The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-18
A VENTRILOQUIST.

'...s.. ...l -.
On a warm evening In autumn Peggy
Mullieos sat at her cottage door mending
q pair of stockings, when casting elanco
outward she perceived great crowd of
men, women and children coming from
the other end of the village, and in the
midst Of them black bear, led by n keep
or. The latter wore a large white redin-
cote, in which he was able to wrap him
self twice, a very short vest and panta-
looms the worse for wear. His boots stood
in want of repair, and bis gray hat had
for long time lacked part of its brim.
Beside him walked hungry looking lad
dressed in white, playing large Ragged ct
and beating tambourne.
Arrived before tie Red Lion, the only
hostelry in the village, the mountebank
paused. He made o circle about him and
ordered his bear to stand upright. Then,
fourishing his baton over the head of the
animal, he began to dance with him, tax
ing steps and poses which the bear initial
ed One might believe tho Inhabitants oil
Hopfleld very happy, for the crowd laugh
ed heartily. ...
A ventriloquist, who was stopping at
the Red Lion, regarded from a window
this spectacle Of buffoonery. Arriving that
morning, he had already had opportuni-
ties of recognizing tho character of the IN.
habitants Of the place. The idea, there
fore, occurred to him of amusing himself
at their expense.
He descended among Interpretations, and
profiting by q moment when the flageolei
and tam BOURNE were silent, he approach
ed the mountebank.
''No doubt your bear can talk, p he said
to him.
The man regarded him fixedly, shrug
ged his shoulders and replied brusquely:
"Question him, and you will find out, >
/ This was what the ventriloquist expect
+ ed. He made step toward the bear ant
said in mocking voice:
4 "You dance like member of an oper,
company, and compliment you. From
what country are you, my gentlenanf"
| "From tho Alps, Switzerland"
will not attempt to describe the dis
may that seized the crowd. They were al
struck with establishment and alright
| but the surprise of the bears owner wa
the greatest of all. He opened his large
;. dull eyes, his cavernous mouth, and re
MANNED immovable, as if his feet wer
rooted to the spot.
\ The ventriloquist turned toward him.
"Your bear speaks very good English,
3 he said. Then, TO the animal, "You ar
1 pear to be sadi"
:, 1.-THE air Of Hopfeld has made m
splenetio." replied the bear.
:, Here the crowd began to retreat, an
tho ventriloquist continued:
"IIave you belonged for come time t
your masterf"
significantly long to be weary of him.
as he not kind to your"
"Yes, kind as blacksmith with III
anvil"
"would you like to revenge yourse
upon hint"
"one of these days will eat him {
:, one eats breakfast.
At these words the affrighted crowd r
: treated still farther. The disnlayed keel
er wished to draw the bear again to hin
but the animal, tired of waiting, utterf
surly growl. The ventriloquist stat
no longer, but turned away and took h
course toward the inn. The crowd i'm
T. tated him and rapidly dispersed.
4, The ventriloquist, having reached IL
. door of the Red Lion, looked back al
laughed at the fugitives, while the uncol
scious cause of all this disorder, tranquil
less and philosophical glance upon the tie
:. : ror he had occasioned.
y, The same evening the ventriloquist M
II some of the villagers, who had gather,
at the inn to discuss the morning g adve
\ ture, with many amplifications and col
J. ments, as was their amiuble custom.
/. thought the joke had been carried 4
enough and laughingly explained how Il
d trick had been done. They listened a
o tentively, but when he had ended the oil
- er men shook their heads with an air
:, incredulity. m...-.
a. "This is very well TO tell to children
Ia murmured Grandfather Gritty, "but '
DC are persons of experience. 1t is not t
- first time that animals have spoken, I
" ono remembers BALKAN S ass. Besides, t.
y almanac predicted this event In announ
ing that in mid August three days befo
= or TIRES days after, n marvellous Thu
70 would transpire in the world"
" The yentriloquist insisted and wish
TO give proof of what he advanced, b
= the crowd departed with suspicion, p,
~ eaaded tisat he wished to deceive them.
II The innkeeper, who had observed
with watehful eye and hooking smi
, approached the discounted yentriloquist
H. milford, - he said, "do not be astonis
e I'd at what has happened; romance is
n ways more welcome to the crowd than
: atty. You wished to jest with these re
+ i tics, but they have taken the joke In el
nest. Nothing will now convince the i
. habitants of Hopfeld, who love the mt
w Yelous, that the bear has not spoke
IS, This proves one thing, We should bewa
of circulating story which Is false. 1t
. easier to find believers In the most absu
a. or nnischievouB statement than to conyin
certain order of people OF the simp
/. HARMLESS truth. From the French.