The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-19

the Trick-There Are Three Divisions
of What Is Generally Called VentriIo-
quism-A Few 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 III this
advanced age so much doubt and mis-
conception prevail respecting ventrilo-
quisI Tnis is dne in q great measure
to the fact that the happy posseasors Of
the gift are inclined to retain the secrets
for their own profit, and 50 prevent
host Of competitors from taking thefeld.
FentrilO4uign Is not a gift; II depends
in great measure on the nlstT:onic abil-
ty Of the student as to whether he viii
succeed in making 3 mark Or not, but it
IS nevertheless true that any one possess
ing q certain amount r perseverance
and zeal can become TO . certain extent
an exponent of the fascinating art, caUs-
ing their friends to wonder at the mum
Der Of voices within them. Those so en-
lowed are able, II they seize the oppor-
cunity, to cause considerable alnose-
ment or annoyance to their fellows, but
not to 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 a person some distance Off, 80
hat it would appear to proceed from his
own pocket or some other equally absurd
place.
Now 40 to the meaning Of the word
ventril0Quism. 1t is derived from the
Latin roots venter, the belly, and loquOr,
to speak; but belly speaking is certainly
4 missioner, and leads many people to
Imagine that the voices are produced
from that portion Of the body. That is
not so, the ventriloQuiaI voice being
formed purely and simply in the throat,
lie muscles Of the stomach only being
requisite to give sufficient strength or
power to the voice. Vcntriloquism may
be classed under three heads: Fentrilo-
4uisin proper, coll0guism and poly
2hcnis1n. Under the first Of thea8
heads comes the distant voice; that
IS, imitation Of sounds as they
appear when heard from a distance
and in various places aud directions.
The ''man-up-thc-chimney, on-the-roof
md down-the-cellar" illusions, which
nearly every one has had an op-
portunity of hearing, are the OutcoTnes
If this voice. Again, there are the
street cries" in which the performer
nas a miniature drawing room window,
Ind gives limitations Of varied and hr-
| tnorous well known street cries, heard
tirst long way oil; then gradually the
man is heard coming nearer and nearer,
I
,way again in the distance. The wiz
| low being made to open and close makes
| the illusion perfect.
| COlloQuism consists Of the limitations
Of various human voices for instance. it
| IS usual for most ventrlIoqulsts tG ;t;t~c-
! luce comical, life size, talking automata,
/, .,,o ,an If which are made of papier
nache, tie interiors hens lifted with
springs and cords; ~ the ala Of wh1cn
,he performer contrcts tho uoatf, 6 "a
| 1air, etc, of his talking faroilv-tha
mouths of which being made to move at
| 5he same time as the words are uttered
| BY the performer, and, owing to the un-
| certainty Of the direction from which
3ounds errarato a1d -vhich, by tho way,
s the true secret OF ali ;e..tT;}@3Gia' Il
| .usions, the voice really appears to pro
| ,eed from the figures.
| PoIyphonism Or mimicry is the imita-
/ don Of cattle, sheep, saving, planning,
| ETC This b-arcI of ventriloquis1n is
rather difficult to acquire, aIth0Ugh there
| ire numerous sounds that can be copied
without any particular gift. \ great
| many persons are excellent Ini1nlcs with
| Jut being ventriloquists, for in nearly
very school can doubtless be found
/ youth who amuses his fellows in the play
| ,round corner with his Growing and
| caclIling.
4 few practical hints as TO the modes
| IF procedure to be followed by would be
learners may not be out of place here,
| although half q dozen lessons from a
| good professional would do infinitely
more for them than all the books that
aave ever been written upon the subject,
| md which, by the way, are usually q
mass of theoretical phraseOlogy. Before
my 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 con-
| siderable time without stTaining. This,
| If course, must be a gradual process
Before commencing to practice 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 hint which it would be
as well for every one to remember, and
80 save q great deal Of cold catching and
| illness. The learner must study at al
times to initiate sounds. not as they are
heard at their source, but as they fall
upon the ear after travelling from dis
/ tarce That is the golden rule OF ven
triloquis1n, and if it is continually kept
IN mind success is certain. As conjurerS
endeayor to deceive the eye, so Yentr1lo
q quists try to deceive the ear.
The distant voice originates at tha
O spot in the threat where tho 'clnch'
\ takes place when drinking, so withou
= | any facial contOrtiOns or movement o
the lips the words must be forced ags.ins
the back part Of the palate one by one
e | with q series Of short, quick breGths, a
- the same time Strengthening the SOUNDS
e by using the muscles Of the stomach
! which VIII give them increased power
/ So that they Will reach the audlenc
Il clear and distinct. The farther OF tn
sound IS supposed to be the smaller tn
i, hE. -1E-.lT