, 1891-04-28
ART OF VENTRILOQUISM.
ONE WHO CAN THROW HIS VOICE
SAYS IT IS NOT A GIFT

ms Aii'h mere are lhrer blNlsions
Of I'M IL GensraIIy Called VsutriIo-
quism-A Pew Practical Hints.
Ventriloquism is without doubt an
ancient art, one which was and is at the
present time surrounded by "A halo Of
mystery. 1t Is remarkable that in this
advanced age so much doubt and mis-
conception prevail respecting ventrilo-
quism. This Is due in u great measure
to the fact that the happy possessors Of
the gift are inclined to retain the secrets
for their profit, and SO prevent a
host Of competitors from taking the field.
VeutriloquisIn is not a gift; 1t depends
in a great measure on the histrionic abil-
ity Of the student as to whether he will
succeed in making a mark or not, but It
is nevertheless true that any one possess
ing n certain mount of perseverance
and zeal can become to a certain extent
Al exponent of the fascinating art, a
ing their friends to wonder at the mum
Der Of voices within them. Those 80 en-
dowed are able. II they seize the oppor
tunity. to cause considerable amuse-
ment or annoyance to their fellows, but
not TO the extent hat a great many peo-
pie believe.
The writer has been asked ON numer-
Gus occasions 10 throw" his voice to the
side Of a person some distance off, so
that it would appear 10 proceed from his
own pocket or some other equally absurd
place.
Now As to the meaning of the word
v~entriloquism. 1t is derived from the
Latin roots venter. the belly, and loquor,
to speak; but belly speaking is certainly
a misnomer. and leads many people to
imagine that the voices are produced
from that portion Of the body. That is
not so, the ~ventrilOquial voice being
formed purely and simply in the throat,
the muscles of the stomach only being
requisite to give sufficient strength or
power to the voice. Ventriloquism may
be classed under three heads: Ventrilo-
quisin proper, c%oiloquism and poly
phonism. Under the first of these
heads comes the distant voice. that
Is, imitation of sounds as they
appear when heard from a distance
and in various places and directions.
The 'man-up-the-chimney on-the-rOof
and down-the-cellar" illusions, which
nearly every one has had AN op-
portunity of hearing, are the outcomes
Of this voice. Again, there are the
street cries" In which the performer
has a miniature drawing room window,
and gives limitations OF varied and hui
morous well known street cries. heard
first a long way off; then gradually the
man is heard coming nearer and nearer.
passing the window. and going slowly
away again in the distance. The win
dow being made to open aud close makes
the illusion perfect
Colloduism consists of the limitations
of various human voices; for instance. it
Is usual for most v~entriloquists to intro
duce comical, life size. talking automutl,
the heads Of which are made Of papier
mache. tho interiors being fitted with
springs and cords, by the aid Of which
the performer controls tho mouth, eyes,
hair, etc, of his talking family-the
mouths of which being made to move at
the sume time as the words arc uttered
by the performer, and, owing to the un.
certainty OF the direction from which
sounds emanate, and which, by the way,
is the true secret of all ventriloquial il
lusions. the voice really appears to pro.
coed from the figures.
Polyphonism or mimicry is the imita-
ton of cattle, sheep, saving, planning,
etc. This branch of ventriloquism is
rather difficult to acquire, although there
are numerous sounds that can be copied
without any particular gift. a great
many persons are excellent mimics with
out being ventriloquists. for in nearly
every school can doubtless be found a
youth who amuses his fellows in the play
ground corner with his Growing and
cnckling
A few practical hints as to the modes
Of procedure TO be followed by would be
learners may not be out of place here,
although half a dozen lessons from a
good professional would do infinitely
more for them than all the books that
nave ever been written upon the subject,
and which, by the way, are usually n
mas Of theoretical phraseology. Before
any attempt is made with the voice the
student must be prepared to devote the
same time and attention TO the breath,
which he must get entirely under con-
troll, SO as TO be able to hold it for a con
siderable time without straining. This,
Of course. must be a gradual process.
Before commencing to practice a strong
inspiration should be taken. as the lungs
require to be furnished with a plentiful
supply Of fresh air. which has TO be well
controlled and allowed to escape grad.
ually He must endeavor to breathe
through his nose and keep his mouth
shut. This is II hint which it would be
as well for every one to remember, and
SO save q great deal of cold catching and
illness. The learner must study at all
times TO initiate sounds, not as they are
heard at their source, but as they fall
upon the ear after travelling from a dis,
lance. That is the golden rule of ven.
triloquism, and If it is continually kept
in mind success is certain. As conjurers
endeayor to deceive the eye, so ventrilo.
quists try TO deceive the ear.
The distant voice" originates at that
spot in the throat where the ''cluck'
takes place when drinking, 30 without
any facial contortions or movement Of
the lips the words must be forced against
the back part of the palate one by one,
with a series Of short, quick breaths. at
the same time strengthening the sounds
by using the muscles of the stomach.
which will give them increased power.
so that they will reach the audience
clear and distinct. The farther off the
sound is supposed 10 be the smaller the
quantity of breath must be expired. The
great fault with beginners is straining
after effect. No sooner do they make a
little Roadway and begin to feel their
feet than they want to run, a proceeding
which will bring their endeavors to a
dismal failure.-Chambers' Journal.
For years the editor Of the Burlington
Junction Mol Post has Leen subject Il