The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-02-15
Anecdotes Of the Late Signor Blitz

The anecdotes concerning him, his ven
triloquism and his marvellous dexterity,
are innumerable. Very often endowed
with supernatural powers, by the supersti-
ti0us fancies of those who had witnessed
his remarkable feats of legerdemain, he
carefully makes it evident in his autobi-
0graphy that it was only to his manual
dexterity and close observance of char
acter that he was enabled to so marvel
ously deceive the sense of his auditors.
His first feat as ventril0quistwas in a
dissecting- room, whittier he had been in
vited by a medical friend. The doctor.
scalpel In hand, had made an incision in
the body of woman, to which she pro-
tested. "1t IS cruel to mutilatc," said the
voice, "the remains of woman. >
YES" came from another body upon
another table, lit 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, that the vcntriloquist 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 vi0linist, during visit to Glasgow, sn
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 Blitz laughing, and
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 a
voice from amid the pultitudinous linen
folds.
"Open the box! open the box!' said
the voice.
"Who are you'll" asked one visitor,
more venturesOme than the rest.
"I'm descendants of the Pharoahs, !" an.
swered the voice.
"What do you wanty'
ASK yourself. Your COMPOUNDED Yam
kee curiosity has walked me up from the
sleep of ages. Open the box!'
whats your namer'
"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 sixpence, and, cutting it in
hall, drew from the center gold sover-
eign. This performance was repeated
with another orange, the old woman look
ing on with amazement. He was about
tn take a third from her basket, when
she snatched it away and vowed he
should have no more sOvereigns for six
pence.
Introduced to very solemn clergyman
in Hartford, Conn that gentleman alb
ruptly denounced the Signor for per-
formances which we're dangerous to the
welfare of mankind" and much more OF
the same sort. Interrupting him, the
Signor plucked pack of playing cards
from the pocket of his ministerial coat
q nd withdrew a dice-b box and dice from his
clerical hat. Signor Blitz was troubled
with no more orthodox objections from
tlat gentleman.
In the old Sixth-street Market, Phila.
delphia, he bought q dozen eggs fol
twenty-fO cents from stolid Dutch.
man. Clear as wasser NIT q well-bucket
eh ?" 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.
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 coca
sion, ana came near being arrested for ar
Abolitionist. He made his horse talk
and the frightened hostlcr could not be
induced to re enter the stable. So tn.
Sign0r was himself compelled to groom
the animal. His favOrite resort seems tt
have been in the market places, where liz
gave voice TO chickens and pigs and fish
and even oysters, to the great confusion o.
the market people. But when he had haG
his laugh the kind hearted professor nevel
failed to make good any loss, direct or in
direct, that his victims might have sui
fcred. His benevOlence was comprehen
sive, and it is SAID of him that he CAV,
away half that he made in charity. Ii
the Island of St. John, however, an offel
70 give to the poor the proceeds of one Of
his entertainments was refused by the vii
lage pastor. "Wha&ln said the shepherd
receive aims for the poor from WHARF
IA bewitched hand? oh, mol What spir
itual grace would flow upon the objects il
distressf''
During the war he gave 1872 free enter
tainments before So, 600 soldiers who hal
congregated in the various hospitals il
Philadelphia, besides contributing con
siderable sums Of money in aid of the sicl
and wounded.
He enjoyed friendly relations will
many distinguished men. Calling upol
Daniel Webster at the statesman's room
| in Washington, Signor Blitz asked his in
| fluence to procure for him q Government
appointment:
"What Office do you wish ~ asked Mr.
Webster, somewhat astonished.
"To count the Treasury notes." salt
the Signor. ''You might give me 100 ,OO
dollar bills to count, and watch me close
", and you would find only Is 900 when
returned them" ~4Hn
"Signor," exclaimed Mr.. Webster
with lively animation, there are bette
magicians here than you. for there .woult
not be go, 600 left when they had fnishe,
counting"
Once, certainly, the famous magician
was nonplussed. A bright boy Of tel
wears was assisting him upOh the plat
form, when the Professor proposed b
pass every piece Of silver into his pockets