The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-07-21
vENTRILOQUIsM.

i vENTRIIOQUIsM.
s:.s e n: :.,.s.: wh,s. vs.ts!s
men.
! Interview vita Professor Owen Dixon.
I "Wno were the greatest ventrilo.
Q quists?"
], "Well, there was an old Athenian
!. named Enrykles, who is spoken of in
history ~ master of the art. Then
9 there were Professor Alexandra and
/; Louis Brabout, of modern times. They
Q were both Frenchmen. Brabout lived
in the fourteenth century, l believe,
and was said to be the best ventrilo-
quist the world ever knew. Alexandra
8 lived at an earlier period, and was noted
more for his mimetic representations
than fer his ventriloqual powers. Pro-
| fessor Love, of England, was celebrated
in the art, and was rivaled by Profess
8 sor Harrington, who died yesterday in
Revere, Mass. Of those living to-day,
, Frederick McCabe and E. d. Davies
are the greatest. Davies is now retired
in Australia, and McCabe has recently
, signed contract to 20 there the pres
, ent season. Davies was the first ven
triloquist to introduce 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 the corner
and, pulling his hat down over his
eyes, appeared lost in reverie. Present.
| ly certain part of the machinery be-
gan to squeak. The engineer oiled it
and went about his usual duties. In
the course ola few minutes the squeak
ing was heard again, and the engineer
rushed over oil can in hand to lubri-
cate the same spindle. Again he re-
turned to his post, but it was only q
few minutes until the same old spindle
was squeaking louder than ever. Great
Jupiter! he yelled the thing is bewitch-
ed More oil was administered, but
the engineer began to smell a rat. Pretty
soon the spindle squeaked again, and
slipping up behind McCabe, the en-
gineer squirted halfpint of oil down
the joker's back. There" said he, II
guess that spindle won't squeak any
morel" The joke was SO good that
McCabe could not keep it, and he ,
often tells it with much relish as his ,
auditors receive it.
"At another time McCabe was con-
fronted with a highwayman, on one of
the lonely streets of Cincinnati, as he s
was returning to his hotel from q moon ,
light picnic. The robber presented a 8
cooked revolver to the ventriloquist's {
head, demanding his money or his life. ,
McCabes quick wit saved HIM. He '
threw his voice behind the robber, ex- {
claiming: "Hold, villain, you are my I
prisoner! The frightened scamp u IN 7
ed his head, and McCabe dealt him q )
blow that felled him to the ground. He 4
then secured the revolver and marched g
the scoundrel to police station. {
Louis Barabout, the great French 1
ventriloquest, was also q great joker. e
The story is told ofhim that he tell in G
love with q beautiful young novitiate Q
who was soon to take the veil. The
sentiment was returned, and Barabout
for an elopement. His ina
morata succeeded in getting outside of
the convent wall, and the two hurried
away to the house of neighboring r
priest. The holy man was awakened ]
and requested to perform the ceremony. !
His refusal was . thing to be expected, b
but Barahout was too cunning for the 9
old man. Whom he said 'no!" most q
emphatically, and was about to raise q | '
connection and have the novitiate re-
turned to the clositer, deep sepulchral {
voice was heard coming from the bowels I
OF the EARTH. It said: II
am thy father, and am still in tor {
ment. Marry this couple to each other, {
and my probation in purgatory will be {
over" IL
1.-THE frightened priest called upon
I'll the saints to protect him, and pro-
ceeded with more alacrity than he had
ever shown on similar occasions" K
DO you ever play jokesi"
Not often. am not given to such
sports - general thing, but occasion
ally amuse myself 1t the expense Of
Others. Last year l was travelling with 1
. musical combination. One day
while riding on the cars I threw my
voice into : covered basket, and set up
2 furious barking, like dog. The
Indy beside whom the basket was sit
ting gave scream and bounded out of
the seat. Then I made cat Join in
with the row, and breakman came h
running pell-mell to. quiet the disturb 4
ance. He jerked the lid off the basket
and found nothing but delicious peach
e. the lady was taking home. The
crowd was considerably mystifed. |
Then I Get bumble-bee buzzing about
the breakman's ears and he retreated. Il
A gentleman who was standing near
heard wolf growl so ferocio,lsly be-
hind him that he jumped about two
feet high. Then the lady was led to
believe that : mouse's nest had found
lodgment in her pocket, and the circus
Was complete. But l don't believe
much in such capers and generally
torego tho fun might have if I felt
disposed"
Nellie al the Catanoant.
s II nm. N Al \ r.. l.