The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-29
vENrR1LooUI-M is BUT ILLUSION
a Professor Reveals some of the Sc
crets OF the Mysterious Art.

/ a Professor Reveals some of the Sc
crets OF the Mysterious Art.
From me Ne,c York sun.
is there any truth in the stories that
/ have been circulated about ventriIoqulsts
1 throwing their voices into different sec
tons of "a room or in recesses where it would
be utterly impossible for a human being to
/ squeeze" was asked of wel-4nown ven
trllOquist.
NO, sir promptly replied the man who
makes a very good living exhibiting his four
doll figures, each having movable wooden
| jaw worked from the back OF the neck
with the thumb of the professor. "All such
talk is verltable bosh from beginning TO
endn
you must understand first that ventrio-
quism is simply vocal illusion. | have
given entertainments in this line for the
past fifteen years, both in public and prl-
vate, and while believe sincerely i'll the
old adage that the longer a person lives the
greater knowledge he acquires, l can say
that have learned almost everything rela-
tive 10 ventriloquism, save the new jokes or
| what is generally known as gags that hav-
emit been turned out as yet from the funny
mems bureau.
II have four figures that | use in my en-
tertainnent, representing an Irish boy,
colOred boy, or picannny, and an old lady
and gentleman. Every word or sentence
that utter is formed precisely in the same
way as in ordinary articulation. | take
full breath or inspiration just before com
menclng my performance, and as go along
allow the mir 10 slowly pass through the glot-
It's, whicA is the narrow opening at the upper
part of the larynX, thereby moderating or
increasing the intensity of air, as the case
may require. This explanation may seem
vague at first, buff one just takes the trou-
BILE 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 off a log to
be a ventriloquist if you will only have the
patience to practice. Did anybody ever
become a scientist or philosopher in week,
month or yearf OF course not 1t takes
some years of practice TO become proficient
in any subject. Why, | believe a man can
learn to do anything if he only sets out with
n firm determination and plenty of pluck to
back him.
"When a ventriloquist comes on the stage
he generally starts in with that superannu-
ated, chestnutty phrase Ladies and gen
tlemen, shall endeavor to introduce for
your edification, ETC.
Taking figure from a box he handles it
upon his knee and begin thus:
What is your name, my little man"
"'Hehp
" ! asked you what your name was"
"'Oh, " name is Nilley Smith"
'Now, you readily see," continued the
professor, THAT it is next to impossible to
pronounce words with the letter IN. or b
without moving the lips. Therefore, the
correct translation of the foregoing SEN
tence would be: oh, my name is Mickey
Smith. The further away a person may
be from the ventriloquist the greater the de-
cept on.
Now, if you watch me closely during
one of my performances you will note that
| am particular to first call my audiences
attention to something which is to follow
| by intimating the locality from whence
the voice is to come. This directs every
bodys attention just where | want to have
it, and the illusion seems greater than it
actually Is.
what consider to he 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 it.
He is then supposed to call, Let me out let
me outp | then slowly close the lid, modu-
lating my voice as | let toe lid down by de-
grees until the voice seems to emanate from
| the inside.
''If anybody is DESTROYS 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 himself
| DtlOIo u lOOhlllS glass anu ny re-
peating the alphabet slowly and distinctly
as possible without moving the lips Prac-
tice this over many times until certain fac
| ility has been obtained, and the learner, if
he has any aptitude whatever, will soon OBJ
| serve how much easier it is than when he
started.
After he has practiced the alphabet suf-
ficiently, let him tackle these few lines,
which will, no doubt, cause him much cha
grin at first by his inability to keep his lips
firmly together.
my mother-in-law manufactures
matches, 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.
1.-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
monumental, plaster of paris, mucilage bot
tie, matchbox, ham bone and bean pole At
all times be careful to regulate your breath
ing, the same way as it is observed in the
study of elocution.
with four months constant practice of
an hours duration each day, a 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 anybody does
not credit my statement | will guarantee to
teach him ventriloquisIn in ten minutes if
he will put me on the right track of learn
ing Greek in day"
II ~ m INN rrAr