Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-08-29
A Statue that WInked.


A Statue that WInked.
In the spring of 1874 the dramatic COM
pany of John S. Potter, veteran who has
got himself in and out of more tight
places than any other. man alive, found
themselves dead broke in a 0ne-horse
town in Lower Canada. When show
people do a slim business landlords are
imperative and exacting, and, in this
case, so urgent wefe the demands of the
publican who gave them bed and board,
something had to be done Immediately.
Potter called the company together, and
after discussing their situation pro and
con, proposed that they should get up an
exhibition of wax figures, to be repre-
sented by the different members of the
company.
81 don't see it," said the heafy villain
of the establishment.
"That pork won't boil" Joined in the
low comedy man.
Miss Cleopatra Melville, the leading
lady, thought it would lower the dignity
of the profession.
"Hem," said Potter, ''I think the pro
fession is pretty well lowered now, and il
is the only chance can see to make a
raise"
After arguing the point for some time,
the company finally agreed 70 the mana
gers suggestion. He arranged that 6
huge crate and three or four large dry
goods boxes should come rumbling up the
main street OF tie town about noon the
following day. There were many eagel
inquiries of what was in the wind from
the astonished populace, and it was soor
noised about that it was Barnum's grea
show of wax figures from tie city Of New
York.
Of course the boxes were full of saw
dust, and the only statues about the place
were the various members of John s
Potter's company. There was a terrible
excitement about the town during the
day, and the doors of the hall were shu
to all inquisitive intruders. Handbill:
were extensively circulated, explaining
the statues about to be exhibited to the
free and enlightened citizens of the towr
were perfect models of the sculptor!
art. There was so much excitement tha
the manager had not doubt he would
reap a golden harvest. 1t required shor
rehearsal before the doors were opened t.
discriminating public. A rope wa
stretched across that portion of the hal
where the statues were to take their po
sitions, for fear that too close an investi
CATION might be made, and the trick dis
covered. This precaution and severa
large placards of ''Hands off" it wa
thought would make everything secure.
"Heigh hoI" exclaimed the charming
Miss Cleopatra Melville, who represent
ed the Scotch heroine, Lady Helen Mar
show long must / keep this dreadful awk
ward position, I shall faint or something
/ know [ shall, If they quiz me to,
closely"
Don't do anything of the kind, m,
dear, because it would be injudicious il
the extreme. / shall not rnn the per
formance more than an hour, my love,
said the manager, with winning smile
'Mighty good practice for Evadne,
said the general utility man, who ha'
taken his place as the Marquis De Lafay
ette.
"Suppose that fellow should happel
to sneeze," exclaimed George Washing
ton represented by the heavy tragedian o
the company.
COR something bit him and he had t
scratch himself" responded low cumedy
the Napoleon Bonaparte of the galaxy.
Gentlemen" said the worthy mans
ger, "for the honor of the profession
hope that nothing of the kind will occur
Come, come, take your places, and lie
every one remain as immovable as tn
Pygmalion statue, for the time being
There is rush at the door, and we ar
going to have bully house"
The audience poured in by twos, threes
and half dozens, and soon the hall was q
least three quarters full.
"Takes Barnum to get up things right,
said stout, red faced man, to his bette
half. "If that statty of George Wasl
ington isn't the tallest kind of sculpin, L
like to know what is"
"And so natural" suggested his wife.
Natural, you may well say that.
never saw anything so natural in th
whole course of my life"
Many were the compliments passe
upon the charming Cleopatra Melville, j
the disguise of Lady Helen Mar-such a.
"Ain't She sweet?" pretty critter, L
like to kiss her." "She looksigood enOug
to eat, etc. The wax figure show brougi
money intoN the managers pocket, an
would have proved a decided success ha
not an inquisitive countryman made to
long an examination of Napoleon Boni
parte.
The poor actor stood the investigator
steady stare as long as human natul
could endure it, and finally was obliged
wink his eyes. The astonishment d
picted in the countenance of the countr
man could not have been more if he ha
seen a dead man come tolife. '"ThuDd,
and mars" he exclaimed ''come tn
way, Sam. Here's precious go, and I
mistake"
"What's the matter, Jake?" said b
friend elbowing his way through Il
crowd from the other side of the room.
| ff ~.
did not winkp'
"Ha, ha, har' roared Sam. 81 did NJ
think that you would be tight so early
the evening"
Il am as sober as judge, Sam. If /
didn't wink, you may cut off my hea
and boil it up for chowder"
Cannon and spinagel Do you pr
tend to say that wax stattys can winki
''I don't know much about the gener
run of that kind of cattle, but I'll
blamed if this one didn't flop his eyelid
and what's more, it's an even bet, 1
will do it again. Just you get on Il
other side of him, Sam, and we will bot
give him a good, long, steady look"
A ten minutes stay, put Napoleo
Bonaparte into a state of eXcrutiatir
: agony. The case was a desperate oil
and he felt that he had to wink again I
die. Nerving himself for the act,
| planted tremendous sockdologer on Il
| nose of the inquisitive Jake, and boltt
for the door, Lady Helen-Mar follows
: suit, and La Fayette and Washington d
not lag behind sufficiently long for Il
: audience to recover from their astonis
J ment.
1t so turned out that the people of Il
| town took the wax figure show as goo
e joke, and the company, after paying the
, bills, went on their way rejoicing
l Cooper VdH.
Mrs. Toodles purchased door-pla
! with the name of Thompson on it; but
San Francisco mother recently accol
plished something much wiser and mo
1 practical. Her daughter was to be ms
A ried, and her clothes were properly mon