The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-08-26
VENTRIL0QUISK.
Some Of the Franks Which YentrilOQuists
Have Played on Their FelIOwmen.

Some of the Franks Which YentrilOquists
Have Played on Their Feliowmen.
The following is from an interview
with Professor Dixon, a ventriloquist
"Who were the greatest ventrilo-
quists?"
"Well, there was an old Athenian
named Eurykles, who is spoken of in
history as master of theart. Then there
were Professor Alexandra and Louis
Brabout, of modern times. They were
both Frenchmen. Brabout lived in the
fourteenth century, l believe, and was
said to be the best ventriloquist the
world ever knew. Alexandra lived at
an earlier period, and was noted more
for his mimetic representations than for
his ventriloqual powers. Professor
Love, of England, was celebrated in the
art, and was rivalled by Professor Har-
rington, who died recently in Revere,
Mass. OF those living to-day, Frederick
McCabeSand L. d. Davies are the great.
est. Davies is now retired in Australia,
and McCabe has recently signed a con-
tract to 60 there the present season.
Davies was the first ventriloquist to in
troduce figures as an assistant to the
art in America.
"McCabe was great practical Joker.
Several years ago he was on board a
Mississippi river steamboat, and form
ing an acquaintance with the engineer,
was allowed the freedom of the engine
room. He took seat in corner, and
pulling his hat down over his eyes, ap-
peared lost in rcverie. Presently q
certain part of the machinery began to
squeak. The engineer oiled it and went
about his usual duties. In the course
of few minutes the squeaking was
heard again, and the engineer rushed
over, oil can in hand, to lubricate the
same spindle. Again he returned to
his post, but it was only few minutes
until the same old spindle was squeak.
ing louder than ever. Great Jupiter =
he yelled, the things bewitched.'
More oil was administered, but the en-
gineer began to smell rat. Pretty
soon the spindle squeaked again, and
slipping up behind McCabe, the engi-
neer squirted a half-pint of oil down the
ioker's back. There, said he, 4 guess
that spindle won't squeak any moreP
The joke was so good that McCabe
could not keep it, and he often tells it
with as much relish as his auditors re.
ceive it.
"At another time McCabe was con-
fronted by highwayman on one Of the
lonely streets of Cincinnati, as he was
returning to his hotel from moonlight
picnic. The robber presented cooked
revolver to the ventriloquist's head, de-
manding his money or his life. Nc
Cabe's quick wit saved him. He threw
his voice behind the robber, exclaim-
ing: Hold, villain, you are my plis-
onerp The frightened scamp turned
his head, and McCabe dealt him a blow
that felled him to the ground. He then
secured the revolver and marched the
scoundrel to police station.
"Do you ever play jokes"
"Not often, l am not given to such
sport as a general thing, but occasion
ally amuse myself at the expense of
others. Last year | was travelling with
a musical combination. One day while
riding on the cars / threw my voice into
a covered basket, and set up a furious
barking like a dog, The lady beside
whom the basket was sitting gave
scream and bounded out of the seat,
Then I made cat join in with the row,
and brakeman came running pell-
nell to quiet the disturbance. He
jerked the lid off the basket and found
nothing but a lot of delicious peaches
the lady was taking home. The crowd
was considerably mystiied. Then l set
bumble-bee buzzing about the brake
mans ears and he retreated. A gentle
man who was standing near heard
wolf growl so ferociously behind him
that he jumped about two feet high.
Then the lady was made to believe that
a mouse's nest had found lodgment in
her pocket, and the circus was complete.
But don't believe much in such ca
pers, and generally forego the fun /
might have il felt disposed"
An Englishman who has just pub
lisbed his observations during tour of
this country, concludes that the most
striking and thoroughly American pro
ducts he saw across were Bob Ingcrsoll
and Maud s.
Baltimore gravely announces that her
handsomest man is coroner, but jour
mails OF other cities seem inclined tomb
mako sport OF the fact,