Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-06-12
Volume XLI.---No. 81.
Extraordinary Trick of Ventriloquist

From Brodeau, learned critic Of
the Sixteenth Century, we have the
following account Of the feats of
capital ventriloquist and cheat, who
was valet de chambre to Francis I.
This fellow. whose name was Louis
Brabant, had fallen desperately in
love with young, handsome, and
rich heiress, but was rejected by the
parents as an unsuitable match for
their daug hter, on account Of the low
ness Of his circumstances. The young
Iady's father dying, he made visit to
the widow, who was totally ignorant
of his singular talent.
Suddenly, on his first appearance in
open day in her house, and IN the
presence u several persons who were
with her, she heard herself accosted in
a voice perfectly resembling that of
her dead husband, and which seemed
to proceed from above, exclaiming:
GIVE my daughter in marriage to
Louis Brabant; he is man of great
fortune and excellent character. | now
endure inexpressible torment for hav-
ing refused her to him. If you obey
this admonition | shall soon be deliv-
cred from this place of torment. You
will at the same time provide worthy
husband for your daughter, and pro-
cure everlasting repose for the soul of
your poor husband"
The widow could not for moment
resist this dread summons, which hal
not the most distant appearance of
proceeding from Louis Brahant, whose
couGtenance exhibited no change, and
whose lips were close and motionless
during the delivery Of it. According
Iy, she consented Immediately to re-
ceive him for her son law.
LOUIS finances, however, were IN
very low situation, and the formalities
attending the marriage contract rem
dered it necessary for him to exhibit
some show of riches. He accordingly
went to work upon fresh subject, one
Cornu, an old and rich ban ker at
Lyons, who had accumulated immense
wealth by usury and extortion, and
was known to be haunted by remorse
of conscience on account Of the man
ner in which he had acquired it. Hav-
ing contracted an intimate acquaint-
a1ce with this man, he one day, hile
they were sitting together in tie usu-
rer's little back parlor, artfully turned
the conversation on religious subjects,
and demons and spectres. During an
interval Of g., 2e between them a
voice was heard, which to the aston
ished banker seemed to be that OF his
deceased father, complaining, as in the
former case, of his dreadful situation
in purgatory, and calling upon him to
deliver him instantly thence, by put.
ting into the hands of Louis Bra bant,
then with him, a large sum for the re-
demption Of Christians. then in slav-
ery with the Turks; threatening him
at the same time if he did not take
this method of eypialing his own sins
also.
The reader will naturally suppose
that Louis Brabant affected a due de-
gree of astonishment on this occasion,
and further promoted the deception
by acknowledging his having devoted
himself to the prosecution of the char
liable design imputed to him by the
ghost. An old usurer is naturally
suspicious. Ace 'rdingly, the wary
banker made second appointment
with the ghosts delegate for the next
day; and to render any design of i'm
posing upon him utterly abortive, took
him into the open fields, where not a
house, or Il tree, or even bush, or a
pit was in sight capable of screening
any supposed confederate. This extra
ordinary caution excited the ventrilo.
quist to exert all the powers Of his art.
Wherever the banker conducted him,
at every step his ears were saluted on
all sides with the complaints and
groans not only of his father, but of all
his deceased relations, imploring him,
in the name of every saint in the cal
qndar, to have mercy on his own sonl
and theirs, by etfectually seconding
with his purse the intentions OF his
worthy companion. Cornu could no
longer resist, and accordingly car
ried his guest home with him, and
paid him down ten thousand crowns,
with which the ventriloquist returned
to Paris and married. This c,tastro-
phe was fatal. The secret was after
ward blown, and, and reached the
usurer's ears, who was so much affect
ed by the loss Of his money ana the
railleries of his neighbors,
that he soon took to his bed aud died.
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