San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-13
vRSrRILOQUIsx.

vENTRLOQUISA.
se.s Prssks wAisA vsstrilssslsts Rave Played.
Interview with Professor Dixon.
who were the greatest ventrilo'
quistsf"
swell, there was an old Athenian
named Eurykles, who 10 spoken Of in
history as master OF the art. Then there
were Prof. Alexandra and Louis Brabout
Of modern times they we're both French
men. Brsbout lived in the fourteenth
century, 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
mimic representation than for his VEN
triloquial powers. Prof. Love, of Eng
land, was celebrated in the art, and was
rivaled by Prof. Harrington, who died
lately 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 go
there the present season. Davies was
the first ventriloquist to introduce fig
ures' rs an assistant to the art, in
America.
McCabe was great practical joker.
Several years ago he was on board of o
Mississippi river steamboat and, form
ing an acquaintance with the engineer,
was allowed the freedom OF the engine
room. He took seat in q corner, and,
pulling his hat down over his eyes, az.
peared to be lost in reverie. Presently
o certain part of the machinery began
to squeak. The engineer oiled il and
went about his 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 Speaking
louder than ever. Great Jupiterp he
yelled, the things bewitched.' More
oil was administered, but the engineer
began to smell rat. Pretty soon the
spindle squeaked again, and slipping
up behind McCabe, the engineer squirt
ed half pint Of oil down the joker's
back. There, said he, Il 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 as his auditors receive it.
Eat 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 at 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 prisonerP
The frightened scamp turned his head,
and McCabe dealt him blow that felled
him to the ground. He then secured
the revolver, and marched the scoun-
drel to police station.
"Louis Brabout, the great ventrilo-
quist, was also great joker. The story
is told of him that he fell in love with
q beautiful young novitiate, who was
soon to take the veil. The sentiment
was returned, and Brabout arranged for
an elopement. His inamorata succeed
ed in getting outside the convent walls,
and the two hurried away to the house
Of neighboring priest. The holy man
was awakened and requested to perform
the marriage ceremony. His refusal
was thing to be expected, but Brabout
was too cunning for the old man. When
he said MOI most emphatically, and
was about to raise commotion and
have the noviate returned to the clois-
ter, deep, sepulchral voice was heard
coming from the bowels 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"
The frightened priest called upon all
the saints to protect him. and proceeded
to perform that ceremony with greater
alacrity than he had ever shown on sim
liar occasions"
"Do you ever play jokes?"
"Not often. am not given to such
sports as general thing, but occasion
ally amuse myself at the expense of
others. Last year I was travelling with
q musical combination. One day while
riding in the cars threw my voice into
o covered basket and set up a furious
barking Ikea dog. The lady beside
whom the basket was sitting gave o
scream and bounded out of the seat.
Then made cat join in the row, and
q brakeman came running pell nell to
quiet the disturbance. He jerked the
lid off the basket and found nothing
but delicious peaches the lady was
taking home. The crowd was consider
ably mystefied. Then I set humble
bee buzzing about the brakeman's ear,
and he retreated. A gentleman who
was standing near heard o wolf growl so
ferociously behind him chat he jumped
about two feet high. Then the lady