The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-28
ART OF VENTRILOQIISM.
ONE WHO CAN THROW HIS VOICE.
SAYS 1T is NOT A GIFT.
With Perseverance, Any One Can Learn
the Trick-There Arc Three Divisions
of What Is Generally Called ventriio-
ouism-A Few Practical Hipts.


the Trick-Ihere Are Three Divisions
of What Is Generally Called yentriio-
auism-A Few Practical Hints.
Ventriloquism is without doubt an
ancient art, one which was and Is ar the
present time surrounded by a halo q
mystery. 1t is remarkable that IN this
advanced age so much doubt and mis-
conception prevail respecting ventrilo-
quisrn. This is due in a great measure
to the fact that the happy possessors OF
the gift are inclined to retain the secrets
for their own profit, and so prevent
host Of competitors from taking theheld
Ventriloquism is not a gift; 1t depends
in great measure on the histrionic abil-
iiy Of the student as to whether he viii
succeed IN making marx or not, ont II
is nevertheless true that any one possess
ing a ceftain amount OF perseverance
and zeal can become TO certain extent
an exponent OF the fascinating art, caus-
ing their friends to wonder at the num-
Der of voices within them Those so en-
dowed are able, If they seize the oppor-
tunity, TO cause considerable amuse-
ment or annoyance TO their fellows, but
NO. 10 the extent that a great many peo-
pie believe.
The writer has been asked on numer-
Gus occasions to throw" his voice to the
side of person some distance of, so
that it would appear TO proceed from his
own pocket or some other equally absurd
place.
Now as to the meaning Of the word
ventriloauism. 1t is derived from the
Latin roots venter. the belly. and loquor,
to speak; but belly speaking is certainly
MISSIONER, 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 th-oat.
| the muscles of the stomach only being
requisite to give sufficient strength or
power to the voice. Ventuloquism may
be classed under three heads: Ventrilo-
quis1n proper, colloquis1n and poly
| phonism. Under the first of these
heads comes the distant voice; that
/ is, imitation of sounds as they
appear when heard from 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 OPP
/ portunity of hearing. are the outcomes
| of this voice. Again, there are the
street cries." in which the performer
has miniature drawing room window,
and gives limitations of varied and hu-
morous well known street cries, heard
first 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 and close makes
! the illusion perfect.
/ ColloquisIn consists OF the limitations
| of various human voices: for instance, 1t
| is usual for most ventriloquists to intro
duce comical, life size, talking automata,
the heads of which are made Of papier
( .nache, the interiors being fitted with
/ Strings and cords, by the aid OF which
I the performer controls the mouth, eyes,
hair, etc.. of his talking family-the
mouths Of which being made TO move at
the same time as the words are 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 10 pro
coed from the figures.
PoIyphonism or mimicry is the imita-
Ia nj
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 mimlcs with
out being ventriloquists, for IN nearly
every school can doubtless be found q
youth who amuses his fellows in the play
ground corner with his growing and
cackling.
A few practical hints as to the modes
Of procedure to be followed by would oe
learners may not be out Of place here
although half dozen lessons from 6
good professional would do infinitely
more for them than all the books that
have ever been written upon the subject
and which, by the way, are usually Z
mass 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 ne must get entirely under con
troll, SO as 70 be able 70 hold 1t for con
siderable time withou! straining. This
Of course, must be a gradual process
Before commencing to practice strone
inspiration should be taken, as the lungs
REQUIRE to be furnished with a plentiful
supply OF fresh air, which has 70 be vel
controlled and allowed to escape grad
uaIly. He must endeavor to breath'
through his nose and keep his mouth
shut. This is a hint which il would b
as well for every one 70 remember, and
so save great deal OF cold catching and
illness The learner must study ~ al
times 10 initiate sounds, not as they ar;
heard az their source, but as they fal
upon the ear after travelling from a dis
lance. That Is the golden rule Of ven
triloquism. and If it is continually KEEP
IN mind success il certain As colJuren
endeayor TO deceive the eye, SO ventrlio
gusts Try 10 deceive the ear
The distant voice originates az tina
SPOT in the throat where ths ''cluck'
takes place when drinking. so wltAou
any facial cont0r.ioEs CT movement q
the lips the words mus. be forced agalns
the back pzrt Of the palate che By one
with series CT short, quick breatas, q
the same time strengthening the sound:
by using the muscles OF the stomach
which VIII give them increased power
SO that they viii reach the sz6lenc,