The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-20
VentriiOGuiSm.


"Who were the greatest ventrilo-
quistsp"
"Well, there was an old Athenian
named Eurykles, who is spoken of liz
history as master of the art Then there
were 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 at an
earlier period, and was noted more for
his mimetic representations than for 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 greatest. Davies is
now retired in Australia, and McCabe
has recently signed a contract to 90
there the present season. Davies was
the first ventriloquist. to introduce
Figures as an assistant to the art in
America. 4-ir :, l...s. +.
"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 a seat in the corner.
and pulling his hat over his eyes, APP
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 the course of
few minutes the squeaking was heard
oil can in hand, to lubricate the same
spindle. Again he returned to his post,
but it was only a few minutes until the
same old spindle was squeaking 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 a 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 audience receive it.
"At another time McCabe was con-
fronted by a hlghwayman, on one OF
the lonely streets of Cincinnati, as he
was returning to his hotel from a 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. He
threw his voice behind the robber, ex
claiming: Hold, villain, you are my
prisoner!' The frightened scamp turned
his head, and McCabe dealt him blow
that felled him to the ground. He ther
secured the revolver and marched thu
scoundrel to the police station.
"Louis Brabout, the great Frencl
ventriloquist, was also great Joker
The story is told of him that he fell il
love with a beautiful young novitate VIII
was soon to take the veil. The senti
ment was returned, and Brabout al
ranged for an elopement. His iuamo
rata succeeded in getting outside tn
convent wall, and the two hurried ava
to the house of neighboring priest
The holy man was awakened and II
quested to perform the marriage cert
mony. His refusal was thing to
expected, but Brabout was too cunnin
for the old man. When he said No
most emphatically, and was about [
raise a commotion and have the nov
tiate returned to the cloister, a dee
sepulchral voice was heard comm
from the bowels of the earth. 1t saic
"'I ana thy father and am still in to