The Osceola times., 1881-07-02
NENTRlL0QUlSM.
Franks which ventrIioqu sts Have Fiays
On Their Ieiisw Men.
Tnter,iew with Prot. Owen Dixon.

Franks which yeniriioqu sts Have Fiays
On Their Ieiisw Men.
Irteryiew with Prot. Owen Dixon.
"Who we've the greatest ventrilo.
quisis?"
We'll, there was an old Athenian
names Eurykles, 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
Frenchmen. Brabout lived In the four
teenth century, | believe, and was SAID
10 be the best ventriloqulst the world
ever knew. Alexandra lived at an eaili.
ear period and Was noted more for his
mimetic representations than his ven
triloquial powers. Prof. Love, of Eng.
land, was celebrated in the art, and was
rivaled by Prof. Harrington, who died
yesterday in Revere, Mass. OF those
living to-day, Frederick McCabe and Z.
ID. Davies are the greatest. Davies is
now retired in Australia, and McCabe
mas recently signed contract to 90 there
The pr, sent season. Davies was the first
vcntnloquist to introduce figures as an
nsistauce in the art, n America"
McCabe was great practical joker
Several years ago he was on board Mis-
,lssippi steamboat, and, forming an ac
luaintance with the engineer, was allow
ed the freedom ofthe engine-room. He
,ook a seat in corner, and, pulling his
hat over his eyes. appeared lost in reye.
re. Presently a certain part of the ma.
chinery began to squeak. Toe engineer
oiled il and went about his usual duties
In the course Of few moments the
l... Iao,l
III eer rushed over, oil can in hand, to
lubrlcate the same spin lie. Again he
returned to his post, tut 1t was only a
,ew moments until the same spindle was
.qucaking louder than ever. Great Ju'
pier he yelled, tue things bewi,ched.'
More oil was administered. but the en-
ginecr began to smell a rat. Pretty soon
lie spindle sJueaked again. and. slipping
up behind McCabe, the engineer squirted
tall pint of oil down the joker's back.
There said he, 4 guess that spindle
won squeak any more ! The joke was
20 g0o1 thai McClbe could not keep it,
ind he often tells IT with as much relish
Is his auditors receive 1t"
AT another time McCabe was con-
.rouied by a highwayman, on one OF
be lonely streets of Cincinnati, as he
Nas felurGing to his hotel from a moon
I-ht pcaIc. The robber presented
'ucAcd revolver 10 the ventrlJqnista
head demanding mis- money or his life,
McCabe's quick wit saved him. Hethrew
MS voice b, hin tue robber, exclalning:
Hold vilan, yoI are my prisoner !
lie frightened &C mp turned his head,
and McCabe uealt him blow that feled
nIm to the ground. lie then secured the
r,vrver and marched the scoundrel of
to the police station.
"Lonis braUout, the great French ven
riloquist, was soa great ] ker. The
tory is told OF him that lac fell in love
with beauilul young novitia;e who
vas soon to take tie veil. The sentl-
ment was returned, and BrabOut arrang-
d for an elopement. His Inamorlta
succeeded in getting outside the convent
wall, and The two hurried away to the
louse of a neighboring priest. The holy
man was awakened and reques ed to
prfflrm the ceremony. His rt tiusal was
a thing to be expected, but Brabout was
100 cunning for the old man. When he
aid mo ~ most rnphatical,y, and was
bout TO raise a commotion and have
The novtiale returned 10 her clOIster, a
.lecp, sepulcnral voice was beard coming
rom the bowels of the earth. 1t said
81 am thy father, and am still IN tor
ment. Marry this couple to each other
and my probation in purgatory will be
jVer.'
"The frightened priest called upon all
he saints to protect him, and proceeded
% perform the ceremony with greater
iacrity lnan he had ever shown upon
similar occ tsions."
do you ever play jokes|,
"No, often. | am not eiven to such
sport as a regular thing, but occasionally
anuse my elf at the expense of Others.
Last year | was travelling with musical
ombinatiOn. One dav while riding on
the cars | threw my voice into covered
basket, and set up furious barking like
dog. The lady beside whom the basket
vas sitting gave scream and bouhded
,ut Of the seat. Then | maze a cat join
IN with the row, and a brakeman came
running pell nell to quiet the disturb
mce. He jrrked the I'D of the basket
md found nothing but lot of delicious
Ycaches the hdv was taking home. Tue
crowd was considerably mystiiied. Then
set bunble-bee bnzZlng about the
prakeman's ears and he retreated. A
Gentleman who was standing near heard
4 wolf growing so ftTouously behind
lim that he jumped ABOUT two feet high.
Tl on lady was led to believe that a
mouse's nest had found lodlment in her
pocket, and the circus was complete,
But | don't believe much III such CT. en-
and generally forego the fun light have
if | felt disposed"