American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-08-31
4 Statue that WInked.

In the spring of 1874 the dramatic com
pany of John 5. Potter, a veteran who has
| got himself in and out of more tight
| themselves dead broke in a one-horse
town in Lower Canada. When show
people do a slim business landlords are
| imperative and eXacting, and, in this
| case. so urgent were 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.
II don't see it, said the heavy 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, 81 think the pro-
| fession.is pretty well lowered now, and it
| is the only chance l can see to make a
raise"
After arguing the point for some time,
the company finally agreed to the mana
gers suggestion. He arranged that a
huge crate and three or four large dry
| main street of the town about noon the
following day. There were many eager
inquiries of what was in the wind from
! the astonished populace, and it was soon
noised about that it was Barnum's great
show of wax figures from the 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.
Dnffn ~, 40
excitement about the town during the
day, and the doors of the hall were shut
to all inquisitive intruders. Handbills
were extensively circulated, explaining
the statues about to be exhibited to the
free and enlightened citizens of the town
were perfect models of the sculptOr's
art. There was so much excitement that
the manager had not doubt he would
reap golden harvest. 1t required / short
rehearsal before the doors were opened to
a discriminating public. A rope was
stretched across that portion of the hall
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 several
large placards of Hands off" it was
thought would make everything secure.
"Heigh hol" exclaimed the charming
Miss Cleopatra Melville, who represent
ed the Scotch heroine, Lady Helen Mar
chow long must l keep this dreadful awk-
ward position, shall faint or something,
l know 1 shall, if they quiz me too
closely"
Don't do anything of the kind, my
dear, because it would be injudicious in
the extreme. 1 shall not RIM the per-
Torrance more than an hour, my love-"
said the manager, with winning smile.
"Mighty good practice for Evadne,
Il who
taken his place as the Marquis De Lafay
cite.
"Suppose that fellow should happen
to sneeze," exclaimed George Washing
ton represented by the heavy tragedian of
the company.
cor something bit him and he had tie
scratch himself" responded low comedy,
the Napoleon Bonaparte of the galaxy
Gentlemen" said the worthy mana
ger " for the honor of the profession l
hope that nothing of the kind will occur.
Come, come, take your places, and let
every one remain as immOvable as the
Pygmalion statue, for the time being.
There is rush at the door, and we are
going to have bully house"
The audience poured in by twos, threes,
and half dozens, and soon the hall was at
least three quarters full.
"Takes Barnum to get up things right"
said stout, red faced man, to his better
half. eff that statty of George Wash
ington isn't the tallest kind of sculpin, I'd
like to know what is"
'And so NATURAL" suggested his wife.
Natural, you may well say that. l
never saw anything so natural in the
whole course of my life"
Many We're the compliments passed
upon the charming Cleopatra Melville, in
the disguise of Lady Helen Mar-such as,
"Ain't she sweet?" 'Pretty critter, I'd
like to kiss her." "She looks1good enough
to eat, etc. The wax figure show brought
money intos the managers pocket, and
would have proved a decided success had
not an inquisitive countryman made too
long an examination of Napoleon Bona
parte.
The poor actor stood the Investigators
steady stare as long as human nature
could endure it, and finally was obliged to
wink his eyes. The establishment de-
picted in the countenance of the country
man could not have been more if he had
seen dead man come olife. Thunder
and mars" he exclaimed! ''come this
way, Sam. Here's a precious go, and no
mistake"
whats the matter, Jake?" said his
friend elbowing his way through the
crowd from the other side of the room.
''Matter enough, darn me if Bonaparte
..Ha ha, haw roared Sam 81 did not
think that you would be tight so early in
the evening""
Il am as sober as judge, Sam. If he
didn't wink, you may cut Oft my head
and boil it up for chowder."
Cannon and spinage! Do you pre-
tend to say that wax stattys can wink?
Il don't know much about the general
run of that kind of cattle, but FL be
blamed if this one didn't flop his eyelids,
will do it again. Just you get on the
other side of him, Sam, and we will both
give him a good, long, steady look"
ten minutes stay, put Napoleon
Bonaparte into a state of circulating
agony The case was Il desperate one
and he felt that he had to wink again or
die. Nerving himself for the act, he
planted "A tremendous sockdologer on the
nose of the inquisitive Jake, and bolted
for the door Lady Helen Mar followed
suit, and La Fayette and Washington did
not lag behind sufficiently long for the
audience to recover from their astonish-
ment
1t so turned out that the people of the
town took the wax figure show as good
Joke, and the company, after'paying their
bills, went on their way relolclng.-J.
Copper Vail.
Mrs Toodlcs purchased n door plate
with the name of Thompson on it; but
san Francisco mother recently accom-
plishcj something much wiser and more
practical Her daughter was to be mar
ricd, and her clothes were properly mono
grammed with her own and her lovers
N