Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-07-21
vENTRILOQUISM.
some of the Franks which VentriIo-
quists have Played on their Fellow
Interview with Professor owen Dixon.

qu1sts have Played on their Fellow
men,
Interview with Professor owen Dixon.
"Wno were the greatest ventrilo-
quists?"
"Well, there was an old Athenian
named Eurykles, who is spoken of in
history as master of the art. Then
there were Professor Alexandra and
Louis Brabout, of modern times. They
were both Frenchmen. Brabout lived
in the fourteenth century, believe,
and was said to be the best ventrilo-
quist the world ever knew. Alexandra
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 Profes-
sor Harrington, who died yesterday in
Revere, Mass. Of those living to-day,
Frederick McCabe and E. D. Davies
arc the greatest. Davies is now retired
in Australia, and McCabe has recently
signed contract to go 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-
90 to Il bn - -
and went about his usual duties. In
the course of a 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 a
few minutes until the same old spindle
was squeaking louder than ever. Great
Jupiterp he yelled the thing is bewitch-
ed More oil was administered, but
the engineer began to smell rat. Pretty
soon the spindle squeaked again, and
slipping up behind McCabe, the en-
gineer squirted a half-pint of oil down
the ioker's back. ''There," said he, 81
guess that spindle won't squeak any
more" The joke was so good that
McCabe could not keep it, and he
OlG6ll G6IlS IL Will d. relish DIS
auditors receive it.
''At another time McCabe was con-
fronted with highwayman, on one of
the lonely streets of Cincinnati, as he
was returning to his hotel from a moon
light picnic. The robber presented
cooked revolver to the ventriloquist's
head, demanding his money or his life.
McCabe's quick wit saved him. He
threw his voice behind the robber, ex-
claiming: Hold, villain, you are my
prisonerP The frightened scamp turn
ed his head, and McCabe dealt him
blow that felled him to the ground. He
then secured the revolver and marched
the scoundrel to police station.
Louis Barabout, the great French
ventrilOquest, was also a great Joker.
The story is told of him that he fell in
love with beautiful young novitiate
who was soon to take the veil. The
sentiment was returned, and Barabout
arranged for an elopement. His ina
morata succeeded in getting outside of
the convent wall, and the two hurried
away to the house of neighboring
priest. The holy man was awakened
and requested to perform the ceremony.
His refusal was thing to be expected,
but Barabout was too cunning for the
old man. When he said mol" most
emphatically, and WAS about to raise a
cOmmOtiOn and have the novitiate re-
turned to the clositer, deep sepulchral
voice was heard coming from the bowels
OF the earth. It said:
i am thy father, and am still in tor
ment. Marry this couple to each other,
and my probation in purgatory will be
over"
"The frightened priest called upon
all the saints to protect him, and pro-
ceeded with more alacrity than he had
ever shown on similar occasions"
'Do you ever play jokes?''
'NOt often. [ am not given to such
sports 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 dog. The
lady beside whom the basket was sit
ting gave a scream and bounded out Of
the seat. Then I made cat join in
with the row, and a breakman came
running pell-mell to quiet the disturb
ance. He jerked the lid off the basket
and found nothing but delicious peach
es the lady was taking home. The
crowd was considerably mystifed.
Then l set a bumble-bee buzzing about
the breakman's ears and he retreated.
A gentleman who was standing near
heard wolf growl SO ferociously 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
forego the fun might have if felt
disposed"
MOllie and the CatamOunt.