The morning call., 1891-03-08
VENTRILOQUISM
AN ANCIENT ART.
II Was as Ii Is Now Surrounded by a
Halo Of Deep Mystery.
Ventriloquism Is Not Gift, but 1t Depends
on the Ability of the Student in Order
to Become a Success.

VentrilOquism is without doubt an ancient
art, one which was and is at the present
time surrounded by halo of mystery. 1t
is REM rkable that in this advanced age so
much dtubt and miscOncepti0n prevail re-
spegting yentriloqui-m. This is due in a
great measure to the fact that the happy
possess0rs Of the gift are inclined to retain
the secrets for their own profit, and so pre-
vent host of competitors from taking the
field. Although there is no oculate proof,
it is quite certain that the art played very
important part in the early ages; some eX-
ponents 60 so faT-and there is every rea-
son TO believe their statement-as to affirm
that the destinies of rulers were Influenced
by il. inasmurh as it was Il secret held by
the priests alone, who, by means of talking
gods, or idols, found ready means Of bring
ing their intrigues TO a successful issue.
Happily, times have changed, else an art
which to-day creates so much merriment
would soon be stamped out.
VeEtriloquiSm is not gift; it depends in
great measure on the histrionic ability Of
the student as TO whether he will succeed in
making mark or not; but it is, neyerthe-
less, true that any one possessing a certain
amount of perseverance and zeal can be-
come 10 a certain extent an exponent of the
fascinating art, causing their friends to
wonder at the number of voices within
them. Those so endowed are able, if they
seize the opportunity, to cause considerable
amusement or annoyance to their fellows,
but not to the extent that great many peo-
pie believe. Many having read that laugh
able book Valentine V0X, readily believe
all the
Said to have been performed by that myth
ical parsonage. The writer has been asked
Oh numerous occasions to throw" his voice
to the side OF n person some distance off, 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 VEN
triloquism. 1t is derived from the Latin
roots venter, the belly, and Liquor, to speak;
but belly-spcaking 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 10 the voice. Venlril0qusm may be
classed under three heads Ventl iIOquism
proper, coll0quism and Dolyphonism. Under
the first OF these heads comes the distant
voice-that is, imitation of sounds as they
appear VIXEN heard from distance and in
various places and directions. The "man-
up-the- chimney, on-the-roof, and down.
every one has had an opportunity of hear
ing, 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
humorous Well-kn0wn street cries, heard
first very 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
window being made to open and close makes
the illusion perfect. Lieutenant Cole is the
best exponent i'll this particular performance
which the writer has ever heard. 1t is
doubtful whether he is the originator, but 1t
certainly is the most attractive manner in
which tile distant voice can be applied.
coLLooUIsM
Consists of the limitations of various human
voices: for instance, 1t is usual for most
ventrloquists to introduce comlcal, life-size,
talking automatic, 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 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 uncertainty of
the direction from which sounds emanuate,
and which, by the way, is the true secret of
all ventriloquial illusions, the voice really
appears to proceed from the figures.
PolyDhonism or mimcry is the imitation
of cattle, sheep, saving, planning, etc. Mr..
F. Leslie is one of the cleverest mimcs in
this particular branch. A testimony to the
excellence of his imitation of the turkey is
afforded by the fact that ON one occasion,
when exercising, he was actually driven
from the farm-yard by the turkey COCKS,