The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-01-13
TILDEN'S MARIONETTES OR GUBER.
NAIORIAL PUPPETS.

Solu anu llilStl dl lHe ACduculS, vi
perhaps some equally respectable place
of amusement. The high-sounding title
of the " the show" but family suggests,
however, the real character of it, and
it is not until curiosity prompts the in
vestment of the needed fee, that the
revived glory of the old-fashioned pup
pet show is recognized in the heightened
and money-taking modern exhibition.
Although a rose would smell as sweet
by any other name, and, although the
puppets of to-day are the exact coun-
terparts of those of the days of our
grandfatherS, vet the announcement of
a "puppet show" at the Academy of
Music would be suggestive of vul gar
ity and childishness, while under its
more refined soubriquet it claims re-
spectability and recognition. Called by
its proper name everybody knows what
puppet is, disguised though it may be
under another and an assumed title. 1t
is thing Of wood, fashioned after the
human shape and image, and which, to
the eye of the spectator, assumes the
movements, airs, and indeed speech of
its living counterpart Behind these
life-likc and grotesque limitations of Da-
ture, unseen, however, by the eye of
childish faith, stands the inspiring source
of life and motion. Ingenious wires COM
municate the wonderous movements,
while the moving lips of the automatic
actors re-echo the skillful ventriloquism
of their ingenious manipulation. Whether
acrobat or actor, minstrel or mimic, the
liliputian figures act to the very life. :"
But they are puppets for all that, or
Royal Marionettcs, if the title be a
prouder one.
Upon a broader platform, and in the
light Of open day, and to which whole
nation We're gratuitous spectators, I'M
der all the surroundings of respectable
itv and name" was recently enacted
a political puppet show more attractive
even to children of older growth than
to the infantile intellect, are the misfor-
tunes Of little Red Riding Hood or the
Grammercv Park. in New York City
the unseen wires that moved the politi-
cal puppets, yclept Democratic Gov
ernors, led to the public platforms on
which the acrobatic gentlemen were to
do their "pcce" In Connecticut, Hub
bard, in New York, Robinson, in Della
ware, Cochran, in Missouri, Hardin, in
North Carolina, Nance-these were the
agile actors whose mimic manners that
skllful wire-puller, Mr. Tilden, controlled
and directed. As in the wooden pup
pet the will Of the manipulation thrills
along the wire" compelling exact obedi-
ence to the controlling genius, the mind
power of " the show" so through these
facile figures, right royal Governors
though they be, is clearly shown the
genius of their political master Think
YOU, unsuspecting listener, while the
warlike Vance makes himself the
mouthpiece of more than q million peo-
ple," or when he declares that Tilden
has been elected and that he will see
g fair play" that the mouthpiece Vance
is REALLY speaking. Does the puppet
that moves before the delighted child
really articulate? The mouth moves
tbs true But it TALKS not Does not
the delighted infant turn to its attend
ant, and in all its childish confidence,
ask whether the wolf that devours little
Red Riding Hood is a REAL wolf? But
would con(ding Democrat doubt the
reality of the scene, when Vance, or
Wood, or Watterson, or Cochran, or
Ewing or Hubbard blow the war notes
! that are to summons to Washington. on
the happy St. Valentines day, hun
! dred thousand UNARMED men to see
fair play? Why certainly not. Then
why shall children and warlike Demo-
Gratis be spoiled of their delusion. Let
them dream on and enjoy the show.
| When Harlequin, or toothless Panta-
loon, cease to delight, it will be time
to change the programme for higher
order Of amusement But older heads
are not msled bv the deusion. There
is too much coincidence of speech, too
much uniformity Of action in all these
Gubernatorial puppets to be reconciled
with the idea of divided authorship
Each little actor plays his pigmy part,
but one controlling mind inspired the
whole. This inspiring genius is Til
dcns. 'Tis a part of his little game
| Take for instance Robinson, the roval
Tilden marionette at Albany, newly
installed Governor. Separated from
the sensible portions of his inaugural
address, relating pertincntly to State
affairs, and to a review of which, as
strictly in the line of official duties, inau-
guration speeches are usually devoted,
! whose, but Samuel j. Tilden's own, is
the reckless TRADE of political clap-trap?
-interpolated, probably, by Samuel'S
cunning hand when submitted to him
for supervision. Whence drew Hub
bard his inspiration in the land of
wooden nutmegs, when stepping aside
from inaugural precedents, he scared
and roared about " electoral campaigns
with Federal agents and Federal bavo.