Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-09-26

LriioQuIs IS simply vocal Illusion have
given entertainments in tins line for the
past fifteen years, both In public and pri-
vate, and while believe sincerely in the
old adage that the longer person lives the
greater knowledge he acquires, can say
that have learned almost every thing rela-
tive TO Ventriloquism, save the new Jokes or
what is generally known as gags that
haven't been turned out as yet from the
funny mems bureau.
" have four figures that use in nv en-
tertainment, representing an Irish boy, a
colored boy or picaninny, and an old LADY,
and gentleman. Every word or sentence
that utter is formed precisely in the same
way as in ordinary articulation. take a
fuH breath or inspiration Just before COM
menclng my performance, and as l go
along / allow the air To slowly pass through
the CLOTHS, which is the narrow opening at
the upper part Of the larnyx, thereby modu-
lating or increasing the intensity of air, as
the case may require. This explanation
may seem vague at first, but If one Just
takes the trouble to look into the subject it
will be found that the sound does not come
from the stomach, as the ancients supposed,
but from the throat.
why, it is as easy as rolling of log to
be a ventriloquist, If you will only have the
patience TO practice. Did anybody ever be-
come scientist or philosopher in week, a
month or yeari OF course not 1t takes
some years Of practice to become proficient
In any subject Why, ! believe man can
learn to do any thing, if he only sets out
with a firm determination and plenty of
pluck to back him.
"When a ventriloquist comes on the
stage he generally starts in with that
superannuated, chestnutty phrase: Ladies
and gentlemen, / shall endeavor to intro
duce for your ediication, etc.
Taking figure from a box he dandles it
upon his knee and begins thus:
80 What Is your name, my little mani
"sHehP
"' asked you what your name WASH
oh, " name is Nikey Smith
Nov, you readily see," continued the
professor, TIL at it is next to impossible to
pronounce the words with the letter m, p or
without moving the lips. Therefore, the
correct translation of the foregoing sentence
would be: 'Oh, my name is Mikey Smith.
The further away person may be from the
ventriloquist the greater the deception.
"Now, if you watch me closely during one
OF my performances you viii note that am
particular to first call my audiences atten-
ton to something which is to follow by inti-
mating the locality from whence the voice
Is to come. This directs everybody's atten-
ton just where / want to have il, and the
illusion seems greater than it actually is.
"What l consider to be my best feat in
the art is where put the little wooden
Irish boy into the trunk, which always
have on the stage, and start to shut him up
in 1t. He is then supposed TO call: Let me
out! let me outr l then slowly close the
lid, modulating my voice as let the lid down
by degrees until the voice seems to emanate
from the inside.
"f any body is desirous of learning the
art can tell them how to set about it with
out very much trouble. The first thing to
be done is for the beginner to place HIM
self before looking glass and commence
by repeating the alphabet slowly and dis
tlnctly as possible without moving the
lips. Practice this over many times until a
certain facility has been obtained, and the
learner, if he has any aptitude whatever,
will soon observe how much easier it is
than when he started.
After he has practiced the alphabet
sufficiently, let him tackle these few lines,
| which will, no doubt, cause him much
chagrin at first by his inability to keep his
lips firmly together:
my mcther-in-law manufactures match
| es, mends mittens and pantaloons,
beats carpets, makes oyster patties, pies,
sponge cake and pastry. She sometimes
scribbles verses of poetry just to pass the
time away, and, strange to say, she minds
! her own business.
The beginner must not be afraid of look
ing at himself in the glass, as this is an in
dispensable requisite at the commencement.
Practice over and over again such words as
I monumental, plaster of Paris, mucilage
bottle, matchbox, ham bone and bean pole.
AT all times be careful to regulate your
breathing, the same way it is observed IN
the study of elocution.
with four months constant practice OF
an hours duration each day person ought
to become proficient enough to venture to
| give at least parlor entertainment before
his friends. But remember that practice
is the only key to success. If any body does
not credit my statement, will guarantee
to teach him ventrlloquism IN ten minutes il
he will put me on the right track of learn
ing Greek in q day."