The daily gazette., 1881-08-03
vENTRILOQUIsM.
Some OF the Franks which VentriI.
0qufsts Have Played ON their Eel.
lOWmen.

0qufsts Have Played ON their Eel.
lOwmen.
The following is from an interview
with Prot. Dixon, ventriloquist
"Who were the greatett ventrilo-
quists ?"
"Well, there was an old Athenian
named Eurykles, who is spoken of In
history as master of the art. Then there
we're Professors 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 ventriloquist the
world ever knew. Alexandra lived al
an earlier period, and was noted more
for bis mimetic represent ations than for
his ventriloqual powers. Professor
Love, of England, was celebrated in the
art, and was rlvalled by Professor Har-
rington, 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 McCabe has recently signed q COM
tract to go there the present season.
Davies was the first yentrIloquist to in
troduce figures as an assistant to the
art In America.
"McCabe was great practical joker.
Several years ago he was on board q
Mississippi river steamboat, and FORM
ing an acquaintance with the engineer,
was allowed the freedom of the engine
room. He took seat In a corner, and
pulling bis hat down over his eyes, ap-
peared lost In reverie. Presently GER
tain part of the machinery began to
squeak. The engineer oiled it and went
about his usual duties. In .he 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 bis
post, but 1t was only few minutes until
the same old spindle was squeakiDg
louder than ever. Great Jupiter = he
yelled, 'the things bewitched.' More
oil was administered, but the engineer
began to smell a rat. Pretty soon the
spindle squeaked again, and slipping up
behind McCabe, the engineer squirted
half-plnt of oil down the joker's back.
There said he, guess that spindle
won't squeak any more y The joke was
so good thar McCabe could not keep It,
and he often tells 1t with as much relish
as his auditors receive it.
cat another time McCabe was con-
fronted by highwayman on one of
the lonely streets of Cincinnati, as he
was returning to hotel from MOON
light picnic. The robber presented a
cooked revolver to the ventriloquist's
head, demanding his money or his life.
McCabe's quick wit saved him. lie
threw his voice behind the robber, ex.
claiming Hold, william, you are my
prisoner 7 The frightened scamp
turned his head, and McCabe dealt
him q 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. am not given to suct
sport as a general thing, but occasion.
| ally amuse myself at the expense oi
others. Last year I was travelling
with a musical combination. One day
while riding on the ears / threw my
voice into covered basket, and set vi
a furious barking like dog. Th'
lady beside whom the basket was sit.
ting gave scream and bounded gu
of the seat. Then l made q cat joir
in with the row, and brakeman cam
running pell NELL to quiet the disturb
ance. He jerked the lid off the baske
and found nothing but lot of de
licious peaches the lady was takin
homo. The crowd was considerabl
mystified. Then / set bumble-be
buzzing about the brakeman's ears an
he retreatsd. A gentleman who wa
standing near heard q wolf growl 8
ferociously behind him that he jumpe
about two feet high. Then the lad
was made to believe that mouse
nest had found lodgment in her pocke
and the circus was complete. But
don't believe much in such oapers, an
generally forego the fun l might hay
II felt disposed"