The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-30

At Exeter, England, in the early part of
} 1926, he was summoned before the arch
bishop and church council prior to perfor-
nance, and called upon to answer various
charges of irreligion, and as being an ssidle,
mischievous person." The council were
not able to find him guilty, but he treated
them to gratitious performance. He as
tonished the assemblage by announcing
that watch, which he exhibited, would
be transported to a cushion in the cathe-
dral pulpit; and there it was found when a
messenger went to search for it.
His first feat as ventriloquist was in a
dissecting room, whether he had been in.
vited by a medical friend. The doctor,
scapel in hand, had made an incison in the
body of woman, at which she protested.
I" 1T is cruel to multilate," said the voice,
the remains of a woman"
Yes" came from another body on
another table, 1t is an outrage to thus
abuse a woman" Doctor and students
made rush for the door, and it was only
when the surgeon had frantically driven
home in his carriage, taking Signor Blitz
with him, the ventrilcquist explained.
1t is impossible to give more than few
of the many anecdotes which Signor Blitz
himself has left of his long life and varied
experience. Meeting Paganini, the violin
list, during visit to Glasgow, an infants
cry came from within the great Italians
fiddle.
"My God," said Paganini, "what is
this?"
You know whose child it is" said a
female voice from neighboring closet.
The excited musician rushed to the closet,
thence back to his violin, and then turned
round to see Signor Bltz laughing and to
receive his explanation.
An Egyptian mummy was presented, by
the American consul at Cairo, to Phila-
delphia museum. A crowd was one day
about the case, and was startled by voice
from among the multitudinous linen folds.
"Open the box! open the boxw said the
voice..
''Who are you?" asked one visitor,
more venturesome than the rest.
Pm a descendant of the Pharaohs,"
answered the voice.
" What do you WANT"
"Ask yourself. Your COMPOUNDED Yam
kee curiosity has walked me up from the
sleep of ages. Open the box!"
"What's your name?''
"Signor Blitz," answered the voice, and
the great ventriloquist made himself known.
The Signor, while in Nova Scotia, was
approached by an old orange woman with
basket of delicious fruit. He bought an
orange for sixpense, and cutting it in
half drew from the centre golden sover-
eign. This performance was repeated with
another orange, the old woman looked on
with amazement. He was about to take
third from her basket, when she snatched
it away and avowed he should have no
more sovereigns for a sixpense.
introduced to very solemn clergyman
in Hartford, Conn.,, that gentleman abb
ruptly denounced the Signor for perfor-
mances which were dangerous to the
welfare of mankind" and much more of
the same sort. Interrupting him, the
Signor plucked a pack of playing cards
from the pocket of his ministerial coat,
and withdrew dice-box and dice from his
clerical hat. Signor Blitz was troubled
with no more orthodox objections from
that gentleman.
In the old Sixth street Market Philadel-
phia, he bought dozen of eggs for twenty
four cents from a stolid Dutchman.-
{" Clar as waser NIT a well bucket, ell ?''
remarked the vender as he handed them
over.
The Signor broke one and there came
peeping through the aperture first feath-
cred head, and then a whole canary bird,
which sang sweetly to the man of eggs.
The Signor's fun making propensity
seems to have been irresistible, and
found expression in all manner of startling
ways and places. He made negro cry out
from within his trunk, on one occasion,
and came near being arrested as an aboli-
zionist. He made his horse talk, and the
frightened hostler could not be induced to
ic-Cutci tuc StdUIo, ~ tue SlSuOT WAS
himself compelled to groom the animal.
His resort seems to have been in the market
place, where he gave voices to chickens
and pigs and fish, and even oysters, to the
great confusion of the market people. But
when he had his laugh the kind hearted
professor never failed to make good any
loss, direct or indirect, that this victims
might have suffered. His benevoence was
comprehensive, and it is said of him that
he gave away half of what he made in
charity. In the Island of St. John, how
ever, an offer to give to the poor the pro-
ceeds of one of his entertainments was
refused by the village pastor. "What?"
said the shepherd, "receive aims for the
poor from wizard-a bewitched hand?
Oh, no, what spiritual grace would flow
upon the objects in distress?"
MOON MADNESS.