Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-05-04
From BernGrd's IS RetrosPectiOnsQ The Stage.
THE VENTRMOQUIST.

onions. Rossignolle was the most won
deriul of all The species which in my exper-
fence have flooded the stage His ability
lay not i'll simply initiating the human voice,
(the common province OF human ventrilo-
qusts, and the most attainahle,) but those Of
all birds and beasts, and all noises whether
natural or mechanical. j. was difficult 10
say which was most TO he admired in his or
gan its astounding power, or its minute Ii
quidity; for he could give you as correct an
idea of the saving OF huge piece Of timber,
as ofthe song ola linnet His entertainment
was divided into three parts with two appro-
pirate scenes, which be carried with him {:
The first represented an aviary and menage-
RE, in which he personated the keeper and as
he approached every animal or bird, gave its
distinct growl or whistle; the next was the
interior ola workshop, in which he pretend
ed to be making a box, and inflated the
sounds of all the implements employed
These were rendered characteristic by his
dress, and somewhat humorous by his bro
ken English EXPLANATIONS. But the third
& perhaps most extraordinary scene was his
performance on violin without strings, of a
variety OF difficult music. Here the illusion
exceeds con lecture and what to me was
most delightful, all Plymouth came TO par
take in it.
Rossignole was a fellow Of very humor-
GUS ideas; he had met with his adventures in
all quarters of Europe, which it was his sole
amusement TO recount. Among the number,
one that occurred TO him on the road from
Exeter TO Plymouth was not the least whim-
steal.
He hal taken his place in the night coach,
butby mistake or connivance was expell-
ed TO the outside. The night was very dark
and soon after tho coach set off il began TO
ram, which in regard 10 Devonshre, is to
say that the water came down like cataract.
Being neither provided with great coat nor
umbrella, he naturally envied the situation
OF those who sat under him. To desire their
comfort, was but another throb with him to
endeavor to obtain il and in the depth of his
roguery therefore, as well as distress. he re-
solved on the following expedent. He was
the only passenger outside, and his location
being the diCky, the coachman at the other
extremity of the vehicle was incapable OF
"peeping through the blanket ofthe dark''
upon his doings.
He pretended to hug and hush child in
his arms, whose fretful whine he commence
ed and increased till it cut the drums of the
other passengers ears like a razor. Two OF
these persons happened to be female, one OF
whom was mother and the other expected
to be-. They instantly exclaimed, "Dear
me there's poor child on the roof, in this
rain; let's take it in" The males, as gen
tlemen and Christians, we're compelled to
acquiescci so down went the sash, and out
went lady's head and shoulders to address
Rossgnolle. "IIere, my good woman, give
me the cbild'-"No, no!'' said the latter.
mimicking the voice Of female Chime Iii
tie dear Adolphine shall not 20 from her
mamma ;" and then he commenced another
series Of soprano notes (interspersed with an
abundance of basso hush a-byes) -more in
tolerable than the former. Good heavens ~
said the humane female to her companion
''iPs barbarous Frenchwoman ! She'll xiii
the poor little thing Then leaning out o.
the window again, "Give me the child good
woman, will you Here. coacbman stop
stop !'-"stop, Ma'am ~ said Jehu "bless
your soul did you ever hear Of SIGH thing
IN SIGH rain as this? And III did stop, the
young un on the dcky would Brighten the
cattle"
ROssignolle now pretended to get into q