The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-11
A VENTRILOQUIST.

a PAIR OF stockings, when casting glanc
outward She perceived great crowd o
men, women and children coming from
I the other end of the village, and in tn
midst of them black bear, led by keep
or. The latter wore large white redin
; cote, in which he was able to wrap him
4 self twice, a very short vest and panta
looms the worse for wear His boots stoo,
in want of repair, and his gray hat hat
for long time lacked part of its brim
Beside him walked hungry looking Lac
4 dressed in white, playing large flageole
and beating tambourine.
I Arrived before the Red Lion the onl,
hostclry in the village, the mountebanl
paused. He made n circle about him ant
ordered his bear to stand upright. Then
! fiourishing his baton over the head of tn,
!. animal, he began to dance with him, tax
ing steps and poses which the bear initial
ed. One might believe the inhabitants o
lopfield very happy, for the crowd laugh
!; ed heartily.
d A ventriloquist, who was stopping a
the Red Lion, regarded from window
/ this spectacle of bufroonery. Arriving tina
morning, he had already had opportuni
i ties of recognizing the character of the in
habitants of the place. The idea, there
fore, occurred to him of amusing himsel
at their expense.
He descended among the spectators, ant
4 protiting by moment when the flageole
and tam bpurine were silent, he approach
Il ed the muuntebank.
"No do hbt your bear can talk, - he sale
\ to him.
The man regarded him fxedly, shrug
.ruh l. i
/ Quest ION him, and you will find out.
4 This was what the ventriloquist expect
ed. He made step toward the bear an,
said in knocking voice:
ii You dance like member of an oper,
4 company, and compliment you. From
what country are you, my Qentleman!"
"From the Alps, Switzerland"
Twill not attempt to describe the dis
may that seized the crowd. They were al
struck with astonishment and alright
but the surprise of the bears owner wa
}, the greatest of all. lie opened his large
I dun eyes, his cavernous mouth, and re
manned immovable, us if his fuet wer
rooted to the spot.
The ventriloquist turned toward him.
: Your bear speaks very good English,
/ he said, Then, to the animal, "You ap
pear to be sadS"
"The air of Hopfeld has made m
:. splenetict' replied the bear.
T.. Here the crowd began TO retreat, all,
! the ventriloquist continued:
: "hare you belonged for some time T.
your maater2"
. significantly long to be weary Of him.
II "Is he not kind to you?"
"Ies, kind as blacksmith with hi
!. anvil"
+ "would you ike to revenge yoursel
upon hims"
/. Zone of these days will eat him a
l. one eats breakfast"
,J At these words the affrighted crowd re
n treated still farther. The dismayed keep
II or wishel to draw the bear again to him
a but the animal, tired of waiting, uttere
r. a surly growl. The ventriloquist stat
{ no longer, bnt turned away and took hi
!. course toward the inn The crowd imi
: tatcd him and rapidly dispersed. 49,. ""
Is The V entriloquist having reached til
II door of the Red Lion, looked back an
4 laughed at the fugitivcs, while the uncoi
r. scious cause Of all thisdisorder, tranquil
II seated in the road, seemed to throw care
+, less and philosophical glance upon the tcl
r ror he Ind occasoned.
The same evening the ventriloqlIist ne
e some of the villagers, who Ind gathere
y at the inn to discuss the morning b ndyeI
r. ture, with many amplilicatiuus and con
~ ments, As was their nmiable custom. ii
:. thought the joke had been carried ia
= enough and laughingly explained how tn
t.. trick had been done. They listened al
T. tentively, but when lie had ended the OLE
er men shook their heads with an air {
=, incredulity.
/. "rhis is very well to tell to children
!. murmured Grandfather Gritty, "but W
u are PERSONS of experience. 1t is not III
F., first time that animals have spoken, (,
J.. one remembers BALKAN $ ass. Besides, III
Is almanac predicted this event in auuoun,
~ ing that in mid August, three days beful
or three days after, marvellous thin
|. would transpire in tho world"
= The Vcntriloquist insisted and wishe
f., T. TO give proof of what he advanced, hi
irI the crowd departed with suspicion, pc
y suaded that he wished to deceive them
The innkeeper, who had observed n
r with a watchful eye and hooking smil
|, approached the disconnected vcntrilouuist
i "AIilprd," he said, ssdo not be astonisl
~ ed at what has happenei; romance il a
10 ways N ore welcome. TO the crowd than r
l., ality. You wished 10 Jest with these ru
Of tics, but they have taken the Joke in en-
&c nest. Nothing will now convince ii he 1,
habitants of Hopfield, who love the ma
Az velons, that The bear has not spokel
It This proves ono thing, We should bewa
er of circulating story which is false. 1t
easier 10 find believers in the most absul
NJ or misthievous statement than to conviu
Nc, "A certain order of people Of the simpl
re harmless truth. From tile French.
ID Ithiian Art Has spent Its Force.