Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-06
The Secret Of Ventriloquism Told by
sFamous Expert.
A MODERN VALENTINE vOX.
How Harry Kennedy Developed His
Powsrs-The Interesting story OF His
Early Life--A ventriloquissic Tramp
Speaking with the Lips Closed.

ne ealu, RltnOugn We nau met solely Tor the dis
cussiou Of ventriloquism. While we were
talking he cused himself and won't to the
door and Immediately darted back, apparently
frightened by the hoarse barking of fero-
cious dog.
Dangerous dog that" he remarked as he
shut the door.
why don't You have 1t taken away?". sug-
gested nervously.
Il will" Thereupon he went again to the
door and calling man told him to chain the
dog up. In minute the dogs banks changed
to howls and ended in pitiful whine down in
the pit OF the theater near the stage.
II guess it's all right now" continued Mr..
Kennedy. "ventriloquism is simply a vocal
delusion." Then followed the more complete
definition which introduces this article--an ar
tlcle, by the way, in which Mr.. Kennedy tells
In his own language a story of ventriloquism
with scenes laid in many countries and ends
with giving the secret OF his interesting art,
with instructions and suggestions to those who
desire to master it.
Sometimes" went on Mr.. Kennedy, "adven-
titious circumstances make this doiu1inp seem
almost reality and the listeners WSdld take
oath that their senses had not deceived them.
For instance, with party of tourists l once
visited famous cave in Derbyshre. While
we were at the mouth Of the cavern a mourn
ful vail seemed to come from the darkness and
was echoed a score of times to the intense horror
and fright Of my companions. The cave was
haunted It is hardly necessary to say that
was the uneasy ghost, but the circumstances
that surrounded the trick made it startlingly
realistic.
HOW HE BECAME vEyTRrLooUIsT.
"1n telling you how became a ventriloquist
you will see how difficult it is to acquire the
art and some of your readers may experience
and make more rapid progress than I did.
One Of the first works Of fiction that ever
read WAS Valentine Yox." That book made me
ventriloquist as it has undoubtedly started
many another boy on the same course for at
least month or more. l used to wake my
brother up At night trying to throw my voice
into the farther side of the room or out of the
window. l have no doubt that during that
time was the most disagreeable boy to sleep
with in all England. / was a large boy for nv
age-although l was only thirteen looked full
fifteen-and was far enough advanced in my
studies for boy OF that age. had graduated
at the public schools and was in the lowest
class at Owears College In Manchester, my
native town.
''In those days We had penny readings in a
public hall and among the entertainers who
were engaged for the season was professor of
ventriioquism. You can hardly imagine how
fascinated l was by his performance. He
chalked his hand and knuckies and bending his
fingers toward the palm he made a very good
imitation OF an old mans profile. Then by
joints he gave a representation of the talking
hand trick. was delighted. i was mystitied
had thirst for knowledge. But how should
quench iH Finally, after sleepless night, |
decided on plan. L offered my services to
the reading committee an elocutionist and
at the next entertainment rected The Death
OF Marmlon.' After the reading | sided up to
the professor and begged him to give me a pri-
vate exhibition of his art After some coaxing
he consented. Then l discovered that yalen-
n md trflcn
longer an occult art. II was simply a vocal de-
fusion. piled him with questions, which he
was not disposed to answer to my satisfaction
Finally he said: Now, young man, I've told
you all intend to. If you can learn the trick
como to ME in six months and tell me So Six
months later l called on him and repeated his
trick, not SO well as he did it, but well enough
to merit his praise.
vESTRILoQUIsTIo TRAMP.
"Before was fourteen left home with
little money in my pocket to 60 to sea. l
wanted to see the world and didn't want to
see it as most persons do. l presume if had
been an American boy would have gone out
west to fight Indians l was full of romantic
ideas-ideas which have been knocked out of
me so long that can hardly realize that ever
had them. l started to walk to Birmingham
On my way L met q professional tramp-a
courteous, educated Irish gentleman whose
fondness for liquor had sent him adrift in the
world. We became companions. As we were
passing bit OF woods ! SO modulated nv voice
that a man seemed to be calling to as from the
copse. A short search failed to find him. l
repeated the trick again farther on with the
same success and then, emboldened by success.
repeated 1t over too often and was detected
when the tramp discovered the fraud his
face was study. The beatific expression that
spread over his phiz was as though it beheld
vision. He looked as Mulberry Sellers looked
when he discovered plan with millions in it.
Our fortune was made, SO he said; and few
minutes later he proved it, to his satisfaction.
at least. We came to a roadside inn and as it
was early evening We went in. The tap room
was filled and the guests were enjoying them
selves with ale and gossip, pipes and songs 1t
was the very nick Of time. The tramp intro
duced me with melting eloquence and gave
my performance. After it was over he passed
around the hat and collected A shillings, 6 pence,
which he handed to me to keep. He was my
first partner.
FINALLY we reached Liverpool and pried
around the city into public and private places.
for the world was new to HE then, giving here
and there performance, until one day ship
ped as Office boy on the Mediterranean freight
steamer. the Magdalla. l thought my partners
heart would break as we parted To make
long story short, found myself on nv third
voyage chief steward of the vessel through the
death of the steward. When We were wrecked
at Boulmer Point on the northeast coast of
England, the executive officers were suspended
by order OF the company and was put in
charge until the cargo could be saved. We
we're there five weeks and during that time
feet of fishing vessels was wrecked at Claster,
Q near by town, and gave performance for
their benefit at Boulmer. 1t was successful
and was invited by the relief committee of
Alnswick to help their entertainment. 1t was
given under the patronage of several ladies and
was titled as follows:
Mr.. Henry Kennedy of the steamship
Mas dalla, now wrecked at Boulmer Point
That was my first play bill.
II followed the sea for several wears mora
before the mast and on the quarter deck. and
during those years l saw almost all of the
world worth seeing. Meanwhile, however 1
kept up my yentriloquism as pastime and
many a trick l played ON my mates. Once
when we were twenty-seven DAYS going from
Boston to Montreal with a freight of railroad
iron made the crew believe there was a ghost
in the hold and We had to hire other beIp to
unload the cargo.
1T was this prank that led me TO adopt the
stage 40 . profession. 1t finally leaked out that
was the ghost and the story came to the ears
OF Slgnor Bosco, a magician and mesmerist
he persuaded me to leave the sea and travel
with him. In three months time / could do
all OF ms illusions and then started out in BUSH
ness for myself. In 1874 joined the Rosario
combination with j. r. Brown. the famous
mind reader, who was Just beginning his ca
reer. and came to New York. Since then nv
professional life IL we'll known to the thestsr-
going public"
on THE STAGE.
am able to give the reader An idea Of how
Mr.. Kennedy uses his art to mystify his au-
diences. On the stage parlor scene IL given