The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-01
How the Farce Was Pianacd. Played
and Ended.

l
| and Ended.
Now that the curtain is wen down. the
lights out. the benches empty and the univss-
| sal verdict of elimination" accorded by the
critics is endorsed by the entire people. we
may take final glance at tho Credit Mobilier
farce itself. We cannot well shrink from the
task ; but it is very disagreeable one.
More dire than screech-owl on the midnight
blast
is that portcntous sound. 81 teId you So.
Uttered by friends-thOse prophets OF the past.
body doubted what we said he is rightly
served. 81 am the honestest man in Con-
gress they will not dare to expel me, said
old Hoax couple of weeks ago. The shovel
maker, it must be admitted in saying this,
showed that he had not much to brsg about
on the honesty question. What is more, he
has no idea Of what honesty is and so that
part of his declaration will have little weight
with the public. The secret history, however.
of the connection between that honesty cry
and the subsequent refusal to expel him is
well worth writing inch-deep on the tablets
of history. Hoax, when he uttered this
memorable prophecy, was fresh from a
rehearsal of the farce that has since been
played to such studiously barren conclusions.
1t was after dark under the gaslight in
the committee room of st. Poland. The
dramatis PERSONA were selected by Butler,
for the simple reason that he had the "cast"
already in his eye. st. Poland was told to
oh inn Init MI int; fho
V wrinkles of terrible stage frown between
his eyebrows, for he was to play the resound-
ing part of "Indignant Justice" There was
no necessity 70 tell Brooks to whiten his face
it looked pale enough. All he had to do was
to rub some blanc de perle over his soiled
hands, and get his son-in-law to exhibit his
with requisite amount of dirt upon them.
BE was to play sInjured Innocence" and
at every opportunity was to hold up his
whitened hands and emit whine. Hoax him
self was to play ''Old Honesty" and for this
purpose Dawes lent him some Of the ''prop-
critics. he used when he played the part
long time ago. Among these was lowered
waistcoat, which on the stage is the badge Of
rural simplicity. He was also to wear q shovel
hat To Bingham was assigned the part
of shameless Sinner" He was to be
dressed in yellow jaundiced suit and glory
in his stock of Credit Mobilier and waspish
impertinence. Dawes was to play the part of
"Howling Simplicity" with spoonful of
baked beans in his mouth. Banks was to play
"Buttered Thunder" with quart of sweet
oil trickling between his bolts Of denunciation.
Kelley was to play "Pig-iron Virtue and to
talk from the bottom of Pennsylvania mine,
so as to give his utterances ghostly hollow
ness as well as delusive depth. Butler re-
served the leading r6le of "Ben the Bufoon"
for himself. It was wise selection. He
looked the part thoroughly and had no neces-
sity to ''make up" for it. His speech upon
Honest Hoax Ames," with his indescribable
grimaces, convulsed the actors so at rehearsal
that, although they were sworn to secrecy until
the day of the performance, Hoax could not
help blabbing out in a chuckle his prophecy,
with it's remarkable comment on his honesty
the next day.. % 7.Ts-s,f ,.r..lr.s.,.
On Tuesday the performance began to
crowded house, and people not in the secret
never dreamed that they were acting St.
Poland talked his lines with all the senten-
tiousness of man really seeking what he
was praying for. The V wrinkles looked in
flexible justice itself. "Ben the Bufoon"
spfShg into The ring and kicked up the e1 saw
dust with resolution to hand cold Honesty
over to his pantomime policemen. This was
fouted according to arrangement by the old
man with the brass buttons and wrinkles on
his forehead. Then Hoax himself stood up
and got the 'call boy" of the House to read
his lines. During the recital he drew forth
huge "check" pocket handkerchief and wept
bucketsful into it. The audience were swim
died into weeping, also, along with the old
man artful This ended the first act.
On Wednesday ''Ben the Bufoon' came
forward for his trick scene. Hoax and
Brooks were beguiled of their sorrows in lis
tening to his daring deviltry. The appear
ance of the Buffoon alone gave point to his in
suits to decency. Hoax looked 50 astonished
at hearing himself called an honest man in
public, and by such being, that he almost
forgot the diabolical irony of the Buffoon. He
almost believed it was real, and oh! how
Brooks wished it was. Brooks oil the time
whined to order and flung up his whitened
hands and cried like the maidens at
the Bowery: I am hinnercent!
Spare me spa-hare mel" The Buffoon
reached the climax of his part when he de-
clared he was made by God and not by the
press Well might every reporter in the gal
lery throw up his hands and say thank Heaven
that the Buffoon took his paternity of their
hands. Much as they might believe the Buff
foon to have made mistake in the exact
supernatural being to whom he ascribed his
origin, they rejoiced to hear him disoyn TIE
press as Parent to such monstrosity. The