Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-12-07
PLAYING A STRANGE PART.
An Actors Experience ns the Hind Legs OF
a Property Elephant.

Gone of my strangest and most uncom-
Portable experiences, sir, was being the
hind legs of an elephantH' says an actor
in Cassell's Journal "I'd gone out to
Australia. like many other young fellows
do, or rather did a few years ago, with
the fixed idea of making my fortune.
Needless to remark, failed dismally, and
soon lost the little money did possess.
had been well educated and tried one
thing after another, with the inyariable
result that every market seemed over
stocked. As last resource l went around
to the theaters to try to get job. AT
one was successful, being told that 'one
of the chaps was i'll, and the boss in a roar
ing temper made my way round and
arrived in time to hear the aforesaid boss
remark somewhat loudly and in scarcely
polite language:
"sWhat does the "hind legs" mean by
being i'll, His business is to be "hind
legs" and IL he doesn't turn up tonight
he won't have another job in my theaterF
rather timdly approached and asked If
could perhaps supply the missing mans
place. We'll, young man, if you'll come
and be "hind legs' of an elephant, you
ran; if not. clear out; the pays 10 bob a
week The outlook was not cheering,
but was too hungry to be proud. so ! an
swered that | had no knowledge of the
duties of hind legs, but would do my
best and hoped that n few rehearsals
would perfect me. l followed the front
legs who had been witness of this in
terview, and was quickly set to work.
First, had to put on a pair of large, loose,
dirty brown looking trousers, with the
cardboard feet attached. They were kept
on by straps over my shoulders.
1.-The front legs attired himself in a
similar garment. Then we both stopped
down to about half our height, and
large, dirty brown covering was drawn
over us to form the body, to which the
head. etc, was attached. The cord work
ing the trunk was given into front legs''
keeping, while was accommodated with
that appended to the tail. At first il was
most difficult to arrange our strides prop
erly, and we commenced by the front legs
making up his mind TO take walking
tour by himself. poor hind legs descend
ing into a little jog trot gallop to keep
anywhere near. Then we found the posi-
tons reversed, and was told to stop trip
ping up them front legs At last we were
fairly perfect. and were released with ach-
ing heads and stiff backs till the evening
perioriDdhce' WIS NATURALLY Prelty pune
tual for the first time, but when the cry,
the stage waits for the elephant was
heard no front legs was there. The man
ager was furious, and the audience irnpa-
tient. when at last my other half was dis
covered in the bar only getting a drink
He was promptly hauled along, but the
walk of that elephant was decidedly Gu
| rious during the evening. However, we
managed to get along somehow, but l
wasn't sorry when my week came to an
end, and, taking into consideration the
discomfort of head and backache, the de-
cidedly unclean condition of the akin
and the long hours spent In rehearsals and
performances, don't think ever took
more hardly earned 10 shillinRs.n