St. Landry democrat., 1888-02-11
ABOUT VENTRILOQUiSM.
A Professional Explains Some of the Mys
teries of the Art.

A Professional Explains Some OF the MysA
teries of the Art.
Asked to explain some of the mystic
ries of ventriloquism, a professional
said
Il have made my living by it for
over a quarter of a century. After
twenty years experience of it l had
severe illness, and was examined by a
specialist. His opinion was that the
forced changing of the voice did not
affect the lungs at all, which so many
people seem to think. He said, just
what told you, that it was peculiar
formation of the muscles of the throat.
Now look well at my face and tell me
if you notice any thing additional to
what most folks have. No? Look
again IN. the vicinity of my mouth. y
Yes, there were two extra muscles
distinctly visible at each corner of the
mouth. They had become gradually
formed simply through keeping the
lips closed while speaking.
"Now am coming to something in
teresting. just try and say the letter
m 'p' and 30 without moving the
lips. -
In vain l tried, but could not sue
ceed.
"Ah! there's the rub Words with
those letters in them are the most diff
cult to pronounce, but by incessant
practice have found out q means of
getting them quite naturally, and they
are produced with the tips of the tongue
and the teeth.
"Some ventriloquists substitute 'slur'
words in difficult sentences. 4 wish
mamma was here, would sound wish
mamma was here,'" and he illustrated
his words as he spoke
1.-The ventriloquists of bygone days
all wore big mustaches in order to hide
the movement of the lips, and | don't
mind admitting that the first time /
opened in the business was somewhat
nervous and wore a false mustache
myself. will show you thoroughly
effective sample of ventriloquism which
any one can test for themselves.
Remember" he said, s'this art is a
natural gift; there is not the slightest
trickery about it. We will suppose
you are not naturally ventriloquist.
Very well, then. Here is capital lit
tie method whereby good effect can
be produced, Are you readyp'
He then took from the table an ordi-
nary tumbler, saying: "See, there is
no deception and placed it on the
cloth again.
Standing about couple of feet from
the table he commenced:
"Hallop how are you getting on
down therep Eli what say? Can't
you hear me-speak a little louderp"
And coming nearer and nearer to the
tumbler, he continued speaking until
his mouth was close to the edge of tbs
glass, when somebody seemed to answer
down in the cellar and in quite a differ
ent voice: "Oh, I'm pretty well; how
are your
I tested the simple plan and found it
remarkably easy to accomplish. The
whole effect is produced by speaking
into the glass the voice is compressed
into a small space, and it is perhaps
the most practical illustration of what
ventriloquism really is.
This idea can be easily developed by
the making of small table-such as
conjurors use-with a hole in the center
to receive the glass, secret sliding lid
to hide the opening, and with fringe
of cloth to prevent the tumbler being
| seen, the apparatus is complete. Lon
don ISd-Bits.
! The authorizations of California and
Colorado, ssCal." and .sCol.n look SO
much alike in ordinary handwriting,
and letters have SO often gone wrong In
consequence, that Californians are
beginning to abbreviate the name Of
their State thus: Calf"
Getting up with the son is COM
mon practice where there is teething
| l. e.,