, 1852-10-23
Extraordinary Trick of a ventrIloquist

From BIoceau, lea ned critic of the 10th
century, we have the following accounts of
the Geats Of a capital yenlriloqulst and cheat,
who was valet de chambre 10 Francis the
/ first. This fellow whose name was Bra
bani, had fallen desperately in love with a
young. handsome and rich heiress but was
rejected by the parents as an unsuitable
match for their daughter, on occount Of the
lowness Of his circumstances. The young
lady's father dying, Brabant made visit 10
the widow, who was totally ignorant of his
singular talent. Suddenly on his appear
ance in open day in her house, and in pres.
ence OF several persons who were with her,
she heard herself accvsted, in a voice per-
fcctly resembling that of her dead husband,
and which seemed 10 proceed from above,
exclOlming:
Give.my daughter in marrige to Louis
Brabant he is a man of great fortune, and
of an excellent character. now endure
the nexpressible tormenls of purgatory for
having refused him. If you obey this ad-
monition shall soon be relivered from this
place OF torment. You will at the same
time provide a worthy husband for your
daughter, and procure everlasting reposc TO
tho soul Of your poor husband"
The widow could not for a moment re-
sist this dread summons, which had not the
most distant appearance Of proceeding from
Louis Brabant whose contenance exhibited
no visible change, ana whose lips were close
and motionless during the dcliverery of it.
Accordingly she consented Immediately 10
receive him for her son-ln-law. Louis
finances, however, were in very low stua,
lion and the formalilies attending the mar
riage contract, rendered it necessary for
him to exhibit some show Of riches, and
not give the ghost the lie direct. He ac-
cordingly went to work OH a fresh subject,
one Coran an old rich banker in Lyons, who
had accumulated immense wealth BY usury
and exlortion, and was known to be haunt
ed by remorse Of conscience on account Of
the manner in which he had obtained it.
Having contracted an intimate accqualnt-
ance with this man, he one day while they
were sitting together in the usurer's little
back parlor, aruully turned the converse
ton on religious subjects, on demons and
spectres, the pains of purgatory, and the
torments Of hell. During an interval Of
silence between them, a voice was heard
which, TO the astonshed banker, seemed 10
be that Of his deceased father, complaining
as in the former case Of his dreadful situa-
ton in purgatory, and calling on him to
deliver him instantly from thence by put
ting into the hand of Louis Brabaht, then
with him, a large sum for the redemption
of christians then in slavery with the Turks;
and threatening him with eternal damnalion
if he did not take this method to expiate
likewise with his own sins. The reader will
naturally suppose that Louis Brabant affect
ed a due degree Of astonshment on the oc-
casion and further promoted the deception,
by acknowledging his having devoted hln-
self TO the Prosecution ol chailable design
imputed 10 him by the ghost. An old usu-
rer is naturally suspicious. Accordingly
the wary banker made a second appoint
ment with the ghosts delegate for the next
day and to render any design ol imposing
upon him utlely aboriive, took him into the
open fields, where not house, or tree, or
even bush or a pit was in sight, capable Of
screening any supposed confederate. This
extraordinary caution excited the ventrilo-
quist to exert all the powers Of his art. Wher-
ever The banker conducted him at every
step his ears were saluled on all sides with
the complaints and groans not only Of his
father but of alf deceased relations, implor-
ing him for the love OF God, and in the
name Of all the saints in the calender, 10
have mercy on his own soul and theirs, BY
eaectually seconding with his purse the in
tenlions Of his worthy companion. Coran
could no longer resist the voice Of heaven,
and accordingly carried his guest home
with him and paid him down 10000 crowns
with which the honest ventriloquist return
ed TO Paris, and married his mistress. The
catastrophe was fatal. The secret was af-
leIwards bnown, and reached usurer's ears,
who was so affected by the loss of his mon
ey, and the notifying railleries Of his neigh
bors, that he soon took 10 his bed and died.