The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-11-01
Il STATUE THAT WINGED.

A'--s VI DpillA - OIItAs NCNSidils W no has
got himself in and out of more tight places
imam any other man alive, found themselves
dead broke IN a One-horse town in Lower
canada. When show people do a slim
business landlords are imperative and ex-
acting, and, i'll this case, SO urgent were
the demands of the publican who gave
them bed and board, something had to be
dono Immediately. Potter called the COM
pany together, and after discussing their
situation pro and con, proposed that they
should get up an exhibition of wax figures,
to be represented by the different mem
bcrs 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 profess
sion is pretty well lowered now, and it is the
only chance l can see to make raise
After arguing the point for some time,
the company finally agreed to the mana
crate and three or four large dry goods
boxes should come rumbling up the main
street Of the tow1: about noon the follow
ing day. There were many eager inquiries
of what was in the wind from the aston
ished populace, and it was soon noiSed
about that it was Barnum' scgreat show of
waxed figures from the city of New York
OF course the boxes were full of sawdust,
and the only statues about the place were
the various members of J. S. POttcr's COM
pany. There was a terrible excitement
about the town during the day, and the
doors of the hall were shut to all inquisitive
intruders. Handbillswere extensively cir
culated, explaining the statues about to be
exhibited to the free and enlightened citi-
zens of the town-were perfect models of
the sculptors art. There was so much
excitement that the manager had not a
doubt he would reap golden harvest. 1t
required a short Iehearsel 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 positions, for fear that too close an
investigation might be made, and the trick
discovered. This precaution and several
large placards of ''Hands OFF, it was tho't
would make everything secure.
'sHeigh no ~ exclaimed the charming
Miss Cleopatra Mcllville, who represented
| the Scotch heroine, Lady Helen Mar-'how
| long must I keep this dreadful awkward
| position, shall faint or something, l know
l shall, if they quiz me too closely
ssDon't do anything of the kind my dear,
because it would be injudicious in the ex-
treme I shall not run the performance
more than an hour, my love- said the man
ager, with winning smile. ''Mighty good
practice for Evaline,'' said the general util-
ity man, who had taken his place as the
| Marquis De I.ayfayette.
esSuppose that fellow should happen to
sneeze," exclaimed George Washington re-
presented by the heavy tragcdian of the
company.
''Or something bite him and he had to
scratch himself" resouded low comedy,
the Napolean of the galaxy.
ssGentleman, - said the worthy manager,
! ssfor the honor of the profession l hope
LI.a.G ..otl.i.e5 Of tI. I-i-,d win occur come
| come, take your places and let every one
| remain as immovablc as the Pygmalion
statue for the time being. There is a rush
at the door, and we are going to have nice
house full.
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, y
| said a stout, red-faced man, to his better
half. eff that statty of Geo. Washington
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 1
never saw anything so natural in the whole
course of my life"
| Many were the compliments passed upon
the charming Cleopatra Melville, in the
disguise of Lady Helen Mar-such as Ain t
she sweet 2''-'Pretty critter, I'd like to
kiss her - She looks good enough to eat, v
etc. The wax figure show brought money
into the managers pocket, and would have
| proved decided success had not an inquis-
| tive countryman made too long an exami-
nation of Napolean Bonaparte.
The poor actor stood the investigator 5
stare as long as human nature could cndnre
| it, and finally was obliged to wink his eyes.
The astonishment depicted in the counte-
nance of the countryman could not have
been more if he had seen dead man come
to life Thunder and mars = he exclaim-
ed, ''come this way, Sam. Here's a pre-
cious go. and no mistake"
ssWhat,s the matter, .Take?'' said his
| friend elbowing his way through the crowd
from the other side of the room.
'sMatter enough, darn me if BonaPaTte
didn't wink -
ala. hap' roared Sam. 81 didn't think
that you would be tight so early III the
evening""