The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-06-05
Extraordinary Trick of 4 Yentriloquist.

From Broceau, learned critic of the
10th century, we have the following ac-
counts of the feats of capital ventrilo-
quist and cheat, who was valet de cham
bre to Francis the first. This fellow.
whose name was Brabant, had fallen des-
perately in love with young, handsome
and rich heiress; but was rejected by
the parents as an unsuitable match for
their daughter, on account Of the lowness
Of his circumstances. The young lady's
father dying, Brabant made visit to the
widow, who was totally Ignorant of his
singular talent. Suddenly on his appear
ance in open day at her house, and in
presence of several persons who were
with her, she heard herself accosted, in a
voice perfectly resembling that of her
dead husband, and which seemed to pro-
ceed from above, exclaiming:
Give my daughter in marriage to
Louis Brabant, he is a man of great for
tune, and of an excellent character. |
now endure the inexpressible lorments of
purgatory for having refused him. If
you obey this admonition | shall soon be
delivered from this place Of torment. -
You will at the same time provide wor-
thy husband for your daug ghter, and pro-
cure everlasting repose TO the soul of
your poor husband.n
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 countenance
exhibited no visible change, and whose
lips were close and moiionIeSs during the
delivery of it. Accordingly she consent
ed Immediately to receive him for her
son-in-law. Louis finances, however,
were in a very low situation; and the
tormalilies attending the marriage con-
tract, rendered it necessary for him 10
exhibit some show Of riches, and not
give the ghost the lie direct. He accor-
dinghy went to work on fresh subject,
one Coran, an old and rich broker in Ly-
ons, who had accumulated immense wealth
by usury and eXtortion, and was known
to be haunted by remorse of conscience
on account of the manner in which he
had obtained it.
Having contracted an intimate acquaint-
ance with this man, lie one day, while
they were sitting together in the usurer's
little back parlor, arttully turned the COLI
versation on religious subjects, on demons
and spectres, the pains Of purgatory, and
the torments Of hell. During an interval
Of silence between them, voice was
heard which, to the astonished banker,
seemed to be that of his deceased father,
complaining, as in the former case, of his
dreadful situation in purgatory, and calling
upon him to deliver him Instantly from
thence by putting into the hands OF Louis
Brabant, then with him, large sum for
the redemption Of christians then in sla-
very with the Turks and threatening
him with eternal damnation if he did not
take this method to cxpiate likewise with
his own sins. The reader will naturally
suppose that Louis Brabant affected due
degree of astonishmcnt on the occasion
and further promoted the deception, by
acknowledging his having devoted himself
to the prosecution of the charitable de-
sign imputed to him by the ghost. An
old usurer is naturally suspicious. Ac-
cordingly the wary banker made second
appointment with the ghosts delegate for
the next day; and to render any design
of imposing upon him utterly abortive,
took him into the open fields, where not a
house, or tree, or even bush or pit
was in sight, capable of screening any
supposed confederate. This extraordi-
nary caution excited the ventriloqui>t to
exert all the powers of his art. Wher-
ever the banker conducted him, at every
step his ears were saluted on all sides
with the complaints and groans not only
of his father. bUt of all deceased relations,
imploring him for the love of God, and
in the name OF all the saints in the calen-
dar, to have mercy on his own soul and
theirs, by effectualIy seconding with his
purse the intentions of his worthy COM
panion. Coran could no longer resist the
voice of heaven, and accordingly carried
his guest home with him and paid him
down 10000; with which the honest
ventriloquiSt returned to Paris, and mar
ried his mistress. The catastrophe was
fatal. The secret was afterwards blown,
and reached the uSurer's ears, who was
SO affected by the loss Of his money, and
the morllying ralleries of his neig ghbors,
that he soon took to his bed and died,
WOMAN Cor OUT OF A CuIMNEY.-
Yesterday it was discovered that wo-