The National tribune., 1881-10-15
VENTRILOQUISM.

who were the greatest ventriloquists?" asked
reporter of Prof Owen Dixon.
well there was an old Athenian named Fury
kles who is spoken of in history as master of the
art Then there were Prof. Alexandra and Louis
Brabout of modern times. They were both French
men. Brabout lived in the fourteenth century,
believe and was said to be the best ventrilOquist
the world ever knew. Alexandra lived at an ear
ler period and was noted more for his mimetc
representations than his ventriloquial powers.
Prof. Love of England was celebrated in the art,
and was rivaled by Prof Harrington, who died
recently in Revere, Mass. Of those living to-day,
Frederick McCabe and E. d. Davies are the great
est Davies is now retired in Australia and Nc
Cabe has recently signed contract to 60 there
the present season. Davies was the first ventrilo
quist to introduce figures as an assistance in
the art in America.
"McCabe was great practical joker. Several
years ago he was on board Mississippi steam
boat, and, forming an acquaintance with the en-
gineer he was allowed the freedom of the engine
room. He took seat in a corner and, pulling
his hat over his eyes, appeared lost in reverie.
Presently certain part of the machinery began
to squeak. The engineer oiled it and went about
his usual duties. In the course of few moments
the squeaking was heard again, and the engineer
rushed over, olcan in hand, to lubricate the same
spindle. Again he returned to his post, but it was
only few moments until the same spindle was
squeaking louder than ever. Great Jupiter"
he yelled, the things's bewitched." More oil was
administered, but the engineer began to smell a
rat. Pretty soon the spindle began to squeak
again, and slipping up behind McCabe, the engi-
neer squirted half pint Of oil down the iokers
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 often tells
it with as much relish his auditors receive it.
AT another time McCabe was confronted by a
highwayman on one Of the lonely streets of Gin
cinnati as he was returning to his hotel from a
moonlight picnic. The robber presented a 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 my prisoner!"
The frightened scamp turned his head, and Nc
Cabe dealt him blow that felled him to the
ground. He then secured the revolver and
marched the scoundrel off to the police station.
Louis Brabout. the great French ventriloquist.
also great joker. The story is told of him
that he fell in love with beautiful young novi-
tiate who was soon TO take the veil. The senti-
ment was returned, and Brabout arranged for an
elopement. His inamorata succeeded in getting
outside 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 ex-
pected, but Brabout was too cunning for the old
man. When he said mot" most emphaticalIy.
and was about to raise commotion and have the
novitiate returned to her cloister, a deep sepul-
chral voice was heard coming from the bowels of
the earth. 1t said:
81 am thy father, and am still in torment.
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 proceeded to perform the cere-
mony with greater alacrity than he had ever shown
upon similar occasions"
DO you ever play jokes?'
Not often. 1 am not given to such sport as a
regular thing, but occasionally amuse myself at
the expense of others. Last year / was travelling
with musical combination One day while rid
ing on the cars threw my voice into covered
basket, and set up a furious barking like a dog
The lady beside whom the basket was sitting gave
a scream and bounded out of the seat. Then /
made cat join in with the row, and brakeman
came running peii-mell to quiet the disturbance
He jerked the lid off the basket and found moth
ing but lot Of delicious peaches the lady was
taking home. The crowd was considerably mys-
titled. Then set off bnmble-bees buzzing about
the BRIDESMAIDS ears and he retreated. gem
tleman who was standing near heard wolf
growing so ferocionsy behind him that he
Jumped about two feet high. Then lady was
led to believe that a mouse's nest had found lodg
ment in her pocket, and the circus was complete.
But don't believe much in such capers and gen
orally forego the fun / might have if felt dis
posed. Exchange.
Carlyle says: Eternal silence is the duty of
glan"
1 ~ Il = =.