavy part to the entire satisfaction
of the manager and the delight Of the
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 "wetting his whistle; so he
set his wits TO work to find a way TO carry
a wee drop with him. The eyes of the
elephant being made of two porter bottles,
with the necks in, Ned conceived the bril-
liant idea Of filling them with go d stuff.
This be fully carried out, and elated by
his success, he willingly undertook to
play fOrelegS again.
Night came on-the theatre was dense
ly crowded with the citizens Of the Qua
ker City-thc music was played in the
sweetest strainS-the curtain rose and the
play began. Ned and "hind legs" march
ed upon the stage. The elephant was
greeted with round upon round Of APP
plause. The decorations and the trap
pings we're gorgeous. The elephant and
the prince seated upon his back were
loudly cheered.
The play proceeded; the elephant was
marched round and round the stage. The
fore legs treated the hind legs. and then
drank the health of the audience in u
bumper Of genuine elephant eye whisky,
brand, by the way, till then unknown.
On went the play, and on went the drink
ing. The concluding march was to be
ma 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 right-thc fore legs
staggered to the left. The lootlghtS OF.
structed the way, and he raised his foot
and stepped plump Into the orchestra.
Down went the fore legs on the leaders
fiddle; over, Of course, turned the ele.
plant, sending the prince and mind legs
into the middle of the pit The manager
stood horror struck the prince and hind
legs lay coniounded, the boxes were in
commissions, the actors choking with
laughter, and poor Ned, casting one look
"A strange blending of drunkenness,
grief and laughter at the sccne-fed has
tily out of the door, closely followed by
the leader, with the wreck Of his fiddle,
performing various cut and thrust mo,
lions in the air. The curtain dropped on
scene behind the scenes. No more pa
geant-no more foreegs-but everybody
held their sides. Music, actors, pit, boxes
and gallery rushed from the theatre,
shrieking between every breath, "Have
you seen the elephant?'
TNinar'c Tourpo1